Rail safety must stay on track
Britain’s rail industry must maintain a relentless focus on safety as it undergoes major reform, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) says in its annual health and safety report.
The report comes just weeks after the fatal train collision at Elstow, near Bedford, which highlighted the severe consequences of major rail accidents.
Shaun Burton, the driver of one of the two trains involved, died in the collision and many others were injured. ORR is liaising with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, industry and other relevant authorities as investigations continue.
A key theme of this year’s report is the need to maintain safety standards as the rail industry goes through major reform. While Britain’s railways continue to operate safely overall, ORR said the industry needs to show greater urgency in delivering real improvements on issues such as overspeeding, which remains one of the most significant risks on the railway.
Read more on the HSM website.
Around 2,700 people believed to have died due to UK heatwaves, experts say
Dr Clair Barnes, from the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College, has warned that if we don’t slow the rate of global warming, the number of people dying from heat stress will overtake the number of people dying during the winter.
Watch the interview here.
IOSH finds young workers feel overlooked
IOSH is calling for urgent cultural and structural change in UK workplaces as new research reveals that many young workers feel unsupported, undervalued and overlooked.
Findings from an IOSH survey of 500 workers aged 18-25 paint a picture of a generation entering the workforce with enthusiasm, talent and potential, but quickly learning their wellbeing and personal development takes a backseat. IOSH warns that workplaces designed in this way risk disengaging the very people they most need to retain – both now and for the future
Nearly half of survey respondents (48 per cent) believe their employer prioritises the achievement of targets and set performance expectations over their health and wellbeing or reaching their full potential. For many of this new cohort of workers, their sense of worth at work is being limited, shaped narrowly and unhelpfully, with 56 per cent saying they feel judged more on the targets they meet than on their creativity or wider contribution.
Learn more on the HSM website.
SENTENCED: Illegal gas fitter who touted for business on Facebook despite not being on the Gas Safe Register
An illegal gas fitter who advertised his services on Facebook despite not being on the Gas Safe Register has been given a suspended prison sentence after carrying out dangerous work on homes across the North East.
Alexander Robson, 38, of Bavington Drive in Fenham, advertised his services on the social media platform and used flyers with the Gas Safe logo on them – despite the fact he wasn’t registered. Robson traded under names including GasnHeat Plumberz and North East Renocationz and undertook gas work on boilers and gas fires at five homes in Blyth, Ryton, Hexham, Winlaton and Newcastle.
However, not only was the work he carried out illegal, it was also sub-standard and endangered the lives of those living in the properties. Carrying out gas work without registration is illegal and potentially dangerous, as unqualified work can lead to gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Visit the HSE website to read more.
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