Neal's Notes for May 2008

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Company carbon calculator

A company specialising in carbon off-setting is launching a new online calculator aimed at helping businesses to work out their level of carbon emission. It looks at the five main areas that contribute to a company's carbon footprint- on-site energy use, off-site server energy use, company vehicles, business travel and employee commuting. The tool was designed to be quick and easy to use and can be accessed at www.terrapass.com

Suicide was Company's fault says House of Lords

The House of Lords has ruled that the widow of a man who killed himself six years after an industrial accident should be compensated by the former employers. Five law lords upheld a Court of Appeal judgement of March 2006 that IBC Vehicles was responsible for the death of Thomas Corr. Corr severed most of his right ear at the car factory and later suffered from headaches, tinnitus and post-traumatic stress disorder which led to severe depression and then suicide.

Unacceptable performance by refurbishment sector of the construction industry

"Over one in three construction sites visited put the lives of workers at risk and operated so far below the acceptable standard that our inspectors served 395 enforcement notices and stopped work on 30% of the sites" , Geoffrey Podger, HSE's Chief Executive said today.

This comes after The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out over 1000 spot checks of refurbishment sites across Great Britain during February as part of its rolling inspection programme targeting poor performing sectors in the construction industry.

"We stopped work on site immediately during approximately 300 inspections because we felt there was a real possibility that life would be lost or ruined through serious injury. Our inspectors were appalled at the blatant disregard for basic health and safety precautions on refurbishment sites across Great Britain.
HSE will not tolerate negligence or poor safety standards on construction sites. It is totally unacceptable that so many lives have been put at risk and we will take all action necessary to protect workers, including closing sites and prosecuting those responsible. The construction industry should take ownership of this issue and do more to tackle poor standards on sites" , was Mr Podger's stark warning to the refurbishment sector.

HSE's construction division reported that basic safety precautions were being flouted and issues such as work at height remain a huge concern. Over half of the enforcement action taken during this inspection initiative was against dangerous work at height, which last year led to the death of 23 workers.

Last year over half of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, and the number of deaths on refurbishment sites rose by 61%.

During the spot checks, HSE inspectors looked at whether:

Jobs that involved working at height had been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions were in place
Equipment was correctly installed / assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly
Sites were well organised, to avoid trips and falls
Walkways and stairs were free from obstructions
Work areas were clear of unnecessary materials and waste
The work force was made aware of risk control measures

RoSPA OFFERS FREE BTEC OPPORTUNITY TO AT-WORK DRIVERS

Drivers who pass RoSPA's prestigious advanced driving test for “at-work” motorists now have the opportunity to upgrade their qualification free of charge.
For the first time, successful candidates who have carried out three days of RoADTest training with the safety charity can apply to Edexcel to have their qualification recognised at BTEC Level Three at no extra cost. The opportunity is available to candidates who pass their test from March onwards.
Simon Protano, Head of RoSPA Driver and Fleet Solutions, said: “We are extremely proud of RoADTest, which was developed as the first advanced driving test to specifically meet the needs of business drivers. It sets the benchmark standard for 'at-work' driving, and takes into consideration the realities faced by those who use the road for work purposes, which can include driving thousands of miles each year under deadline pressures and in unfamiliar vehicles.
“The new opportunity for successful RoADTest candidates to have their qualifications recognised at BTEC Level Three (equivalent to an A-Level) for no extra charge will be beneficial to all firms, irrespective of whether they have a car or van fleet or employ professional haulage or passenger transport drivers.
“We hope it will particularly appeal to those organisations committed to promoting continuing professional development among their staff.
“With Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) arrangements for bus and coach drivers coming into force across Europe in September, fleet managers might also like to consider putting their staff through RoADTest so they can build up the training hours required.”

RoADTest consists of a flexible modular training programme - typically three days with a RoSPA trainer, outside of which drivers practise and consolidate what they have learned. It culminates in a candidate taking a theory test, practical driving test and hazard perception assessment.
The programme, which can be spread over three years, covers key issues related to occupational road risk, including drink and drugs, mobile phones, speed, fatigue, and posture, seat support and head restraints.
Simon Protano added: “RoSPA has campaigned for more than 10 years for occupational road risk to be addressed as a mainstream accident prevention issue, and we are committed to developing resources and services such as RoADTest to help employers manage this important aspect of health and safety.”

RoADTest was jointly developed by RoSPA and DriveTech (UK) Limited. For more information, call 0121 248 2105, email fleetsolutions@rospa.com or visit www.rospa.com/roadtest/

CONFERENCE TO LOOK AT A MAJOR CAUSE OF WORKPLACE DEATHS

Preventing workplace transport accidents, which claimed 66 lives last year, will be the aim of a conference run by RoSPA and the Health and Safety Executive.
The Managing Workplace Transport Risks Conference: A Matter of Life or Death will include briefings on current accident and enforcement trends and effective solutions to safety issues related to the use of vehicles in places of work.
A focus will be the HSE's new Route Map, which brings together details of legislation, guidance and good practice relevant to managing workplace transport risks.
Provisional figures show 52 workers and 14 members of the public were killed in accidents involving workplace transport in Britain in 2006/07. In the same year, workplace transport accidents also led to 1,677 major injuries and 4,233 other injuries requiring people to have more than three days off work * .
Held on Wednesday, May 14, in the Concourse Suite at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, the conference will run alongside Safety & Health Expo.
Ian Hetherington, Chief Executive of Skills for Logistics, will be the keynote speaker.
Carol Grainger, Programme Manager for the HSE's Workplace Transport Programme, will outline accident statistics and solutions related to the main types of workplace transport accident: people being hit by vehicles; people falling from vehicles; objects falling from vehicles onto people; and vehicles toppling over.
Jayn Johnson, a Health and Safety Inspector from the HSE, will explain what she looks for in terms of workplace transport, including management and supervision, site layout, vehicle selection and maintenance, operational issues, such as tipping, and driver competence.
There will also be a presentation by the Freight Transport Association, and case studies from Menzies Distribution and MacLellan International Limited.
Roger Bibbings, Occupational Safety Adviser at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “Workplace transport is a key feature of a huge variety of work settings, and can include everything from lorries and cars moving around a site to the use of diggers and fork-lift trucks. The need for its effective management, as well as the management of occupational road risk, therefore cuts across industry boundaries.
“Our speakers will cover a range of important issues, including the culture associated with the use of vehicles at work and the need for good communication between clients and contractors. Delegates will also have the opportunity to network and learn how others are dealing with this critical aspect of workplace safety.”
Full conference details, including an online booking facility, can be found at www.rospa.com/nec/ . Alternatively, email events@rospa.com or call 0121 248 2120 for more information.
* These figures do not include deaths and injuries from work-related road crashes.

Employers are warned, undertake suitable risk assessments

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure that they undertake suitable and sufficient assessments of the risks involved in their undertakings. The warning follows its prosecution of two companies within the JCB group, after two employees, Darren Ellis and Paul McNamara died in separate incidents while undertaking routine tasks.

HSE Inspector Lynne Boulton said: "Both these tragic deaths were not only regrettable but also entirely preventable. Mr Ellis and Mr McNamara have each left behind two children and grieving widows who have our deepest sympathies and our thoughts go with them for their futures.
"All employers must learn from these tragedies that, whatever the task, it is crucial to undertake a suitable risk assessment that deals with the significant risks of that task.
"Even employers with the most responsible attitude to health and safety can put lives at risk if they do not maintain constant vigilance. The importance of appropriate health and safety procedures cannot be overstated."

HSE brought the two cases against JCB Earthmovers Ltd and JC Bamford Excavators Ltd before Stafford Crown Court on 14th March 2008. Both companies had pleaded guilty to charges at earlier court hearings.
JCB Earthmovers Ltd was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £31,366 for breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety etc Act 1974 following the death of Mr Ellis, aged 33, at its manufacturing plant in Cheadle, Staffordshire on 16th November 2005.
Welder Mr Ellis was testing the fuel tank of an earthmoving machine for leaks. Investigations revealed that Mr Ellis was standing close to the tank when the inspection plate blew off, causing him fatal head injuries, after he connected a high-pressure airline instead of using low pressure. At an earlier hearing, Magistrates heard that the low and high-pressure airlines were similar and with identical connectors. The Court also heard that Mr Ellis did not have enough training for the job.
JC Bamford Excavators Ltd, was fined £266,000 and ordered to pay costs of £31,701 for breaching section 2(1) Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 following the death of Mr McNamara, aged 43, on the company's site at Rocester, Staffordshire on 11th September 2006.
Mr McNamara suffered fatal head injuries after being crushed by the boom of an excavating machine (known as a backhoe loader). HSE's investigation revealed that it was common practice for workers to operate the controls for the boom whilst standing outside the cab of the machine and leaning through the back window. A fault on the hydraulic system resulted in the control lever not working properly causing the boom to carry on moving, trapping Mr McNamara and inflicting fatal injuries.

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