TfL bans non-folded e-bikes on its transport network
Transport for London (TfL) has announced that all non-folded e-bikes will be banned on parts of London’s transport network from 31 March to ensure the safety of customers and staff.
TfL has been working closely with the London Fire Brigade and other partners to carry out a comprehensive review of the safety of e-bikes and their suitability for carriage on the TfL transport network.
While the majority of e-bikes are safe, there have been a small number of incidents where non-foldable e-bikes have caught fire on the transport system in London. To ensure the safety of the network for customers and staff, customers in possession of non-foldable e-bikes will not be permitted to travel on most TfL services, including on the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR. The ban includes all non-folding e-bikes, including standard cycles that have been converted to e-bikes using conversion kits.
Read more on the HSM website.
April is Stress Awareness Month: tackle stress in the workplace with five steps in five weeks
This April, Britain’s bosses are being invited to follow five simple steps to prevent and reduce stress in their workplace.
The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign has called on employers to support workers mental health during Stress Awareness Month.
Over the course of the month, employers are encouraged to focus on one of the campaign’s 5 Rs for each of the five weeks. They are: to Reach out and have conversations, Recognise the signs and causes of stress, Respond to any risks you’ve identified, Reflect on actions you’ve agreed and taken, and make it Routine.
Preventing work-related stress isn’t just the right thing to do by workers, it’s the law. All employers are required to prevent work related stress to support good mental health in the workplace.
The Working Minds campaign brings together a range of tools and support to help businesses and workers including free online learning, Talking Toolkits, risk assessment templates and examples.
Learn more on the HSE website.
Contractor sentenced after uncontrolled spread of asbestos
A self-employed roofing contractor has been ordered to undertake unpaid work after the uncontrolled spread of asbestos in a back garden, putting two young workers and local residents at risk.
Doorbell-cam footage shows parts of an old garage roof being disposed of with a lack of control measures.
The footage was released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the start of Global Asbestos Awareness Week on 1 April, to highlight the dangers.
Stephen Wilks, trading as S Wilks Roofing, pleaded guilty to breaching asbestos safety regulations after work carried out under his control led to the contamination of a residential area with asbestos-containing materials.
The court heard how Mr Wilks had been commissioned by a property management company to replace asbestos cement roof sheets on three garages off Green Walk in Bowden, Altrincham in February 2022.
HSE began an investigation after a local resident raised concerns about debris that had fallen into their garden during the work. Analysis confirmed the debris contained chrysotile asbestos.
For more on the incident visit the HSM website.
Company fined £2.5m following uncontrolled acid releases
A chemical manufacturing company has been fined £2.5m following two incidents of uncontrolled releases of highly corrosive acids at its site in West Thurrock, Essex.
Industrial Chemicals Ltd pleaded guilty following the incidents in 2020, one of which caused the release of a hydrogen chloride gas cloud that resulted in schools in the area to close.
The first incident on 6 January 2020 resulted in an uncontrolled release of hydrochloric acid from three chemical storage tanks.
Three hundred thousand litres of the substance was released via poorly maintained pipework. As it came into contact with the atmosphere, this created a hydrogen chloride gas cloud which spread to nearby towns. Nearby CCTV footage shows the atmosphere being engulfed in the cloud within 60 seconds.
More about the prosecution on the HSE website.
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