More and more of our existing clients and many new clients are contacting us to ask about help implementing OHSAS18001. The reasons are varied depending on the sector but everyone has a common theme of wanting to be able to prove that their safety systems are appropriate and adequate – for insurers, clients and enforcing…
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Some good news for our clients, section 69 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 has been in place for several months now, since October 1st 2013 in fact. A small but significant change introduced as part of the Act now makes it impossible for civil litigants to bring actions against their employer for…
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Safety failings led Bristol City Council being fined after a park keeper suffered serious injuries when she was thrown from a tractor as it overturned. The 51 year-old worker, broke her pelvis and badly damaged an Achilles tendon in the incident occurred in Netham Park, Bristol on 30 May 2012. Her injuries led to her…
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Some huge changes have taken place in the past 40 years in terms of industry and the service sector. Our economy has grown and changed from one based on manufacturing to one more aligned to high-tech and the service / financial sectors. Through all of this the Health and Safety at Work Act has continued…
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Builders’ merchants Jewson Limited has been fined £14,000 for selling hard hats which failed to meet safety standards. Jewson Limited appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court on Monday after an investigation by Northamptonshire County Council. The hard hats failed a test against Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002 by trading standards officers in a proactive survey in…
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The safety of loads on vehicles is something which many of our clients, outside of the logistics sector, have a fairly limited knowledge of. Because of this unfamiliarity this is a risk area which often goes without assessment or challenge but is one which can cause accidents with serious consequences, read on t find out…
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A recent two day clamp down on these types of projects has revealed significant and repeated failures but specialist building contractors to properly assess and control risk in these types of projects. Basement construction has become extremely popular in many London Boroughs over the past 3-5 years so those engaging in basement conversion projects can…
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In something of a strange turn of events the construction industry is standing (mainly) in defiance of the coalitions cutting of red tape. Technically, the Construction Site Waste Management Plan Regulations (2008), have no longer been in force since October 1st 2013. But the majority of major construction companies, 55 of them in total, have…
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Judith Hackett, Chair of HSE, recently addressed the Westminster Legal Policy Forum (5th December 2013) and had the following to say about the CDM (Construction (Design and Management) Regulations). “2014 will also see us embark upon some changes to CDM as part of the guidance overhaul. It will not significantly change the technical standards which…
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We were interested to see a press release from Judith Hackett, current chair of the Health and Safety Executive in which she praises the writings of one Jeremy Clarkson – perhaps the most vocal critic of the “elf n safety” culture. Personally, we’re delighted that she’s tackling this straight on. We have countless moans and…
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