29/10/20
As larger proportions of the national workforce have incrementally been returning to the workplace, the issues faced by those industries which have continued to operate during lockdown are coming under greater scrutiny. The most significant of these factors is ensuring that the workplace is COVID-secure…
14/10/20
The guidance document 'Occupational Health advice for employers and pregnant woman during the COVID-19 pandemic' has been archived. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine (FOM) had produced…
16/07/20
With a greater reliance by General Practitioners on the use of the Instant Messaging (IM) service within their practice when using the clinical SystmOne IT platform, there is an increasing risk of unintentionally using the system inappropriately; thereby resulting in action being taken by the General…
13/07/20
On the 1st July 2020, the HSE released the annual figures for 2019/20 for workplace fatal injuries reportable under RIDDOR and falling within their jurisdiction as enforcement authority. The figures as yet are provisional and will be finalised in July 2021. What are the Key trends shown by the…
10/07/20
Craig MacKenzie and Rod Hall recently defended a prosecution brought by a Local Authority following the death of a 25 year old customer who fell from height after leaving a night club. Forbes represented the company and one of the directors. The company was charged with offences contrary to the…
30/06/20
The HSE has reminded us that the coronavirus outbreak has not changed an employer's duty to make sure people are not exposed to hazardous substances as part of their work and has issued guidance to employers specifically aimed at the outbreak. Personal protective equipment (PPE) protects the…
30/06/20
Air conditioning The risk of air conditioning spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) in the workplace is extremely low. You can continue using most types of air conditioning system as normal. But, if you use a centralised ventilations system that removes and circulates air to different rooms it is…
29/06/20
Two recent HSE prosecutions remind employers of their obligations to employees when working in potentially dangerous situations and of the fines and imprisonment that will follow if the HSE finds failings. Chelmsford Crown Court heard that in July 2017, a worker was seriously injured when roof…
22/05/20
The MOJ have recently released the Coroners statistics for 2019 for England & Wales on the 14th May 2020*. The statistics confirm: · The lowest level of deaths reported to coroners since 1998, at 210,912 · Of those 1,939 were reports of deaths that had occurred outside…
27/04/20
In the midst of a global crisis, with the health of hundreds of thousands of people at risk, many losing their loved ones, job losses, business closures, families and friends separated for an uncertain amount of time, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the seemingly endless negative aspects of the…
21/04/20
Construction firm fined by HSE after worker suffers serious injuries in fall from height A construction firm has been fined £55,620 after a 17-year-old worker fell through an opening for a roof light. The roof light had been covered with a sheet of insulation and the area had been left…
21/04/20
Waste management company fined after banksman suffers crushing injury A waste management company has been fined £400,000 after an employee was crushed by a reversing 22.5 tonne shovel loader driven by an on-site contractor. The injured employee was acting as a banksman, assisting a lorry to…
08/04/20
Following on from the recent article on COVID-19 Risk assessments , the Health & Safety Executive, have provided further guidance on the reporting requirements under 'The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013' (RIDDOR). A report should only be made…
31/03/20
The Bill is designed to provide the Government and the authorities with wide ranging powers to respond to the current health crisis. It will cover the following areas: · Workforce · Easing Pressure · Limiting Contact · Controlling Borders · Sick Pay…
