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...
HSE takes landmark enforcement action against occupational health service provider The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued its first ever Prohibition Notice against an occupational health service provider, following findings that inadequate health surveillance was putting workers at risk of serious and irreversible harm. The action marks a significant milestone in HSE’s regulation of...
As part of July’s Hazard of the Month, Environmental, we’re highlighting two key areas: Environmental Awareness and Legionella. Environmental Awareness Environmental responsibility is becoming an increasingly important part of business operations. SSIP schemes and Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) now place greater emphasis on environmental performance, making it a key factor when selecting suppliers and contractors, as well as during project...
“His best years have been taken away from him” A construction company has been fined after a worker sustained life-changing injuries when he fell more than two metres while replacing steps at a residential property in Leamington Spa. On 16 July 2024, 65-year-old Nicholas Crow, a bricklayer employed by Sibbasbridge Limited, was working at a...
Risks to workers from extreme heat must be managed Employers need to act now to make sure their workers are protected as a heat health alert has been issued for parts of the country until Thursday 25 June. That’s the message from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the country’s workplace regulator, as summer arrives...
A healthy work environment is one that supports employees’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. While safety compliance is an essential part of this, workplace health also extends to culture, comfort, and day-to-day habits of the workforce. What is a healthy work environment? A healthy work environment is somewhere people can do their jobs safely, feel...
Leisure firm fined after death of footballer electrocuted by floodlight A leisure facilities management company has been fined after a man was electrocuted while playing football in Portsmouth. Albert Xhediku, 34, had been playing five-a-side with his friends on the all-weather pitch at Mountbatten Leisure centre on 17 January 2016. After the ball went out...
Substance misuse is the unsafe or inappropriate use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription and over-the-counter medication. It can affect a person’s health, behaviour, work, relationships, and safety, and may continue even when it causes harm. In the workplace, drug and alcohol misuse can lead to lateness, absenteeism, reduced productivity, and a greater risk of...
Anyone can be affected by substance misuse, and while employers cannot control every facet of an employee’s wellbeing, they can develop a positive workplace culture that supports healthy lifestyle choices. These are ten practical tips for preventing substance misuse in the workplace. 1. Create a clear policy Your organisation should have a clear and up-to-date...
Construction company fined after man died on ‘death trap’ site A construction company has been fined after a man drowned when he fell into an exposed excavation hole described as a ‘death trap’, at a building site in Hertfordshire. Mykhalio Hustei had been working for Alchemist DB Limited as a labourer on a project building...