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Our Blog

Health & Safety Consultants, SSIP, CHAS, SMAS, Management Systems Specialists, Occupational Hygienists

Compulsory Audiometry (Hearing Testing), when is this required?

Many of our clients operate practical businesses in construction, engineering, manufacturing and similar sectors which expose their staff to noise.  Almost all of these businesses will have assessed employee exposure to noise and a majority of them will have had noise assessment completed by one of our consultants and a report issued explaining the exposures,…
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Occupational Hygiene Provider fined by HSE

We offer a range of services which are classed as occupational hygiene.  This term is not often used and is often misunderstood even by those who are working to improve the health and safety of workers.  This is the reason that these safety professionals rely on outside competent help to assist them when it comes…
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LPG forklift truck fire risk – HSE Safety Notice Issued on LPG forklift truck fires

Many of our customers will have forklifts trucks operating at their premises and a good number of these will be of the LPG type.  You may well not be aware of the potential for LPG forklift truck fires.  Apart from one obvious danger, the emission of carbon monoxide (an LPG engine will typically give rise…
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Wood Dust Inspections from HSE are underway

HSE inspectors are visiting businesses across Great Britain in woodworking industries, focusing on the dangers of respiratory risks from wood dust. The inspections are to ensure duty holders know the established health risks associated with woodworking and have effective controls in place to keep workers safe and protect their respiratory health. In 2022/23, HSE found…
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To do: Metalworking fluids – making sure you have protected your staff

HSE has recently released metal working fluid guidance in association with the United Kingdom Lubricants Association.  Metalworking fluids provide a home for bacteria to breed and skin contact and inhalation of these fluids can lead to serious, but preventable, diseases for your staff. The good practices which can prevent these occupational diseases are relatively simple…
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Frequency of Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR Reports)

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) is an inspection by a trained and competent electrical engineer to look at the fabric of the electrical installation, something which typically remains unseen.  All electrical installations will deteriorate over time, cables can become damaged and fittings can become loose or damaged. Similarly, the design of the system itself…
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HAVS, Noise and battery powered tools – HSE research issued

The Health and Safety Executive recently produced a short video after completing research on whether the presence of more and more battery-powered tools in the workplace has meant that overall exposure to noise and vibration (HAVS) is reduced due to these new tools being used. A common sense ponder on this might well lead you…
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Updates to PPE Regulations and UKCA / CE Marking requirements

The Health and Safety Executive has recently issued new guidance covering when you will have to specify equipment which is certified to the new UKCA (UK Certification Authority) PPE standards.  This change allows CE-marked equipment to continue to be specified and put in use as PPE until 1 January 2025.  There are also two important…
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When does FFI not apply

We thought it might be useful for our clients to know of instances where HSE Fee For Intervention does not apply.  Careful reading will see some contradiction with the recent instance of an individual being served an FFI notice. (updated January 2023, first publication 2013) Application of FFI and exemptions FFI is applied by HSE…
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Working from Home (WFH) guidance

Working from home has become a norm for many clients with a significant number adopting a hybrid approach post-pandemic of being in and out of the office over a typical working week.  With this in mind, the responsibilities of an employer who has working from home in place are worth exploring again. When the pandemic…
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