A school trust has been fined £80,000 after safety failings led to multiple young children being injured in an incident that risked significant “mental and emotional impact.” The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) decided to prosecute Thurlow Educational Trust after a classroom ceiling collapsed at Rosemead Preparatory School in London, injuring 15 year 3...
HSE publishes asbestos report for schools
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a report about the management of asbestos in schools, including key safety recommendations. Britain’s health and safety watchdog visited over 400 primary and secondary schools across England, Scotland and Wales between September 2022 and March 2023. They wanted to check that schools were effectively managing the...
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...
Hospitality firms urged to ensure electrical safety this summer
Hospitality venues are being urged to check the electrical safety of their outdoor equipment, after a young boy lost his life when he was electrocuted in a pub garden. Danielle Jones, aged 34 from Romford, is calling on all pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues to ensure that their outdoor electrical installations and equipment...
Firm fined after worker paralysed in ‘preventable’ incident
A manufacturing firm has been fined for health and safety failings after a worker was left paralysed following an “easily preventable” incident. Last month, Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the worker, a 65-year-old man from Worcester, suffered “life-changing” injuries when working for Mountfield CNC Ltd on 4th January 2022. He had been setting up...
School fined £35,000 for ‘shocking and scary’ burn incident
A primary school has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and fined £35,000 for “common sense” safety failings that led to a “shocking and scary” burn incident involving a young child. The London-based school had pleaded not guilty to breaching health and safety regulations but were found guilty following a trial...
HSE reveals 135 people were killed at work last year
The latest work-related fatality statistics for Great Britain reveal that 135 people were killed in accidents at work last year. Published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) this month, the annual figures cover the period from April 2022 until March 2023 and detail work-related fatalities. Britain’s health and safety watchdog says that the industries...
HSE dust inspection drive targets woodworking businesses
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be visiting woodworking businesses to check they are managing the respiratory risks from wood dust. Britain’s health and safety watchdog warns that many businesses in the woodworking industry are endangering their workers’ lives by failing to implement the required safety measures to prevent or control...
Employers must protect workers in hot weather, HSE warns
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must take action to protect their workers during periods of extreme hot weather. Britain’s health and safety watchdog spoke out as temperatures rose across the UK and have said that recent heat-health alerts issued by the Met Office, coupled with the record high...
Health and safety organisations form ‘historic alliance’
Leading professional health and safety organisations have formed an alliance to provide a unified voice for the sector. The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), the British Safety Council (BSC), Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) and the Royal...
HSE spotlight on fairground ride safety
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out 100 targeted inspections of theme park and fairground ride safety this summer. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has planned extra checks on various theme park and fairground rides after a string of incidents in London, Barrow, Cardiff, Hull and Barnsley during recent years. The focused...
Training failures in managing violence and MSDs in the NHS
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has identified failings, including in training, in relation to managing violence and aggression and musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) in the NHS. Britain’s health and safety watchdog carried out a targeted inspection programme on NHS trusts and boards between 2018 and 2022 to assess the management of risks from violence...
HSE inspection initiative targets construction dust
The Health and Safety Executive have launched a two-month long inspection initiative for the construction sector focusing on how dust is managed on sites. From Monday 15th May until Friday 14th July 2023, inspectors from Britain’s health and safety watchdog will be visiting construction sites across the country to check that construction dust is...
Health and safety measures to support long Covid workers
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) believes that workplace health and safety professionals have a key role to play in supporting those with long Covid to work. Dr Karen Michell, IOSH’s Research Programme Lead for Occupational Health, has highlighted the fact that thousands of long Covid sufferers are struggling at work or...
HSE refreshes guidance on work-related violence and aggression
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued updated guidance to help employers protect their staff from work-related violence and aggression. Britain’s health and safety watchdog has refreshed the guidance as reported incidents of work-related violence and aggression have risen in recent years – numbering 688,000 in 2019-20. They say that experiencing violence and...