International Day of Women and Girls in Science
The immense contribution made by women experts in science and technology to the work of Great Britain’s workplace regulator is being recognised.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is highlighting the impact of its female staff on International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The event, which was started by the United Nations, is in its eighth year and is aimed at recognising the work of women in science and to encourage young girls to see science as an industry they could enter.
HSE employs women in a range of scientific disciplines who make a vital contribution to keeping people safe at work.
Read about the female experts at the HSE on their website.
Illegal gas work lands plumber in jail
A self-employed plumber has been jailed after carrying out gas work without being Gas Safe registered.
Bolton Crown Court heard how Aaron Davidson of T/A AD Plumbing Solutions had installed boilers at two properties in Bolton and Bury in January and March 2018, whilst falsely claiming to be Gas Safe registered.
Following notification of installation defects by the occupiers of the properties, Gas Safe inspectors visited and found the work to be of a poor standard. In the property at Bury it was classed as ‘not to current standards’, and at the property in Bolton ‘at risk’ due to the danger to life from the possible escape of carbon monoxide and risk of electrocution.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found that Aaron Davidson had never been Gas Safe registered and was not qualified or competent to undertake gas work.
For more on the incident, visit the HSM website.
HSE publishes restriction opinion on tattoo and permanent make-up inks
A detailed analysis on substances that could cause health risks to adults in Britain who get tattoos or permanent make up has been published.
Following a six-month public consultation last year on a restriction proposal for certain hazardous substances in tattoo and permanent make up inks, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in its role as the agency for UK REACH, has published its risk assessment opinion.
This is the first analysis of its kind to have been published under UK REACH, the standalone chemicals regime established after the UK left the EU.
Today’s published opinion on the restriction proposal was developed after considering responses from last year’s consultation. Additionally, in line with the legal requirements under the UK Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation, HSE also opened a 60-day public consultation on the draft socio-economic opinion for the same dossier. Any comments that will help HSE with this assessment should be submitted here.
Learn more on the HSE website.
Online learning: here to stay?
Jenny Pratt, Head of Communications at NEBOSH, looks at the changing landscape of HS training. Be it classroom or virtual, the goal remains the same – to learn and develop.
Online/e-learning and distance learning is not a new thing but the pandemic has fast-tracked its growth; the global e-learning market is predicted to reach $400bn by 2026.
This significant upward trend has fed through to the health and safety market. At NEBOSH, the examination board, e-learning is on the up too. In 2019-20 e-learning represented less than 10% of registrations – this figure now stands at nearly 18%. Similarly, open/distance learning has increased, rising from 6% to 19% of NEBOSH registrations, and virtual delivery now accounts for 9% of NEBOSH courses.
The popularity of different, more flexible modes of study mirrors the macro trends seen in the employee market; CIPD research found that 51% of employees say they have flexible working arrangements in their current role, and more than a third of organisations have seen an increase in requests for flexible working.
Through the eyes of NEBOSH and some of its Learning Partners and learners, we discuss the challenges and opportunities that have arisen from this change in learning methods…
Read more on the SHP website.
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