Updates on new and changing regulations plus best practice in health, safety, quality and environment
We’re pleased to let you know that the first of our consultants has attained approval under the new OSHCR Scheme put in place by HSE, IOSH, RoSPA etc following the recommendations of Lord Youngs Report.
The approval came through on 15th February 2011 for Roger Hart.
The case against of Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings recently came to a conclusion and has caused much comment in the press and within the health and safety industry but most people are still asking what can be learned and how important the outcome was for Directors and business owners. It is know that the company had some serious failing in the way in which it managed risk and its working practices did not go far enough resulting in the death of a 27 year old worker and a fine of £385,000.
The Corporate Homicide Act was first and foremost a response to major accidents involving large corporations, examples being the Hatfield Train Crash and the Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster. Under the Act companies can be found guilty of a gross failure that leads to a persons death regardless of whether a Director or Manager within the business can be held liable. Up until this point prosecutors had to identify the ‘controlling mind’ who was responsible meaning that large companies could, conceivably, hide behind their many layers of management and be protected, to some extent, from the full force of the law.
The question relating to Peter Eatons company (Costwold Geotechnical Holdings) is was this a true and appropriate test of the law? It would seem that within a small business employing just four people and with only one Director the prosecutors would have a fairly easy job identifying a ‘controlling mind’. If it was not the Managing Director then who else could it be?
Existing legislation already allowed for prosecution in this case and cases could already be brought against individual Directors. The personal charges against Peter Eaton were dropped but the Corporate Manslaughter case continued, perhaps pushed on by the weight of the many cases waiting to be heard after this test of the law.
It would seem that the outcome is mixed; the case was not a good test of the law, the business being too small and the controlling mind too easily identifiable. It’s a case which could have been dealt with under existing provisions. The true test of the legislation will only come with another large corporation having a serious accident, only then will we see if the legislation is capable of holding the largest of corporations to account.
In the meantime perhaps an easier solution to the whole matter would be to simply require large corporations to name a Senior individual as responsible for safety, although who would want such a title remains a matter for debate.
Contact us on 01453 800 100 if you need expert help with health and safety for a fixed cost.
Use the underlined links below to find areas of our site where related services can be offered. If you have questions please call us on 01453 800100 to speak to an experienced safety consultant.
Summary of common British Standards used in Health and Safety
HEAD PROTECTION
EYE PROTECTION
EAR PROTECTION
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
HAND PROTECTION
GENERAL PROTECTION
HEAT & FLAME PROTECTION
CHEMICAL PROTECTION
FOOT PROTECTION
Full Listing
Access equipment BS 6037
Acoustic measurement/machine tools BS 4813
Agricultural machinery: combine and forage harvesters BS EN 632
Agricultural machinery: silage cutters BS EN 703
Airborne noise emission
– earth-moving machinery BS 6812
– hydraulic transmission systems BS 5944
– portable chain saws BS 6916
Ambient air: determination of asbestos fibres – direct-transfer transmission electron microscopy method BS ISO 10312
Anchorages
– industrial safety harnesses BS EN 795
– self-locking, industrial BS EN 353, 355, 360, 362, 365
Arc welding equipment BS 638
Artificial daylight lamps
– colour assessment BS 950
– for sensitometry BS 1380
Artificial lighting BS 8206
Barriers, in and about buildings BS 6180
Bromochlorodifluoromethane
– fire extinguishing systems BS 5306
– fire extinguishers BS 6535
Carbon steel welded horizontal
– cylindrical storage tanks BS 2594
Carpet cleaners, electric, industrial use BS 5415
Cellulose fibres BS 1771
Chain lever hoists BS 4898
Chain pulley blocks, hand-operated BS 3243
Chain slings
– alloy steel BS 3458
– high tensile steel BS 2902
– steel use and maintenance BS 6968
– welded BS 6304
Chairs
– adjustable office furniture BS 5459
– office furniture, design/dimensions BS 5940
– office furniture, ergonomic design BS 3044
Chemical protective clothing
– against gases and vapours pr EN 464
– liquid chemicals pr EN 463, 465, 466, 467, 468
Circular saws
– hand-held electric BS 2769
– safeguarding BS 6854
– woodworking BS 411
Cleaning and surface repair of buildings BS 6270
Closed circuit escape breathing apparatus BS 4667
Clothing for protection against intense heat BS EN 366, 367
Concrete cladding BS 8297
Construction equipment
– hoists BS 7212
– suspended safety chairs, cradles BS 2830
Control of noise (construction and open sites) BS 5228
Cranes, safe use BS 5744, 7121
Disabled people, means of escape BS 5588
Drill Rigs BS EN 791
Dust
– high efficiency respirators BS 7355, BS EN 143
– particulate emission BS 3405
– particulate emission, high accuracy BS 893
Ear protectors, sound attenuation measurement BS EN 24689–1
Earphones
– audiometry, calibration, acoustic couplers BS 4668
– audiometry, calibration ears BS 4669
Earthing BS 7430
Earth moving equipment BS 6912
Electrical equipment
– explosive atmospheres BS 4683, 5501, 5345, 6941
– fire hazard testing BS 6458
– guidance to wiring regulations BS 7671
– impedance measurement BS 6161
Electrical resistance materials
– bare fine resistance wires BS 1117
– conductor sizes, low-voltage industrial switchgear and controlgear BS EN 60947–1
– double electrical insulation BS 2754
– earth-leakage circuit-breakers
— AC voltage operated BS 842
— current-operated BS 4293
— portable RCDs BS 7071
– electric shock protection, construction of electrical equipment BS 2754
– enclosures for high-voltage cable terminations, transformers and reactors BS 6435
– fans, industrial BS 848
– industrial electric plugs BS 4343
– industrial machines BS 2771
– marking for low-voltage industrial switchgear/controlgear BS 6272
– metallic BS 115
– resistivity measurement BS 5714
– static electricity BS 5958
– switchgear BS 5486–1, 5227, 7354
– test for resistance per unit length BS 3466
Emergency exits BS 5725
Emergency lighting BS 5266
Environmental management systems BS 7750
Ergonomics of the thermal environment BS ISO 9920
Ergonomic requirements for office work with VDUs BS EN 29241
Eye protection
– equipment for eye, face and neck protection against non-ionising radiation during welding operations BS 1542
– glossary of terms BS EN 165
– specification for sunglaze filters used in personal eye protectors for industrial use BS EN 172
Eye protectors BS EN 166, 167, 168
Fabrics, curtains and drapes BS 5867
Falling-object protective structures BS 6912–7
Falsework, code of practice BS 5975
Filters – specification for infra-red filters used in personal eye protection equipment BS EN 171
– specification for personal eye protection equipment in welding BS EN 169
– specification for ultra-violet filters used in personal eye protection equipment BS EN 170
Fire blankets BS 6575
Fire classification BS EN 2
Fire detection/alarm systems BS 5839
Fire detection/alarm systems – design, installation and servicing of integrated systems BS 7807
Fire door assemblies BS 8214
Fire extinguishers
– disposable aerosol type BS 6165
– media BS 6535
– on premises BS 5306
– portable BS EN 3, BS 7863
– portable, recharging BS 6643
Fire hose reels (water) BS EN 671–1
Fire point determination, petroleum products
– Cleveland open cup method BS EN 22592
– Pensky-Martens apparatus method BS 2000(35)
Fire precautions in design/construction of buildings BS 5588
Fire protection measures, code of practice for operation BS 7273
Fire safety signs BS 5499
Fire terms BS 4422 Pt 4
Fire tests BS 476
Fire tests for furniture BS 5852
Firefighters gloves pr EN 659
First-aid reel/hoses BS 3169
Flameproof industrial clothing BS EN 469, 531
Flammability testing and performance BS 6249
Flammable liquids BS 476
Footwear
– footwear with midsole protection BS EN 347
– general and industrialised lined or unlined boots BS 6159 Pt 1
– lined industrialised vulcanised rubber boots BS 5145
– lined rubber safety boots BS EN 345, 346
– methods of test for safety BS EN 344
– other than all rubber and plastic moulded compounds BS EN 345, 346
– polyvinyl chloride boots BS 6159
– protective clothing for users of hand-held chain saws pr EN 381
PVC moulded safety footwear BS EN 345, 346
– requirements/test methods for safety protective and occupational footwear for professional use pr EN 344
– specification for safety footwear for professional use pr EN 347
– women’s protective footwear BS EN 346
Freight containers BS 3951
Gaiters and footwear for protection against burns and impact risks in foundries BS 4676
Gas detector tubes BS 5343
Gas fired hot water boilers BS 6798
Gas welding equipment BS EN 731
Glazing BS 6262
Gloves: medical gloves for single use BS EN 455
Gloves: rubber gloves for electrical purposes BS 697
Goggles, industrial/non-industrial use BS EN 166, 167, 168
Grinding machines
– hand-held electric BS 2769
– pneumatic, portable BS 4390
– spindle noses BS 1089
Head protection — fire fighters BS 3864
Headforms for use in testing protective helmets BS EN 960
Hearing protectors BS EN 352
– Part 1 Ear Muffs
– Part 2 Ear Plugs
High visibility warning clothing pr EN 471
Hoisting slings BS 6166
– alloy steel, chain BS 3458
– chain, welded BS 6304
– high tensile, steel chain BS 2902
– textile BS 6668
– wire rope BS 1290
Hoists
– construction, safe use BS 7212
– electric, passenger/materials BS 4465
– working platforms BS 7171
Hose reels with semi-rigid hose BS EN 671-1
Hose systems with lay-flat hose cloth for fixed fire fighting systems BS EN 671-2
Hot environments
– estimation of heat stress on the working man BS EN 27243
Household and similar electrical appliances BS EN 60335
Industrial gloves BS EN 374, 388, 407, 420
Industrial safety helmets, firemen’s BS 3864
Industrial trucks
– hand-operated stillage trucks, dimensions BS 4337
– pallet trucks, dimensions BS ISO 509
– pedals, construction/layout BS 7178
Insulating material BS 7737, BS 7831, BS 5626, BS EN 26874, BS EN 60383-2, BS 7822, BS 2844, BS 5691
Ionising radiation
– exposure rate calculation BS 4094
– units of measurement BS 5775
Jib cranes
– high pedestal and portal BS 2452
– power-driven, mobile BS 1757
Ladders
– code of practice BS 5395
– permanent for chimneys, high structures BS 4211
– portable aluminium BS 2037
– portable timber BS 1129
Lamps, artificial daylight, for colour assessment BS 950
Life jackets BS 394, 396
Lifting chains
– alloy, steel BS 3113
– high tensile steel BS 1663
– safe working on lifts BS 7255
Lighting systems: automatic change-over contractors for emergency lighting BS 764
Machine guards
– chain saws BS 6916
– conveyors and elevators BS 5667
– earth-moving equipment BS EN ISO 3457
– woodworking machines BS 6854
Machine tools
– emergency stop equipment, functional aspects BS EN 418
– noise measurement methods BS 4813
– safeguarding BS 5304 Machinery, safety of – drafting and presentation BS EN 414
– ergonomic design principles BS EN 614-1
– hazardous substances emitted by machines BS EN 626
– indication, marking and actuation requirements for visual, auditory and tactile signals BS EN 61310-1
– requirements for marking BS EN 61310-2
– minimum gaps to avoid crushing parts of body BS EN 349
– principles and specifications for machinery manufacturers BS EN 626-1
Machines, vibration BS 4675
Materials handling
– conveyor belts BS 5767
– freight containers BS 3951
Mobile cranes BS 1757
Mobile road construction machinery BS EN 500
Mortising machines, single chain BS 4361
Natural fibre ropes BS EN 698, 701, 1261
– cords, lines, twines BS 6125
Nets, safety BS 3913
– code of practice for use of safety nets, containment nets and sheets on construction sites BS 8093
Noise
– airborne, chain saws BS 6916
– airborne, earth-moving equipment BS 6812
– airborne, hydraulic transmission systems BS 5944
– effects on hearing handicap BS 5330
– industrial noise, method for rating BS 4142
– industrial premises, measurement BS 4142
– machine tools, measurement methods BS 4813
– sound exposure meters BS EN 61252
Noise induced hearing loss
– effects of noise exposure BS 5330
– pure tone air conduction threshold audiometry BS 6655
Occupational safety and health management systems BS 8800
Office buildings, fire precautions BS 5588
Office furniture, design/dimensions BS 5940
Office machines
– electrically energised, safety BS EN 60950, BS 7002
– keyboards, control keys BS ISO/IEC 9995 (1–8)
– noise measurement BS 7135
Oil burning equipment BS 799
Oil firing BS 5410
Open bar gratings – specification BS 4592 – Part I
Overhead travelling cranes – power-driven BS 466
– safe use BS 5744
Packaging
– pictorial marking for handling of goods BS EN 20780
Particulate air pollutants
– in effluent gases, measurement BS 3405
– in effluent gases, measurement, high accuracy BS 893
Passenger hoists
– electric, building sites BS 4465
– vehicular BS 6109
– working platforms, mobile, elevating BS 7171
Patent glazing BS 5516
Pedestrian guardrails (metal) BS 7818
Performance of windows BS 6375
Personal eye protection
– filters for welding and related techniques BS EN 169
– infrared filters BS EN 171
– non-optical test methods pr EN 168
– optical test methods pr EN 167
– specifications pr EN 166
– ultraviolet filters BS EN 170
– vocabulary pr EN 165
Pipelines, identification marking BS 1710, 4800
Pneumatic tools
– portable grinding machines BS 4390
Portable fire extinguishers BS EN 3, BS 7863
Portable tools
– electric, radio interference limits and measurements BS EN 55014
– pneumatic grinding machines BS 4390
Powder fire extinguishers
– disposable, aerosol type BS 6165
– extinguishing powders for BS EN 615
– on premises BS 5306
– portable, recharging BS 6643
Power take-off
– agricultural tractors, front-mounted BS 6818
– agricultural tractors, rear-mounted BS 5861
Powered industrial trucks
– controls, symbols BS 5829
– high-lift rider trucks, overhead guards BS 5933
Pressure vessels BS 5500
Process control – safety of analyser houses BS EN 61285
Protective barriers BS 6180
Protective cabs
– controls for external equipment BS 5731
Protective clothing
– against cold weather pr EN 342
– against foul weather pr EN 343
– against heat and fire BS EN 366
– against heat and flame BS EN 702
– against heat and flame – test method for limited flame spread BS EN 532
– against molten metal splash BS EN 373
– against risk of being caught up in moving parts BS EN 510
– eye, face and neck protection, welding BS 1542
– flameproof BS EN 469, 531
– for firefighters BS EN 469
– for industrial workers exposed to heat BS EN 531
– for use where there is risk of entanglement BS EN 510
– for users of hand-held chain saws BS EN 381
– for welders BS EN 470
– for workers exposed to heat BS EN 531
– gaiters for foundries BS 4676
– general requirements BS EN 340
– mechanical properties BS EN 863
– protection against heat and fire BS EN 366
– protection against intense heat BS EN 366, 367
– protection against liquid chemicals BS EN 369, 466, 467
– welding BS EN 470–1
Protective equipment
– against falls from a height BS EN 341
– against falls from a height – guided fall type arresters BS EN 353
Protective footwear
– antistatic rubber BS 5145, 7193
– firemen’s leather boots BS 2723
– for foundries BS 4676
– lined industrialised rubber boots BS 5145
– polyvinyl chloride boots BS 6159
– women’s BS EN 346
Protective gloves
– against chemicals and micro-organisms BS EN 374
– against cold BS EN 511
– against ionising radiation BS EN 421
– against mechanical risks BS EN 388
– against thermal hazards BS EN 407
– for users of hand-held chain saws BS EN 381
– general requirements BS EN 420
– mechanical test methods BS EN 388
Protective helmets BS EN 397
Quality control BS 5750
Radiation measures
– detectors, nuclear reactors BS 5548
– electroscope, exposure meters BS 3385
– film badges BS 3664
– neutron detectors BS 5552
– personal photographic dosimeters BS 6090
Radiation protection
– area radiation monitors, X-ray and gamma radiation BS 5566
Refrigeration systems BS 4434
Resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture
– for non-domestic seating BS 7176
Respirators
– full masks for respiratory protective devices BS 7355
– half and quarter face masks for respiratory protective devices BS 7356
– high-efficiency dust respirators BS 7355, BS EN 143
– positive pressure dust hoods and blouses BS EN 143, 146
– positive pressure dust respirators BS 7355, BS EN 143, 147
Respiratory protective devices BS EN 138, 139, 269, 270, 271
Roll-over protective structures
– industrial trucks, stacking with masted tilt forward BS 5778
– pallet stackers/high lift platform trucks BS 5777
– reach and straddle fork trucks BS 4436
Rope pulley blocks
– gin blocks BS 1692
– synthetic fibre BS 4344
– wire, heavy duty BS 4536
Rope slings
– fibre rope slings BS 6668
– wire rope slings BS 1290, 6210
Rubber/plastics injection moulding machines BS 6679
Safety anchorages
– industrial safety harnesses BS EN 795
Safety distances to prevent danger zones being reached by upper limbs BS EN 294
Safety harnesses
– industrial BS EN 354, 355, 358, 361–365
– industrial, manually operated positioning devices BS 6858
Safety helmets BS EN 397
Sampling methods
– airborne radioactive materials BS 5243
– particulate emissions BS 3405
Scaffolds, code of practice BS 5973, 5974
Scalp protectors BS 4033
Shaft construction and descent BS 8008
Sound insulation in buildings BS EN ISO 140
Staging
– lightweight portable timber BS 1129
– portable aluminium alloy BS 2037
Stairs, ladders, walkways BS 5395
Steam boilers
– electric boilers BS 1894
– safety valves for BS 6759
– welded steel low pressure boilers BS 855
Step ladders
– portable aluminium alloy BS 2037
– portable timber BS 1129
Storage tanks
– carbon steel welded horizontal cylindrical BS 2594
– vertical steel welded non-refrigerated butt-welded shells BS 2654
Suspended access equipment, permanently installed BS 6037
Suspended safety chairs BS 2830
Suspended scaffolds, temporarily installed BS 5974
Tables, office furniture, ergonomic design BS 3044
Textile floor coverings BS 5287
Textile machinery, safety requirements BS EN ISO 11111
Transportable gas containers
– acetylene containers BS 6071
– periodic inspection, testing and maintenance BS 5430
– welded steel tanks for road transport of liquefiable gases BS 7122
Travelling cranes, power-driven jib BS 357, 5744
Vertical steel welded non-refrigerated storage tanks, manufacture of BS 2654
Vibration measurement
– chain saws BS 6916
– rotating shafts BS ISO 7919–1
Visual display terminals, ergonomics and design BS 7179
Water absorption and translucency of china or porcelain BS 5416
Water services, installation, testing and maintenance BS 6700
Welders, protective clothing BS EN 470–1
Window cleaning BS 8213
Windows, performance of BS 6375
Woodworking machines BS 6854
Woodworking noise BS 7140
Wool and wool blends BS 1771
Working platforms
– mobile, elevating BS 7171
– permanent, suspended access BS 6037
Workplace atmospheres
– performance of procedures for measurement of chemical agents BS EN 482
– size definitions for measurement of airborne particulates BS EN 481
Workwear and career wear BS 5426
C&G Safety & Environmental has introduced Safety 247, an on-line service for companies who are struggling to manage complex health & safety requirements. It allows companies to put all their training needs, statutory tests, checks and inspections, documents and other details on a web database which will automatically remind them when they need to take action.
The system collects all the necessary data through audits and inspections and keeps it up to date. A training matrix is prepared with the various course types and due dates entered. The client is alerted by email whenever a test or inspection needs to be arranged, documents need to be updated or someone’s training is due for a refresher. The user can see an audit report summary which shows all sites and outstanding issues, inspection dates, copies of reports and so on. Sub-contractor assessments and approvals can also be monitored. All safety documents are stored on line for ready access.
“Many of our clients are finding it a major headache to keep on top of the increasing body of safety legislation” says Roger Hart of C&G Safety & Environmental. “Safety 247 looks after it all. It also allows clients to present a more professional image to clients, and to keep costs down.”
A stonemason has been fined £30,000 after employees working around silica based materials fell ill with lung diseases. William Anelay Limited has been told by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to take correct safety precautions after two employees developed the potentially life shortening illnesses upon exposure to uncontrolled levels of respirable crystalline silica.
The York based firm admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The city’s crown court heard the exposure, between May 1994 and July 2008, is caused primarily by dry stone carving without extraction ventilation or use of protective equipment.
William Anelay, of Murton Way, Osbaldwick, had employed the two stonemasons for many years and high levels of airborne silica were identified 14 years before the case was brought, but measures previously taken to protect workers were inadequate, York Crown Court heard.
The victims’ disabilities were so severe that one took early retirement and the other was unable to work as a stonemason. HSE Inspector Julian Franklin said: “Had the company acted on the information they received after a survey in 1994, these men may not now be suffering from serious illnesses.”
We provide a full range of air sampling and COSHH assessment services covering welding fume, solvent vapours, solder fume, tributyl phosphate and almost any other substance used in the workplace. Call us to clear common sense advice on your COSHH risk assessment needs.
As most businesses will already be aware, at present a person who has suffered some loss can bring a personal injury compensation claim with no financial risk to themselves whatsoever. If they win the defendant pays the solicitor’s costs and fees, including a special bonus – the “success fee”. If they lose their solicitor agrees not to charge you for their work – the no win no fee arrangement.
In addition, their solicitor will have arranged an after-the-event insurance policy (ATE insurance) which will pay for medical reports, court fees, mediator’s fee and the defendant’s costs which normally they would pay if they lost the case. Further if they win, the defendants have to pay the premium for the ATE insurance (which may be thousands of pounds) and if they lose the premium is self-insuring so they don’t have to pay for it then either.
However, all of this could be set to change. Lord Jackson has completed a review of personal injury litigation costs and has recommended that ATE premiums are no longer payable by defendants who lose personal injury claims. Also he has proposed that the success fee – instead of being paid to the claimant’s solicitor by the defendant – is paid by the claimant out of the their compensation. Hence if you win there is a fee.
Whilst it is true that these proposals are revolutionary they do have the strong backing of the senior judges so it is likely that they will be put in to force in the not too distant future. Rest assured that we will keep you posted on any further developments.
If you need any help or assistance with health and safety our expert health and safety consultants can help you From health and safety policy development to noise and COSHH risk assessment, safety audits and staff development, just call us on 01453 800100 or visit us at www.outsource-safety.co.uk. We also provide safety services to the construction industry including CDM Coordinator, construction site safety visits, method statement and risk assessment development and health and safety policy work.
Contact us on 01453 800 100 if you need expert help with health and safety for a fixed cost.
The Employment Agency Standards (EAS) inspectorate has reported that eleven out of twelve employment agencies it investigated were failing in their health and safety duties. If you do use agencies you should be aware that they share the burden of good health and safety with you and must play their role to ensure that their staff are safe whilst working on your premises.
The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (CEAEBR) clearly sets out the safeguards which should be in place. In total, the investigation found evidence of 57 infringements. Of particular concern were the breaches of the CEAEBR health and safety requirements. These state that an employment agency may not, “introduce or supply a work-seeker to a hirer unless the agency or employment business has obtained sufficient information from the hirer”. Specifically, the agency must identify from the hirer “any risks to health or safety and the steps the hirer has taken to prevent or control such risks”.
If you’re using employment agencies:
• Supply your agency with copies of relevant risk assessments.
• Set out details of the experience, training, qualifications and any particular authorisations required.
• Remind the agency of their legal responsibility under the CEAEBR to pass on the information about the risks of the job and to check that the workers they supply will meet all of your requirements.
• Ask them to sign to confirm that they have fulfilled all of these responsibilities.
If you need any help or assistance with health and safety our expert health and safety consultants can help you From health and safety policy development to noise and COSHH risk assessment, safety audits and staff development, just call us on 01453 800100.
The Health and Safety Executive announced yesterday, 19/01/2010 that hauliers in the UK are to be subject to spot checks conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in order to ensure they are complying with load safety regulations.
The Health and Safety Executive are concerned that too many haulage firms are placing both their goods and workers at risk by failing to properly secure their loads leading to the risk of serious accidents and damage when transporting and also when unloading.
A previous spot check campaign conducted in April 2009 found that loads were insufficiently restrained in 80 per cent of cases.
Peter Brown from HSE warned companies that there is “no excuse” for poor load safety and called for better standards for the sake of workers, other road users and the companies themselves.
He said: “Take those few extra minutes to secure your loads or at best you could face a fine or, at worst, risk death or injury to yourself or others.”
C&G Safety & Environmental Ltd provide training and specialist safety consultancy, risk assessments, method statements and health & safety policy development. Please contact Roger Hart of C&G Safety & Environmental Limited for more information.
Some confusion exists over this issue but the realities are clearly explained in regulation. In fact, the regulations specify areas where cover may not be refused, for example;
Other than in extreme cases claims cannot be refused but restrictions can be made, particularly in respect of work which the insurer considers hazardous. The majority of insurers limit the height at which employees may work (still the single biggest cause of workplace deaths) and most also include a standard restriction relating to work with asbestos containing materials (ACM’s). These restrictions can be removed but you will find yourself paying much higher premiums for this privilege.
Restrictions are the key issue here. If you decide to work at height on a project and a restriction exists which you then break it is highly unlikely that the insurer will still have to honour the claim. Make sure you know these restrictions and make sure that your staff and managers know. A one off job or even a favour for a good client could leave you with a very significant bill if restrictions are breached and an accident occurs.
EL cover for micro businesses
If you employ just one person within the business then since February 28th 2005 EL cover has no longer been compulsory. However, consider the following scenario’s in which cover would be needed before cancelling any existing arrangement;
Finally always consult with your broker before making any change, failure to meet legal requirements on EL insurance can result in a fine of £2500 per day, over a year this could add up to over £900,000.
Contact us on 01453 800 100 if you need expert help with health and safety for a fixed cost.
