SHP’s News pages contain the latest information and developments in UK and European
health and safety, including: legislation; enforcement campaigns; research
and reports; political news and reaction.
REACH charges adopted
08/05/2008
REACH charges adopted
The fees and charges under the new REACH chemical substance registration procedures were adopted by the European Commission on 16 April. The basic registration fee will range from €1600 for substances produced in volumes below ten tonnes, to €31,000 for those above 1000 tonnes.
Call for more enforcement and law changes to cut exploitation
07/05/2008
Call for more enforcement and law changes to cut exploitation
Employment practices viewed as exploitative in the 19th century are still common today, claims a major report on vulnerable workers, published today.
Police not planning for officers' safety
07/05/2008
Police not planning for officers' safety
North Wales Police service has been criticised by its own officers for failing to plan staffing around predictably busy periods.
Three asbestos victims awarded compensation
07/05/2008
Three asbestos victims awarded compensation
Three workers have been awarded compensation after developing asbestos-related diseases following exposure to the substance in their workplaces. Kenneth Chapman, 74, was awarded £180,000 after developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos dust during his 40-year career with New Southern Railway (previously part of British Rail) as a fireman, boiler-cleaner, and train driver.
Ray Hurst warns of the costs of asthma on World Asthma Day
06/05/2008
Ray Hurst warns of the costs of asthma on World Asthma Day
IOSH president Ray Hurst marked World Asthma Day today by highlighting the fact that occupational asthma continues to be a major issue in the workplace, costing 18 million working days each year. Over the course of a decade, this is estimated to cost £1.1 billion.
Bill could strengthen HSE powers offshore
06/05/2008
Bill could strengthen HSE powers offshore
A Bill aimed at improving the health and safety of offshore oil and gas workers has been introduced in Parliament.
Push for assaults register
05/05/2008
Push for assaults register
Public-sector union, Unison, has called for a national system to register attacks on local government workers. The call comes after the death of social worker, Phillip Ellison, 47, who died on 7 April from multiple stab wounds, after being attacked at a Preston care home for adults with mental-health issues.
Water workers fend off machete attackers
04/05/2008
Water workers fend off machete attackers
Scottish Water is reconsidering how it responds to out-of-hours water supply problems following an incident in Port Glasgow, where two employees had to fend off machete-wielding attackers.
What's new at HSE
Welsh construction industry conference “Constructing Excellence: Now and Beyond London 2012: Business Opportunitie for Wales.” This conference offers an unparalleled opportunity for the Welsh construction industry to learn about the very real business prospects resulting from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and other forthcoming major events.
View details
Recording construction inspection work on COIN This sector information minute replaces SIM02/2003/04 and provides guidance for Inspectors in FOD Construction Division on completing the revised IRF Construction (IRF C) on COIN. It should be read in conjunction with the Work Recording OM 2008/05.
View SIM 02/2008/02
Using plastic kerb for the A2/A282 Dartford improvement scheme A new construction case study based on using plastic kerbs in the Dartford improvement scheme has been published to the website.
Download COH14 - Using plastic kerb for the A2/A282 Dartford improvement scheme [56KB PDF]
HSE warning following prosecution of builder Following the recent prosecution of builder and roofer David Johnson, HSE is issuing a warning to anyone that has had work carried out by him.
View press release
Construction events HSE will be attending two further events in May:
SED 2008, Northants, 13-15 May
Geodrilling 2008, East of England Showground, 30 April - 1 May
View event details
Crane safety warning after death of welder HSE warns of the dangers of allowing cranes to operate over the heads of employees. The warning following the prosecution of a Liverpool-based company after a man was killed and another seriously injured after they were struck by a load that fell from a crane.
View press release
Further measurements of fibre concentrations in CLASP construction buildings In late July 2006, after asbestos contractors had carried out asbestos removal work at a school. This information was reported to HSE in mid-September and an assessment of the cause, the extent of the release and the effectiveness of remediation were undertaken by HSE with substantial support and co-operation from some local education authorities and HSL.
Read the [...]
Construction industry urged to do more to prevent deaths Early unvalidated figures from HSE suggest that around 69 construction workers were killed in 2007/08. This points to a 10% improvement on the previous year’s figures but HSE warned the construction industry not to be complacent.
View press release
CDM construction notification form Form F10, to notify the enforcing authority for the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 of any project that is likely to last longer than 30 days or involve more than 500 person days of construction work, has been updated.
View form [PDF 38KB]
Working in Great Britain from overseas New website includes advice and help for people working in Britain from overseas, as well as employers of overseas workers.
View site
Latest LAU Newsletter out now In this month’s edition: Shattered Lives campaign update, simple method to sumbit prosecution statistics…
View the newsletter
Road builder fined £250,000 HSE is urging construction companies to ensure they carry out proper planning, inspection and maintenance programmes of their projects while construction work is in progress.
Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects Ltd was fined £250,000 following an HSE investigation into the death of a motorcyclist at a roadworks site in 2005.
View press release
Construction e-bulletins The two latest Construction e-bulletins for February and March 2008, are now both available.
View construction e-bulletins
Unacceptable performance by refurbishment sector of the construction industry “Over one in three construction sites visited put the lives of workers at risk and operated so far below the acceptable standard that our inspectors served 395 enforcement notices and stopped work on 30% of the sites”, Geoffrey Podger, HSE’s Chief Executive said today.
This comes after HSE carried out over 1000 spot checks of refurbishment sites [...]
Read all about it Get the latest health and safety news delivered straight to your in-tray! Latest copy of the HSE Newsletter for February 2008, subscribe now.
Find out more
Shattered Lives - get involved If you are in food retail, food manufacturing, catering, construction, building and plant maintenance get involved in the campaign. Posters, leaflets, videos, checklists, tools available.
View the resources
Construction occupational health awareness day HSE is running two events on 12 March in Lingfield, Surrey for those who would like to know more about occupational health risks and how to manage these risks including asbestos and dust, dermatitis, manual handling, hand arm vibration and noise.
View details
Trades Union Congress news releases
?Fairness is back on the agenda' says TUC Responding to the announcement today (Tuesday) by the Chancellor on compensation for those who have lost out under the 10p tax rate abolition, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
Zimbabwe regime must release trade union leadership The TUC has today (Tuesday) written to Foreign Secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander urging them to do everything possible to free two jailed Zimbabwean trade union leaders.
TUC publishes an ?equalities sat nav' for unions The TUC has researched and published a comprehensive review of trade unions' equality structures and activities. The review is the eighth survey of equality in trade unions conducted by SERTUC, which is the TUC region responsible for London, the South East and the East of England. The book, entitled ?Treading Water', will be launched at a reception to be held 14 May, in central London.
TUC on May interest rates Commenting on the decision today (Thursday) of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to hold interest rates at 5%, TUC Head of Economic and Social Affairs Adam Lent said:
?This decision was expected after April's cut. But with new official figures showing manufacturing output is falling and continuing concerns in the housing market, the Bank should be prepared to cut base rates again soon.?
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