Spike in violence towards female commuters
British Transport Police Authority’s 2024 annual report shows the number of crimes against women and girls on their commute rose from 7,561 in 2021 to 11,357 in 2023.
Violent attacks against women while they commute on British railways have more than doubled since 2021, according to shocking new data from the British Transport Police Authority’s 2024 Annual report. The data, first reported by The Times, also revealed that the number of sexual offences is up 10% over the same period, while sexual harassment reports doubled.
A separate British Transport Police (BTP) survey, released last year, reported more than a third of all women travelling by rail would be assaulted during their commute. BTP data also indicates that most assaults occur during the evening rush hour when trains are packed and busy.
Read more on the HSM website.
Experts call for ban on artificial worktops after silicosis cases
Calls for UK government to ban artificial stone worktops follow the first cases of silicosis linked to its manufacturing.
Medical experts have called for the Government to follow Australia in banning artificial stone (AS) worktops.
The kitchen piece is made by crushing rocks together with resins and pigments – a cheaper alternative to real stone such as marble, but with higher concentrations of silica in its dust, which stonemasons could be at risk of breathing in.
In a British Thoracic Society report, a team of doctors associated with the first cases of silicosis, have called for spotlight on a potential epidemic saying: “UK cases are likely to increase, with urgent action needed to identify cases and enforce regulations.”
For more on the report, visit the SHP website.
Workplace noise hindering manufacturing workers
Acute levels of noise in factories, workshops and warehouses are impeding productivity, finds Oscar Acoustics. The research shows two in three workers (66%), rising to 70% of forklift drivers, said workplace noise is an issue.
Despite the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 20051 coming into effect 36 years ago, the survey findings suggest on-site decibels from machinery and vehicles are causing a decline in output, as well as impacting worker wellbeing.
Oscar Acoustics’ latest research study, ‘Silence the Noise’, focuses on the concerns of employees – particularly those working in loud manufacturing and logistics environments. 250 employers and 500 employees took part in the study, which revealed the majority of workplace settings simply aren’t cut out for dealing with mechanical and vehicular noise.
Visit the HSM website to learn more.
Amazon ambulance investigation
Investigation reveals ambulances were requested over 1,400 times over five years as GMB union asks for HSE scrutiny.
An investigation conducted by the Observer shows ambulances were requested over 1,400 times in the past five years to incidents at Amazon’s UK warehouses.
The media outlet filed freedom of information requests with 12 ambulance services across the UK, relating to more than 30 sites including Bolton, Chesterfield, Rugeley and London, among others.
The call outs covered an array of incidents including employee exposure to acids and hazardous gases, as well as incidents involving attempted suicide and miscarriages.
Centres in Dunfermline (161) and Bristol (125) recorded the most call outs in Britain. In Mansfield, ambulances have been called 84 times since 2019, of which 70% of were for category ‘one’ or ‘two’ incidents which can relate to conditions such as heart attacks or strokes.
Learn more about the investigation on the SHP website.
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