Neals Notes July 2000
A Review of recent Health and Safety Executive Advice and Guidance
Chemical Reaction Processes.
The HSE has just published a guidance booklet for SMEs on designing and operating safe chemical reaction processes which is aimed at chemical manufacturers using batch and semi-batch processes to typically produce resins, polymers, dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals. It tells how to prevent and control the risk of a thermal runaway which occurs when the rate of heat generated by a reaction exceeds the rate of cooling available. This can lead in the worst scenario to an explosion.
The Bhopal incident in India and the Seveso in Italy are extreme example of this kind of problem.
Copies of the booklet, reference HSG143, are available from HSE Books on 0178 7 881165 or Fax on 01787 313995. The web site is www.hsebooks.co.uk
Managing Hand-Arm Vibration
Copies of a CD-ROM entitled the successful management of hand-arm vibration has been produced by the HSE. It will serve equally well as a training aid or a reference source and is based on video clips, sound and animation. It will certainly help managers to meet current duties under existing health and safety law and assist in compliance with new laws on vibration currently under discussion within the European Community. Recent estimates are that over one million people in the UK are exposed to these hand-arm vibrations above the HSE recommended levels.
The CD-ROM costs £95 plus VAT from HSE Books on 0178 7 881165 or Fax on 01787 313995. The web site is www.hsebooks.co.uk
Call for Proposals for Economic and Social Research.
The HSE is asking for submissions for theoretical and/or empirical work which will examine the relationship between enterprise's health and safety policies and the implementation of regulations and company performance. The way that these factors take into account other social and economic policies such as public health, social equality, employability, sustainable development and competitiveness is also of interest. ( How are socially excluded groups taken into account when implementing health and safety policies?) Deadline for entries to this competition for ideas is September 6th 2000 at 12 noon.
These proposals can be found on http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/contant/opps/comnpet.htm Hard copies are available from Fiona Garner of 0114 289 2321 or fax her on 0114 289 2400.
Musculoskeletal disorders: the true cost
Most musculoskeletal disorders are caused by poor working positions, high levels of grip and force, repetitive actions, over reaching and many manual handling tasks which include lifting, pulling, pushing and even carrying. A manufacturer with 3,500 employees found itself with over £150,000 worth of employers' liability claims over a two year period due to manual handling problems. This sum represented 20% of all employer's liability claims for the group. A worker at a chemical site hurt his back trying to lift a metal access cover. His injury eventually forced him to retire. He had received general manual handling training but there was no specific risk assessment and no safe system of work for this specific job. The employee sued his erstwhile company and received £50,000 compensation. A third company has calculated that it has lost 373 working days in a year from a workforce of 170 people due to manual handling problems. This equates to a cost of around £24,000 in lost wages not including the cost of overtime payments to provide cover etc. A year later after the company had introduced handling aids and remedial assistance for those concerned only 74 days were lost. This reduced the cost of lost wages to £5,000 from the original; £24,000.
First ever request for public comment on Prosecution and Investigation Policy
The Health and Safety Commission is asking for public comments on a revised version of its published enforcement policy statement in the interest of clarity so that all concerned will know how what to expect from the HSE and local authorities. The document includes criteria which helps HSE and local authorities to decide when to prosecute employers and others for health and safety offences. It also says that in the event of a work-related fatality, the possibility of a manslaughter change must be considered. The final date to have you say on this publication is October 6th 2000. Free copies of the policy statement and a leaflet entitled What to Expect When a Health and Safety Inspector Calls are available from HSE's Infoline 08701 545500.
Agricultural deaths down..... little consolation for the families
Forty four people died in agricultural accidents last year and this is the second lowest figure since record began. A welcome reduction from the previous year's 57 fatalities commented David Mattey HM Chief Inspector of Agriculture but all these deaths in agriculture and forestry could have been avoided; none were freak accidents that could not have been foreseen or prevented. Last years figure brings the total for the 90's to a staggering 536 fatalities- almost all of them avoidable.
European Safety Week .. free newsletter and action pack
The HSE has published a newsletter and an action pack for the European week for Safety and Health which is being held from 16th to the 22nd of October. The pack contains posters, stickers, fact sheets and a range of booklets offering advice on health issues including back care. (It coincides with Back Care week). Last year over 2,000 organisations in the Uk staged heath and safety initiatives during the week and 30 of them reached the Awards stage at London's Dorchester Hotel.. Incidentally, over 119 million days a year are lost through back pain in the UK at a cost to UK PLC of around £5 billion per year!
Call 08701 545500 for more details.
Metalworking Fluids guidance standards are being developed.
The HSE is currently developing material which sets out standards for the reduction of health risks to workers exposed to metalworking fluids. Although the days of workers stuffing their overall pockets with possible cancer causing metalworking fluids are gone, the HSE has published a study concerning 31 engineering companies which shows there are still causes for concern with regards to current practice in the control of metalworking fluids. And, the HSC has said that the new occupational exposure limits cannot be derived for mineral or water-mix metalworking fluids. It has also recommended that the mineral oil mist Occupational Exposure Standard should no longer apply to metalworking fluids. The HSE would like to hear from any company that feels it is following good practice, controlling exposure to mist and managing sump fluids effectively. If you would like to do this then contact Martin Stear at the HSE on 0151 951 3620. Copies of Metal Working Fluids (ISBN 07176 17971) cost £7.50 and can be ordered from 01787 881165
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