May 2015

Tel 01204 772977 or 07792 400 503

Comply at Work

safety snippets&

business bytes

Upcoming Courses P3

Tick box fire risk assessment P4-5

Not so fun in the sun P6-7

In the Spotlight P8-9

P2 | Safety Snippets Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Safety Snippets | P3 e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Comply at Work

OUR UPCOMING TRAINING COURSES….Ask us about our special offers:

Pick n mix sessions, free seminars and discounts for retained clients.

Date TBC - please call to register your interest and for more details

Train the Trainer - Toolbox Talk delivery: A short course to provide supervisors with the skills and knowledge to deliver engaging talks.

Thursday 9th July Emergency First Aid

£85.00 + VAT inc Buffet lunch

Wednesday 19th August Emergency First Aid

£85.00 + VAT inc Buffet lunch

TBC Manual Handling and Asbestos

pick and mix session Please enquire for details

All our courses have limited places so please contact us for further details and register your interest

as soon as possible.

P4 | Safety Snippets Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Safety

Snippets

e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Comply at Work

Safety Snippets | P5

Is a “tick box” fire risk assessment sufficient?

Source: Indicator

We sometimes hear of companies who have carried out their fire risk assessment using a checklist- style form. But an inspector from the fire and rescue service has stated that it doesn’t comply. What’s the problem?

Anything wrong with a checklist?

It’s certainly possible for an assessor using a checklist to carry out a suitable fire risk assessment (FRA). In fact, most FRAs use the question and answer format to some extent and many companies which sell professional fire services use a “tick box” type of form. This in itself is not a problem so long as the legal requirements are fulfilled.

What does the law say?

The statutory obligations for FRAs are described in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). The FSO applies within England and Wales; there is similar legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The FSO states within Article 9 that the risk assessment must:

o be “suitable and sufficient” i.e. examine the premises in enough detail to protect life

o identify the fire precautions which are needed and the measures already taken

o take into account any dangerous substances on the premises; and

o take into consideration the risks to any young employees and any others who are particularly at risk.

Note. Where five or more are employed, the assessment must be recorded.

Is there guidance?

There’s further guidance within sector-specific guides produced by the Communities and Local Government Department and if you would like to details, please contact us. Here it states that the FRA should identify the fire hazards, who is at risk and evaluate and reduce those hazards and risks.

It suggests specific topics to cover including: (1) detection and warning systems; (2)fire-fighting equipment; (3) escape routes; (4) lighting (including emergency lighting); (5)signs and notices; (6) maintenance; and (7) instruction and training.

Good or bad?

A tell-tale sign of a poor risk assessment is one with scant information. For example, a form might ask whether there are sufficient fire extinguishers. You should expect more than a “yes” or “no” answer. There should be additional notes listing what type and size of appliance are present, where they are located and whether they are serviced and clearly signed. This shows that the risk assessor properly evaluated the arrangements in place.

Tip 1. Look for a clear action plan outlining any improvements needed. Few businesses are perfect and it’s extraordinarily rare for a properly undertaken FRA to result in no further action.

Tip 2. A good way of deciding whether a document includes sufficient detail is to imagine a stranger being asked to review it at a future date. Would they be able to tell what hazards were present and the fire safety measures which had been taken? If not, the document is not up to scratch.

To summarise: Question and answer style checklists are in widespread use and are perfectly acceptable if they include sufficient information alongside the yes/no answers. A key point to look for is an action plan that identifies any improvements that must be made.

If you would like to discuss your current fire risk assessment or would like a cost for one of our qualified and experienced assessors to assist you, please contact us with no obligation. We can also provide fire marshal training and fire safety awareness training.

P6 | Safety Snippets Tel 01204 77 29 77 mobile 07792 400 503

Business

Bytes

Tip. For now, follow current IOSH and HSE guidance. Both suggest that training and awareness is key - you can use the IOSH campaign material for this purpose. It has produced safety briefings, factsheets, etc. which can be downloaded for free.

http://www.notimetolose.org.uk/

http://www.notimetolose.org.uk/Free-resources/Resource-library/Pack-2-Solar.aspx

The links provide a range of excellent resources and training packs useful for team meetings and ‘toolbox talks’ to inform your staff of the risks and how to protect themselves.

Business Bytes | P7 e-mail info@complyatwork.co.uk www.complyatwork.co.uk

Comply at Work

Not so fun in the sun

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is warning about the risks associated with working in the sun. Jobs include Construction trades, maintenance, conservation, farming, landscaping to name but a few…

Timely reminder. As part of its “No time to lose” occupational cancer campaign, IOSH has turned its attention to the risks of working in the sun. It has identified that skin cancer kills 60 workers per year in Britain and there are at least 1,500 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 240 cases of malignant melanoma linked to solar radiation exposure through work each year.

Warning. IOSH warns that the responsibility for protection from the effects of the sun appears to be shifting towards employers. It backs this up by identifying a compensation payout awarded for skin cancer following ultra violet exposure at work. However, it should be noted that this case was heard in Australia.

What does the HSE say? As of May 2015 HSE guidance hasn’t been updated. It still says that employers should take the time to warn their staff about the risks associated with working in the sun, including covering up and using sunscreen with a protection factor of 15 or more. But it stops short of suggesting that staff mustn’t work in the sun for prolonged periods or that employers should provide sunscreen, etc. However, this position could change.

Why is this? Since 2014 the HSE has started to focus on employers managing risks which can lead to ill health. As there are proven links to workers developing skin cancer from exposure to the sun, it’s likely that there will be increased expectations on employers to do more to mitigate the risks associated with working in the sun.

Source: Indicator

Comply at Work

spotlightWelcomeA warm welcome to our new clients we have assisted this month with advice, guidance or training:

Haigh Energy, Standish – Assistance with CHAS scheme

Zabou Casualwear Ltd, Preston – Risk assessment

Vita Student Manchester, Southampton and Exeter – Fire risk assessments

Cubic Motion, Manchester - DSE assessments

Harvest Digital, London – DSE assessments

Segen, Bolton – Fire Warden Training

Lynx Projects/Lynx Energy , W Yorks – Auditing

Houlton’s – site inspection in Aintree and Carlisle

Elms and Elms, Cheadle – DSE assessments, warehouse inspection and risk assessment

JCW, Bolton – onsite First Aid training

We have also had another successful Manual handling and Asbestos Awareness course and a further Emergency First Aid course which was once again received excellent feedback: “Just to reiterate, the First Aid course was really good and so informative, as it should be I know. Myself and my colleague were very impressed, but it was also most enjoyable and the buffet lunch was excellent” - Jean Mellor Office Manager, AFG Law Solicitors

We will be running our next Emergency First Aid courses 9th July and 19th August . Places are already filling up quickly so please give us a call for more information and to book on.

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