Neal's Notes For January 2011
Watch out the Inpectors may be coming your way
More than 70 firms across West Yorkshire have been told to make safety improvements to protect their workers after an intensive two-week inspection initiative.Flammable liquids not being stored properly, missing or inadequate guards around machines and uncontrolled exposure to fumes from welding, were some of the hazards identified by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authority officers who visited nearly 450 companies across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield
Eight of the visits resulted in Prohibition Notices being served - meaning dangerous activities had to be stopped and action taken before work was allowed to continue. In addition 63 premises were served with Improvement Notices that require businesses to correct or improve failings within a given timescale or risk further enforcement action.
One firm in Kirklees is under further investigation and could be prosecuted as a result of the serious dangers uncovered by Inspectors.HSE Principal Inspector David Green said: "It's encouraging that the majority of businesses we visited did appear to be doing all the right things to protect their workers. However, despite making companies in the target areas aware, in advance, that we were carrying out inspections we did still find a significant number of unsafe working practices that put employees at risk of illness or injury.
"We always prefer to offer guidance and advice to business to help them operate within the law but we will take enforcement action when we find the health and safety of employees are being put at risk."
Margaret Durkin, of Kirklees Council's Public Protection Services, said: "We recognize that most businesses visited by inspectors were generally compliant with the legislation and welcomed advice and guidance on offer. It was also useful to forge closer links with colleagues in HSE and I'm sure those will come in very useful in future
Mesh machine guard for perfect protection
Protecting workers from machinery, such as robots and other similar automated systems, is an essential requirement for all manufacturing sites and businesses where areas of potential danger exist. Apart from ensuring that employees benefit from a safe environment the cost of accidents can be crippling in both down time and financial terms.
One solution is available from Stakrak Ltd with their range of STAK GUARD modular perimeter machine guarding mesh systems which are fast and easy to install. Stakrak can also provide specialist knowledge and expertise to ensure that you purchase the most cost-effective solution to meet your requirements and most importantly, one that complies with the latest Machine Guarding Directives (2006/42/EC) which came into force in December 2009.
Modular systems are available in various panel widths and heights ensuring the best solution for most machine guarding applications. A range of doors and locking systems is also available, from basic snap and catch devices to more sophisticated interlocks with switches. .
Further details are available on line at: http://www.stakrak.co.uk/machine-guarding.htm or from: Ian Holmes, Stakrak Ltd, Unit 19, Pelham Court, Broadfield, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9SH. Tel: 01293 538822, Fax: 550533. Email: sales@stakrak.co.uk
Death rate falls but more to be done
Fewer people in manufacturing are dying or being injured by their work,.In Britain, between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as amputations or broken bones fell by eleven percent from 4,331 to 3,863.
During the same period, reported injuries that kept workers away from work for three or more days fell by 16 percent from 17,460 to 14,678. 22 people died in manufacturing during 2009/10, compared to an average of 33 in the past five years and seven fewer than in 2008/09 (see notes to editors).
However, 158 employees per 100,000 suffer a major injury or are killed as a result of manufacturing work - 50 per cent more than the all industry average rate of 102 per 100,000.
Geoff Cox, Head of Manufacturing for HSE, said: "We are encouraged that there are fewer deaths and injuries in manufacturing this year, but we cannot afford to become complacent. The actual rate of death and injury, though that has fallen too, is still significantly higher than that taken from across all workplaces.
"As Britain moves out of recession and work starts up again, we must continue to focus on real health and safety. History shows that accident rates rise in such periods, as new workers are taken on and industry works closer to its capacity. We don't want these improvements to be lost in the economic recovery." Across all industries in 2009/10, 152 workers were fatally injured in Britain - down from 179 the previous year. This is the lowest level on record, with 0.5 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Finger friendly or wrist wrecker, the keyboard option
Maltron ergonomic keyboards are internationally revered as the means of preventing keyboard-induced RSI and enabling those stricken by this crippling condition to return to full-time work. The latest addition to the extensive Maltron range of specialist keyboards is the flat Finger Friendly that incorporates many proven features from the Maltron portfolio.
This Finger Friendly keyboard offers keys in straight columns but the rows of keys are set to suit the varying lengths of the specific operating fingers. Typically the column for the longest middle finger is positioned for easy non-straining access by that finger. A pattern followed for all the fingers on both hands. The home row is highlighted by yellow keys.
New York based PC Magazine gave the Maltron a 4 Star rating, and Mac User Magazine a Five Mouse rating with the comment “Perfect for thosesuffering from or trying to elude RSI”. .PCD Maltron Ltd, Castlefields, Stafford ST16 1BU
Tel. 0845 230 3265 Fax 0845 230 3266 Int. 44 1785 785 529
Email sales@maltron.co.uk Web site www.maltron.com
These boots are made for safety
ESAB's Rigger Boots are elegant yet functional products being solid, comfortable, crush and shock resistant and protect against the risk of slipping
They are hard but flexible, lightweight and comfortable. They have leather inner linings, are water, oil and spark proof and have a wide fitting to make access easy.
The steel toecaps are XXL standard and they have PU2D high protection soles that will resist temperatures of as high as 180°C and have steel mid soles. Excellent grip is assured partly thanks to cleats on the soles that are designed to be penetration resistant.
For more information call ESAB Publicity on +44 (0) 1992 768515 or e-mail info@esab.co.uk
Anti-slip. anti-crush and anti-shock Esab's Ankle Boots are as stylish as a slip-on shoe yet offer resistance to crush and shock as well as protection against slipping fall risks. Lightweight and comfortable, they are also hard and flexible, with a leather inner lining, an XXL steel toecap and steel mid-soles.
The PU2D sole resists temperatures of 180°C and there is a anti static and shock absorbing heel. These boots look like ordinary shoes, are comfortable and solid and are also crush and shock resistant. They feature a wide opening for easy access and have a soft collar padding to provide ankle protection. Velcro fastened, they are water, oil and spark proof.
For more information call ESAB Publicity on +44 (0) 1992 768515 or e-mail info@esab.co.uk
Need a Lift?
Crest Lifts has been providing a range of expert lift services to local businesses for over 20 years from its base in Camberley, Surrey. Clients are to be found across Hampshire, Berkshire, Sussex and Kent, as well as London and major centres including Croydon, Guildford, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton and Reading.
Services cover Maintenance Repairs Modernisation/Refurbishment and the
Installation of new lifts.
Ring 01252 521 400
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