Haulage drivers set to benefit from £20m funding to improve roadside facilities
£20 million has been allocated to improve safety, security, lighting and shower rooms at roadside services for heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers.
HGV drivers will benefit from £20m funding, which is set to improve the safety and security of roadside facilities, with the aim to by government and industry to boost driver welfare and tackle a widespread driver shortage issue.
The funding is part of National Highways’ existing £169 million Users and Communities Fund, and will go specifically towards improving security, showers and eating facilities as well as exploring increasing parking spaces for lorry drivers.
It’s the latest in a list of actions by government to support the sector and to ty and address the global shortage of HGV drivers. It takes the government investment into driver facilities to over £50m in the last year, after £32.5m was committed in Chancellor’s budget.
Read more on the SHP website.
IOSH calls for better asbestos management
A lack of consistency in managing asbestos among duty holders and a lack of awareness and knowledge about the material, particularly among smaller businesses, are among the issues concerning the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
IOSH has highlighted those concerns in a verbal and written submission to the UK Work and Pensions Committee, which is undertaking an inquiry into the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) approach to asbestos management.
IOSH says that although the regulations have been around in the UK for some time, the “full implementation and application” of them is lacking through the responsibility chain, which is putting lives at risk.
“Awareness is not reaching down to those who are fulfilling those roles, coming into contact with the hazard and those who are placed at risk,” it adds.
IOSH also highlights that with the adoption of renewed climate resilience and the transition to net-zero goals by the UK government, it is expected that millions of buildings will be maintained, renovated or demolished in the coming years, something which could disturb large amounts of asbestos.
Read about IOSH’s campaign on the HSM website.
Food manufacturing company fined after worker falls from ladder
A jam and preserve manufacturer has been prosecuted after a worker sustained multiple fractures after falling from a ladder.
Llandudno Magistrates’ court heard how on the 6 April 2020, a worker was installing a security camera on the outside of The Clarendon Food Company Limited production building in Pwllheli, using an unsecured ladder. The ladder slipped and the worker fell approximately 15ft sustaining multiple fractures to his right arm, left leg, cheekbone and a dislocation of his backbone
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the work at height had not been properly planned, and alternative access equipment to allow safe working at height had not been considered. No training had been provided to either the injured party or others in relation to work at height. There was also a failure to ensure effective monitoring of work at height practices to identify any shortcomings in the company’s procedures which had persisted for some time.
The Clarendon Food Company Limited of Bryn, Y Ffor, Pwllheli, Gwynedd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,344.30
Visit the HSE website for more on the case.
Hypnotherapy and wellbeing in the workplace
Dr Kate Beaven-Marks, clinical hypnotist, hypnotherapy trainer, international presenter and author, talks to SHP about how about how hypnotherapy approaches can be used to increase workplace wellbeing.
Kate will be speaking about hypnotherapy and wellbeing in the workplace in more detail at Safety & Health Expo on 17 May 2022 at London’s ExCeL.
“Although I have given presentations at many health and safety related events and conferences, this is the first time my presentation ‘Hypnotherapy and workplace wellbeing’ actually has ‘hypnotherapy’ in the title.”
Kate will be speaking about how hypnotherapy approaches can be used to increase workplace wellbeing. Her presentation will start by clarifying the facts and fiction of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. She will then go on to explore some of the powerful mind and body benefits of hypnotherapy in the workplace, supported by key research
For more, visit the SHP website.
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