Keep workers safe in fourth heatwave, urges TUC
As Britain experiences amber warnings for the fourth heatwave of the summer, the TUC has renewed its calls for the protection workers need in the heat.
Working in hot weather can lead to dehydration, tiredness, muscle cramps, fainting, and – in the most extreme cases – loss of consciousness.
And workers who are outdoors for long periods in a heat wave are at serious risk of sunstroke, heat stress and even skin cancer.
Read more on the HSM website.
HSE issues urgent offshore gangway safety notice
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a safety notice today (8 August) to highlight the risks of potentially fatal gangway accidents to offshore workers.
Serious risks have been identified where motion compensated gangways retract without warning due to power failures or control system errors. This puts workers at risk of falling from height, being struck by moving parts, or suffering serious injuries including death.
HSE is calling on operators in oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors to review their gangway arrangements. Any gangways that cannot provide sufficient warning before automatic retraction must be taken out of service until proper safety controls are installed.
Learn more on the HSE website.
Violence against nursing staff doubles
The Westminster government can reverse the rise in violence against staff by taking decisive action to reduce lengthy waits in accident and emergency, ending corridor care and tackling chronic understaffing, the RCN says.
Freedom of Information requests to 89 trusts in England found that there were 4,054 incidences of physical violence against staff recorded in 2024, compared to 2,093 in 2019 – almost double.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive said, “Behind these shocking figures lies an ugly truth. Dedicated and hard-working nursing staff face rising violent attacks because of systemic failures that are no fault of their own. Every incident is unacceptable, but we need ministers and trust leaders to acknowledge some of the key underlying causes.”
For more information visit the HSM website.
Stress is main cause of workplace incidents, research shows
New research from EcoOnline reveals that 44% of workers have been involved in a workplace incident or know someone who has – and stress is the main cause.
EcoOnline has released its latest research findings: How Safe & Sustainable Is Your Workplace? The study surveyed over 5,700 employees across North America, the UK & Ireland, and the Nordics to understand how safe and sustainable workplaces really are, from the frontline view. The findings from 1,000 UK&I workers expose gaps in chemical safety, digital solutions and lone worker protection – alongside rising stress levels – calling for a renewed focus on the full workplace experience.
Visit the HSM website to read more.
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