A poll conducted by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) found that many agreed that workplace health and safety can help tackle the UK’s current economic crisis. The snap social media poll conducted earlier this month found that more than two thirds of respondents (68%) said ‘Yes’ when asked if occupational safety...
HSE undertakes assurance inspections in the NHS
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is undertaking a series of assurance inspections in the NHS to assess how risks of workplace violence and aggression and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are managed. Inspectors from Britain’s health and safety watchdog are focusing on the findings and recommendations from the HSE’s 4-year inspection programme on the risk...
Frontline staff most likely to face work-related violence
Working with the public can now be identified as one of the biggest risk factors for work-related violence. Workers in public-facing sectors such as retail, public transport and healthcare have reported frequent and sometimes very serious abuse in recent years. In fact, the British Retail Consortium have reported that violence and abuse against their...
IOSH calls for ‘proactive and holistic’ approach to health and safety
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is calling for a “more proactive and holistic approach” to health and safety at work to prevent UK standards from falling. The world’s largest professional health and safety body is urging the government to ratify the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) conventions relating to occupational safety and...
Care firms fined following violent attacks on staff
Two firms operating in the adult social care sector have been fined more than £400,000 after “systemic failures” led to staff being injured in repeated violent attacks by patients. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the leading care firms should have implemented “preventative measures to prevent violence,” such as training for staff. Britain’s...
Firm fined £2.3m for risk of ‘death to multiple casualties’
A company has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and fined £2.3 million after unsafe working practices meant there was a risk of “serious injury or death to multiple casualties.” Exolum Pipeline System Ltd, formerly known as CLH Pipeline System (CLH-PS) Ltd, is a major pipeline transportation company based in London....
What is the future for health and safety law in the UK?
Many existing regulations could disappear from UK health and safety law at the end of this year if the Retained EU Law (REUL) Bill is approved in its current guise. The Bill, being dubbed the ‘EU Bonfire’ or ‘Sunset’ Bill, could lead to over 4,000 laws being amended, repealed or replaced by the end...
Six figure fine for health board that failed to follow safe working practices
A health board has been fined six figures after a patient died while being treated in hospital as a result of care that fell “below the required standards.” NHS Highland was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to follow safe working practices in relation to the death of 78-year-old Colin...
Firm fined £60,000 after worker suffers ‘life-changing’ injuries
A firm has been fined £60,000 after a worker had to have their arm amputated after becoming entangled in a machine. Superior Machines Ltd, which manufactures agricultural machinery, were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a 68-year-old employee suffered life-threatening injuries when he became entangled on a manual lathe. The incident...
Aviva reducing office space in favour of permanent home-working
Investment company Aviva has announced that it will be closing many of its offices across the UK and allowing staff to work from home as standard practice. Aviva currently employs 16,000 people in the UK and sought to assure that the changes they were making would not amount to job cuts and that staff...
Nestle fined £640,000 after workers arm trapped in machine
Nestle UK Ltd have been prosecuted and fined £640,000 after a worker was injured when their arm became trapped in a machine. The company appeared at Bradford Crown Court, where they pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations in relation to the incident, which “could so easily have been avoided.” The court heard...
Health and safety guidance as Brexit transition period ends
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued guidance for complying with health and safety law as the transition period following Britain leaving the EU comes to an end on 31st December 2020. When the Brexit transition period officially ends, businesses in the UK will still have the same responsibility to protect the health,...