Search Results for: health and safety

Between September 14th and October 9th this year, the Health and Safety Executive will be carrying out random inspections of refurbishment sites across the country. This is the 10th year in a row the HSE has undertaken such an initiative, and the aim is to ensure that dangerous activities, especially those risking the health of… Read more »

The press have reported a number of incidents recently from across the UK concerning the mishandling of asbestos in varied settings and the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) has spoken out to express its concern that training, though given, is being widely ignored. The General Manager of UKATA, Craig Evans, has made it clear that… Read more »

At first sight, the number of deaths – 35 – may seem a lot and of course it is still unacceptably high, the only ‘good’ number being zero, but taken in the context of previous years, which average at forty-five deaths, this 22% reduction is a remarkable feat and owes a great deal to the… Read more »

A Welsh builder has been given a six month custodial sentence after being found guilty of exposing three of his workers to asbestos inhalation when working on a commercial unit in Colwyn Bay in 2012. His company had been employed by the unit’s owner to remove asbestos prior to the building being put up for… Read more »

Gold Award for ‘Beware Asbestos’ campaign A gold award for innovation has been awarded to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) asbestos safety campaign at the recent Institute of Promotional Marketing (IPM) awards ceremony. The award was collected by the HSE and the creative communications agency 23Red, who worked together on this project, to design… Read more »

Fines for firm whose workers were injured falling from a height A firm based in Lichfield in the West Midlands was fined £10,000 in a recent case brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) when they pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Two… Read more »

IPAF conference takes place in Hong Kong The International Powered Access Federation Asia conference took place in March and the main topic was the continuing development of the aerial work platform sector in the world’s emerging markets and how to promote safety for new users. The vice chairman of the conference, Alan Chan, of the… Read more »

Fines levied for ignoring potential asbestos risk A leaseholder of a catering business has recently been handed down a severe fine of £10,000, plus £5,000 costs and a £500 victim surcharge after removing asbestos insulation board without taking the proper and legally required precautions. The law is very clear on the matter – it is… Read more »

Over 1.1 million MEWPs now in worldwide rental fleet The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) recently discovered that there are approximately 1,120,000 mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) available to hire around the world. This figure is 8% higher than the previous year, and of course does not even include those MEWPs individually owned by construction… Read more »