Follow-up research by the HSE into the incidence of cancer at a semi-conductor plant in Scotland has found that its workers are not at any increased risk of developing occupational disease. But a pressure group representing workers at the plant dismissed the Executive’s conclusion as “bogus”.

Almost half of employees in the manufacturing sector took no absence in 2009, a members’ survey by EEF suggests. But the organisation doesn’t believe this should be seen as evidence of more people turning up to work when ill.

The HSE has kicked off the UK’s participation in a Europe-wide campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe maintenance.

Trade union Unite is calling on all safety reps to be extra vigilant in ensuring employers take all the necessary steps to prevent fatalities in the workplace, in the wake of an incident in April in which one of its members was killed.

Active leadership on health and safety is now the norm, not the exception. This is the message the EEF is sending out, following the results of a survey of nearly 400 manufacturing organisations.

A worker suffered serious burns after being set alight during an explosion at an industrial bakeware manufacturer’s factory in Nottinghamshire.

The owners of a manufacturing company appeared in front of magistrates to answer charges relating to an incident in which an employee had his fingers crushed in a hydraulic press.

A factory worker was badly injured when his hand was drawn between two rotating metal rollers on an unguarded machine.

A worker at an onion-packaging factory suffered a broken shoulder after falling more than three metres from a ladder.

A sheet-metal manufacturing company and its director have appeared in front of magistrates after workers were exposed to high levels of lead at its factory in Norfolk.

The Health and Safety (First Aid) at Work Regulations 1981 have, for the most part, served industry well by setting a basic standard for first-aid provision in the workplace. But, prompted by changes in the world of work, revised guidelines are due to be implemented in October this year. Maria Grundy considers how the new requirements will impact on employers.

At Wolstenholme International’s manufacturing site in Darwen, Lancashire, around 90 employees are involved in the production and packing of speciality metallic inks, pigments, flakes and powders. Consequently, the company needs a range of solutions to help protect its employees from the potentially harmful effects of solvents and fine dust particles used and created during the processes. Jo Partridge explains how the company looks after the respiratory health of its workforce.

The HSE has issued a safety alert following the recent deaths of two children involving automatic sliding gates.

New guidance on how to manage the health risks related to metal-working fluids has been published online by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation.

3M has acquired non-woven disposable protective clothing company Dailys Ltd.

The European Metalworkers’ Federation (EMF) and the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) have collaborated on a publication summarising their recent efforts to improve the conditions of those working in the lift sector.

The new fit-note system comes into force today (6 April) and one trade body is using its expertise in managing sickness absence to help employers cope with the changes.

Lift-truck manufacturer Crown says its new FlexRide floating operator suspension system is fitted to two of its new lift-truck lines: the WT 3000 series of powered pallet trucks and the RC 5500 series of stand-up counterbalanced trucks.

Crowcon’s TXgard-IS+ gas detector is fitted with electrochemical sensors, which are said to enable it to detect a wide range of toxic gases and oxygen.

Industrial safety specialist Castell says it has adopted an innovative manufacturing process to improve efficiency and benefit end-users, machine-builders and distributors.

Pilz Automation Technology says those who attend its machinery safety training courses can rest assured that they will benefit from knowledge gained by Pilz engineers and consultants who, for example, apply standards when designing safety circuits, and advise manufacturing companies on how best to comply with UK regulations.

A new chemical safety document management system from the National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) has been launched to help manufacturing businesses deal with the REACH chemical rules and handle GHS-compliant safety data sheets.