Neal's Notes For March 2011

Brits shy away from making claims in the workplace

A new study has suggested that despite the fact that 120,000 injuries were reported in the work place in the last year, a quarter of those surveyed would not make a claim if they were seriously injured using faulty or unsuitable equipment in the workplace.
Muiris Lyons, president of not-for-profit campaign organisation the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), commented: “Many of us may have suffered an injury through no fault of our own at work but in the workplace there seems to be a real reluctance to make a claim in cases of negligence.
“Most employees will have built a rapport with their employer over a period of time and if a case of negligence occurs in the workplace, some individuals could feel embarrassed or think that there may be a stigma attached if they are seen making a claim against their employer. Some may fear that if they make a claim, their career may be put at risk or that they might be looked upon as a troublemaker.
“There seems be a perception that those making personal injury negligence claims are taking advantage of an unfortunate situation. And yet the reality is that the negative stigma attached to individuals making a claim if they're injured in the workplace is an unfair one.
Muiris concluded: “People are right to make a claim if they are injured through an employer's negligence – it's an employer's duty to keep employees safe in the work place. Employees should therefore be able to feel empowered to stand up for their rights when it comes to cases of negligence at work.

Protect workers' hearing with doseBadge system

Sound Measurement equipment manufacturer, Pulsar Instruments is warning employers of the dangers of hearing damage due to excessive noise levels or impulse noise in the workplace. The company has recently launched their improved doseBadge system to ensure compliance with the EU Physical Agents (Noise) Directive. This doseBadge is a self-contained noise measurement device that has no cables, displays or controls, making it the ideal solution for capturing the reality of the wearers' daily noise exposure levels.
The new Pulsar doseBadge kit now includes a new 'fast charge' function on the updated charger unit, meaning the badges can be fully charged and ready to use in as little as three hours. This represents real savings in terms of time and money. The kit is extremely robust and simple to use. This system is perfect for both professionals who are new to noise measurement and also those who have established that dosimetry is their preferred method of compliance with the Noise at Work regulations. The dBLink software that is supplied as standard with the kit allows users to quickly and easily analyse and transform data into informative report formats.
Sarah Brack of Pulsar Instruments says: "Our doseBadge System is perfect for the busy Health & Safety manager, who has limited time for noise measurement. The doseBadge can be started at the beginning of a shift and stopped at the end. Measurement data can then be downloaded for analysis from the Reader Unit when it's convenient. It really is that simple."
For more information on the Pulsar doseBadge, please visit our website: www.pulsarinstruments.com OR ring 01723 518011 or email sales@pulsarinstruments.com to discuss your specific requirements.

Downstairs quick and safe in an emergency

Evac+Chair is a universal evacuation solution for smooth stairway descent during an emergency. Single user operation ensures no heavy lifting or manual handling is required during emergency evacuation procedures.
For more information visit website at: www.evac-chair.co.uk

Happiness proposal

As part of the Government's proposed Happiness Index the National Office of Statistics is launching a National Wellbeing which will seek to establish the key areas that matter most to people's wellbeing. While the concept has had a mixed reception there is little doubt that measuring and improving wellbeing is increasingly on the corporate agenda with many companies confirming that doing so pays dividends not just in terms of worker morale but also in productivity. Are you one such company, or are you still to be convinced of the merits of promoting worker wellbeing

Cirrus Research launches its new noise nuisance recorder, the Trojan

Specialist noise measurement equipment manufacturer, Cirrus Research, has announced the launch of its new noise nuisance recorder, the Trojan. Local authorities and housing associations across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom now have a simple, accurate and ultra compact noise nuisance recorder at their disposal that is the ultimate in discretion.
Drawing on Cirrus Research's 40 years of experience the company has ensured that the Trojan meets and exceeds its customers' expectations. James Tingay, group marketing manager at Cirrus Research explains: “A noise nuisance recorder is an extremely valuable piece of equipment for local authorities and housing associations to use as it provides the means of monitoring whether a noise complaint by a local resident is credible. It is therefore vital that the recorder is discreet to install, is as simple as physically possible to use and that the measured noise is accurate. We believe the Trojan does just that; it provides the latest technological innovation and added functionality that is necessary for environmental noise to be accurately measured and is supplied in an inconspicuous carry case.”
James continues: “One of the major issues with other noise nuisance recorders currently on the market is that they can be complex to use and difficult to configure. With the Trojan, we've gone for simplicity over complexity.”
The complete Trojan system starts from £4,495 which includes calibrator, software, and all accessories. For further information on the Trojan please contact Cirrus Research on 0845 230 2434 or visit www.cirrus-trojan.co.uk

Mud and snow tyres mandatory on drive axles in Germany

UK and Ireland-based operators travelling to or through Germany are now required to have M+S tyres fitted to drive axles during snowy and icy conditions following a revision to the existing law in the European country.
• New regulation in Germany requires operators to fit mud and snow (M+S) tyres to drive axles in wintry conditions
• Winter tyres, like Continental's Scandinavia, range essential for road safety when there is snow, ice and frost on the road
• Entire Scandinavia range conforms to new stricter regulation; bears M+S marking on sidewall
The new regulation, which came into effect on 4 December 2010, stipulates that all buses with more than eight seats and all commercial vehicles over 3.5-tonnes be fitted with M+S tyres when roads are covered with ice, hard-packed snow and slush. Continental's existing winter range of tyres, called Scandinavia, all bear the M+S marking on the sidewall.
For trucks, the HDW 2 tyre provides the operator with maximum grip and control on slippery road surfaces especially when used with Scandinavia tyres for steer and trailer axles. The HSW 2 Coach is an all-round winter tyre for the coach market and features numerous sipes that delivers better traction versus summer tyres in the snow or on icy roads.
Dr Hans-Joachim Nikolin, head of Commercial Vehicle Tyres division at Continental, said: “Operators will benefit from the fact that German legislators have defined more clearly which tyres are suitable for winter and when they should be used. Following our extensive series of tests, we would recommend fitting special winter tyres like Scandinavia on all axles depending on the load and truck assignment. As early as 40km/h (25mph), these tyres reduce the braking distance on icy surfaces by almost the length of a truck.”
Jill Rodgers, Marketing Manager Commercial Products at Continental UK, said: “Legislation on winter tyres varies widely across Europe and it is essential that operators check what the requirements are before undertaking their journey. This can be done using Continental's online Winter Tyre Guide, which provides the latest information on current tyre legislation in the EU”.
Continental's winter tyre guide can be downloaded at www.conti-online.co.uk/truck

Tips to protect workers from colds and flu

Figures from the CBI reveal there were 180 million sick days taken in the UK in 2009 costing employers around £17 billion and colds and flu are still cited as one of the main causes of short-term absence.
Slingsby has compiled a list of guidelines that workplaces should encourage employees to follow in order to maintain a healthy environment:-
Wash hands regularly – This is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of colds. Frequent hand washing kills viruses that are acquired from touching surfaces used by other people so ensure all sinks and wash rooms have well stocked soap dispensers or antibacterial hand wash present:
• Avoid touching your face - especially the nose, mouth, and eye areas, if you are around someone with a cold or have been touching surfaces in a public area
• Stop smoking - cigarette smoke can irritate the airways and increase susceptibility to colds and other infections
• Use disposable cups and cutlery – These are good in busy environments because they can be thrown away after each use and prevent the accidental spread of viruses from sharing cups etc
• Keep surfaces clean - door knobs, keyboards, light switches, telephones, remote controls, desks and work surfaces can all harbour viruses for hours after their use by an infected person. Ensure surfaces are cleaned regularly with soap and water or a disinfectant solution
• Paper towels are good in kitchens and bathrooms for hand washing because germs can live for several hours on cloth towels
• Control stress. Studies have shown that people experiencing stress have weakened immune systems and are more likely to catch a cold than their calmer counterparts

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