Construction Firm & Director Sentenced After Worker Falls From Height
A construction firm and its director have been fined after a self-employed labourer fell almost four meters through a fragile skylight on 22nd February 2019. He suffered head and facial injuries and was knocked unconscious. He spent nearly two weeks in hospital.
An investigation by the HSE found that the work had not been properly planned. The method of work meant that workers had to work near to a fragile roof without having sufficient platforms and guard rails in place. The company Director was on site directing the work.
Cutler Bros. Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They have been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,600. As a director of the company, Roger Martin Cutler pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,200.
Read more about this case from SHPOnline.
COVID-19 Workplace Testing
The government has released updated guidance for workplace testing. From early April, if you have 10 or more employees, you’ll be able to order free rapid lateral flow tests for your employees to collect from their workplace and use at home twice a week. You can do this if you cannot provide testing in the workplace.
If you are interested in setting up the testing programme for your workplace, you must register by 11:59pm on 12 April 2021. If your business is closed or you cannot provide tests now, you should still register so you can order tests in the future.
You can register to order tests if:
- your business is registered in England.
- your employees cannot work from home
Your employees can also find out if they can get a rapid lateral flow test from a local test site instead.
Britain’s Electricity System ‘Greenest Ever’ Over Easter
Great Britain’s electricity system was the greenest it had ever been at lunchtime on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has said.
This was due to sunny and windy weather, coupled with low demand for power, which led to a surge in renewable sources of energy. As a result, low-carbon energy sources made up almost 80% of Britain’s power. There was no coal generation on the grid and just 10% of power was from gas plants.
The ESO said levels of carbon pollution for each unit of electricity consumed dropped to just 39 grams of carbon dioxide – the lowest ever recorded for the grid – at 13:00 BST on Monday. It also clarified that wind power made up 39% of the energy mix, with solar at 21% and nuclear accounting for 16%.
Read more about the green Easter we experienced on BBC News.
New First Aid Requirement for SIA Licenses
If you are applying for a door supervisor or security guard license, you will now have to complete a first aid qualification before taking your licence-linked training.
You will need to do this if either of the following apply:
- you are applying for a licence for the first time
- it has been longer than 3 years since you last held a licence for that activity
From 1 October 2021, you will also need to do this if you are renewing your licence.
The qualification must be an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification or equivalent. The requirement for first aid training will improve your skills as an SIA licence holder. It will not change the obligations you have when responding to an emergency.
Learn more about the changes on the Government website.
WA Management offers Emergency First Aid at Work courses at an affordable price which will be delivered by our expert trainer, including our upcoming Open Course on 30th April! If you are interested in booking onto this course, please get in touch!