Evacuation plans are required by law to ensure that everybody knows what to do in the case of an emergency. It is important that your plans are specific to your workplace and take all potential factors into account. What are some evacuation hazards? Evacuation hazards should hopefully be rare events and may be location dependent. […]
Elephant poll urges world not to forget key issues This year, it seems an appropriate day to reveal what occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals believe to be the chief ‘elephant in the room’ when it comes to their practice. All of us will talk about the weather, we’ll talk about sport, we’ll talk about […]
By law, employers are required to plan, manage and monitor the use of hazardous substances. An important aspect of this duty is ensuring that substances are handles and stored in line with risk assessments and legislation. What are the main substances covered by COSHH? COSHH covers many forms of substances that are hazardous to health. […]
As part of March’s Hazard of the Month, Warehouses, we’re highlighting two key areas: COSHH and Manual Handling. COSHH Employers have a legal duty to protect employees from exposure to hazardous substances, which may include: Dust Fumes Chemicals Vapours Mists Nanomaterials and nanotechnology by-products Gases Biological agents Germs Where substances are classified as carcinogens, mutagens, or […]
Chemicals firm fined following explosion A solvents manufacturer has been fined following an explosion at its factory in the Scottish Borders. The blast at Rathburn Chemicals in Walkerburn on 10 January 2020 resulted in a laboratory, which was part of the factory, being demolished. It was likely caused by excessive pentane vapour, generated by the […]
Scientists charge ‘charcoal sponge’ to soak up CO2 Scientists have devised a low-cost, energy-efficient method of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air, new research suggests. The team at the University of Cambridge used a method similar to charging a battery to charge activated charcoal, which is often used in household water filters to […]
In any industry that involves working with chemicals or hazardous substances, workers will invariably come across COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) symbols on the labels of bottles and containers that store dangerous substances. It is essential that these labels are understood, and that the COSHH standards are followed in the handling and storage […]
Mind celebrates milestone Mental health charity Mind is celebrating its national partner Dunelm becoming the 2,500th organisation to sign up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment. Designed for organisations of all sizes from all sectors, the Mental Health at Work Commitment, part of the Mental Health at Work Programme, is a simple framework and is based […]
RCN concerned after mental health hub closures The RCN has learned that out of 41 mental health hubs established to support health and social care staff in England, a third have already closed, leaving an estimated one million people unsupported. A further seven of the specialist hubs, which were launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, have […]
Hazardous substances are responsible for illness in thousands of workers every year, and can cause a number of serious conditions such as asthma, cancer and skin disease. It is essential that employers take precautionary measures to protect their workers from these substances. Keep reading for our advice on how to take control in your workplace […]