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. […]
Demolition of fire-ravaged building at Glasgow Central begins A huge blaze that engulfed a B-listed Victorian building in the centre of Glasgow on Sunday evening has left Scotland’s busiest railway station shut down for days and destroyed dozens of businesses. The fire started in a vape shop on Union Street at about 15:45 on Sunday, […]
A substance is considered hazardous if it has the potential to cause harm in any way. Under COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health), hazardous substances include those that are corrosive, explosive, toxic, or capable of oxidising. Most workplaces across the UK use substances that could pose a risk to health. It is therefore vital […]
Fine after employee killed operating ride-on lawnmower An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that MHS Countryside Management Limited had failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient site-specific risk assessment for the work being undertaken. The investigation also established that the mower’s roll-over protection system (ROPS) had been removed at some […]
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 […]
Veterans warn of cold injury risk Conditions that damaged thousands in the armed forces are still present across UK construction, logistics, and outdoor industries. The injuries started in the military. Now they’re showing up on worksites. As Britain endures another wet, cold season, veteran specialists are warning civilian employers: cold exposure doesn’t need to freeze […]
Two firms fined after racking collapse killed two workers Two companies have been fined following an incident which resulted in the deaths of two workers in West Yorkshire. Lee Horton, 58, and Daron Pickstock, 43, were killed when an industrial racking system collapsed as it was being tested at Castefields Industrial Estate in Bingley on […]
Many companies use contractors for specialist tasks that their own employees are unable to carry out. This could involve working on critical process plant and equipment or carrying out non-routine activities where there is a greater potential for harm if their work is not properly managed. So, how can you act responsibly to ensure that […]
A contractor is anyone who works for you who is not a direct employee – in many industries they are commonly found on site, and it is essential that they are managed properly in order to avoid risks to themselves and others on site. 1. Identify the job and its hazards To be able to […]
IOSH warns against losing focus on building safety IOSH is urging the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to maintain its firm commitment to high standards and sustain the momentum behind the industry’s necessary cultural transformation. The global professional body is concerned that delays in the approval processes could fuel claims that building safety requirements are holding […]