Neals Notes August 2000
How Safe is Your Office? The average office does not come to mind when thinking of dangerous working environments and falls some way behind the everyday conception of working in a steel mill or down a mine. But recent research suggests that the office is quite a dangerous place to work in. This is despite the H & S Legislation aimed specifically at the office since 1993. In fact things are getting worse.
It seems that only 30% of companies comply fully with the Display Screen regulations, that 1 in 10 office workers who use a VDU for more than half a working day are already suffering from RSI, (Greening's research showed that even those who do not suffer RSI symptoms have damaged nerves in the carpal region) and 1 in 500 office workers are at risk of an epileptic attack which has been triggered by the working environment.
And 50 million working days are lost each year by UK PLC solely by the way office workers sit at their desks. The cost to the companies not complying with legislation is up to £20,000 for an fine per injured employee and compensation awards averaging some £80,000. Get Make Your Office Safe free of charge by ringing 01635 42754.
Disability Discrimination will start to bite. The Disability Discrimination Act gives the disabled the right not to be discriminated against in employment, getting goods and services and buying and renting land or property. Currently, employers of 15 or more people cannot treat a disabled person less favourably than a non-disabled one and the Government has a number of schemes in place, notably Access to Work, which support the employment of tghe disabled. This Access to work provides funding for additional equipment and adaptations. But the word is that the Disability Rights Commission is proposing that the 15 person rule be reduced to 2 people to bring most employers within the legislation. Currently the DRC is consulating on how this can be achieved and how soon.
Local Authorities urged to emphasise Health and Safety measures. The Chair of the Health and Safety Commission has called for more local authorities to give health and safety greater priority in order to achieve tough improvement targets for cutting work-related deaths, injuries and ill-health throughout GB.
Provisional figures for 1999-2000 in local authority enforced sectors show increases in both reported fatal and non-fatal injuriesto members of the public even though the level of injuries to employees has remained more or less static. Eleven workers have died as a result of work-related incidents and seventeen members of the public. This compares with 12 workers and 11 members of the publicnin 1998-1999. But, the provisional number of non-fatal injuries to workers for 1999-2000 is 27,932 compared with 30,882 the previous year and the public has suffered 6,845 non-fatal injuris in 1999-2000 compared with 4,202 the previous year.
Local authorities served almost six and a half thousand enforcement noticesin 1998-1999 which represanted the first increase for five years. The average fine for Court cases in 1998-1999 was just over £4,000 and 84% higher than the previous year. There are over 400 local authorities in the UK with responsibility for enforcing legislation in 1.2 million premises.
Employment Documentation Kit for SME's. Easily-customised templates designed to assists small businesses to create all the employment documentation necessary to meet legal obligations are included in the Employers Resource Kit from Life Software. The kit costs £29.99 plus VAT and you can get it by ringing 0870 160 445.
Stricter Controls for Oil Stores. Proposed regulations to introduce new standards for above ground oilstores include a requirement that all such stores should have a containing wall or bund to reduce oil-related water pollution by about half by 2005. Copies of the consultation document are available from DETR Free Literature, P O Box 236, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7NB Tel: 0870 1226 236
Record Breaking on the Cards. Early signs indicate that this years European Weeek for Safety and Health is set to break all previous records with thousands of organisations throughout the UK preparing to take part in the event which runs from October 16 th to the 22nd. This year the initiative coincides with Back CareWeek. Fact. Musculoskeletal discorders and back pain are currently costing UK PLC some £5 billion a year with over119 million days lost from work each year.
Need Help on Health and Safety? is the title of a simple guide fromthe HSE which aims to assist employers to identify health and safety problems in the workplace. It tells how to get the right help at the right time and encourages the adoption of a preventative and protective approach which involves employees. Single copies are free but packs of 10 cost £5. Contact HSE Books on 01787 881165
This page is sponsored by Professional Health and Safety Consultants Ltd. Phone Internationally: +44 2087787838 or UK London 020 8778 7838 for all your health and safety requirements.