Category Archives: Industry news

Conservative Minister Chris Grayling told Parliament that he is “considering HSE’s proposals for delivering a renewed and effective health and safety regulatory service”.

This followed announcement of a 35% reduction in HSE’s funding, and the recommendations made by Lord Young. Grayling indicated that the intention is to concentrate on higher risk businesses and to recover the costs arising from reviewing or advising on those activities. In addition, where there has been an intervention due to an employer’s failure, this may result in a financial penalty outside of the court system. For example, where some sort of enforcement action has taken place such as issue of a Prohibition Notice, a penalty charge may be levied.

Mr Grayling also explained that HSE will conduct a formal consultation on any proposals to amend the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). This will involve an impact assessment to consider the costs and benefits of any proposed change.

However, given Lord Young’s stated view on the matter it is now inevitable that RIDDOR will be amended to relax the reporting requirements.

Figures for the number of workers who were fatally injured in various sectors have been released by HSE. They show that between April 2009 and March 2010 there were 41 construction workers killed compared to an average of 66 workers in each of the previous five years. There was a 20% fall on 2008/09 when 52 workers died. The services sector fared slightly worse with 42 workers killed at work, though this compares well with the 72 in the previous five years, and is a reduction of nearly a third on 2008/09 when 62 workers died. Improvements were also recorded in the manufacturing sector where 24 workers were killed compared to an average of 38 in the past five years. This is a reduction of 27% on 2008/09 when 33 workers died.

Cotswold District Council and the police are investigating after a 15-year-old London girl died after being pulled unconscious from the water by a member of the public at a bathing lake at Cotswold Water Park.

Witnesses said there were insufficient staff available but Watermark, who look after the facility, said that four lifeguards were on site. They also pointed out that there are signs advising families to supervise their own children.

After the incident it came to light that the local parish council had previously raised concerns and written to the district council on what they saw as insufficient first aid cover and too few lifeguards. The parish council requested an investigation to allay concerns about public safety, but Cotswold District Council passed the letter to the HSE. This prompted councillor Esmond Jenkins to say “There’s a question mark now as to whether Cotswold District Council realised they had been responsible for the place or are indeed responsible for the place in health and safety terms”.

The Health and Safety Executive have published their Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/10. This can be accessed at www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/0910. Running to over 100 pages, the document gives information including a commentary on health and safety performance.

A retired draughtsman was killed after he fell from the stairs of a coach as it drew up outside his holiday hotel in Devon. Paramedics took James Hartill, aged 79, to Torbay Hospital in Torquay after the incident but he died of his injuries. Reports suggest that the man was standing on the rear stairs and lost his balance, striking his head on the stairwell, when the coach reversed into the car park of the Water’s Edge Hotel.

Two teenagers are thought to have been responsible for an incident in Percy Main, Tyne & Wear, in which a bus driver had a green laser shone into his eyes. The driver of the 19 Veolia Transport passenger service sustained blurred vision and discomfort and had to seek hospital treatment.

As part of a European-wide campaign called “Risk Assessment in the Use of Hazardous Substances”, enforcement agencies in the UK are to focus on motor vehicle repair. The campaign has been instigated by the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee, who aim to promote consistency in approach.