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August 2016
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
newsletter
1
Search efforts have resumed to find the bodies of
three men, who died when part of Didcot power station
collapsed in February this year.
The search was halted in May when contractors
reached a 50m (164ft) exclusion zone, beyond which it
was considered too dangerous to continue.
Yesterday morning (Sunday 17 July) a remote
demolition brought down the decommissioned site in a
unique operation using remote-controlled robots. An
inspection will now take place to confirm the area and
debris pile is safe, and the recovery operation will
resume.
RWE Npower, which owns the site, said the demolition
had “gone as planned” and all of the structure was
brought down.
A spokesman said: “Now the building has been
brought down, an inspection has confirmed the area
and debris pile are safe and our contractors have
resumed the recovery operation.
“We will continue working seven days a week, 12
hours a day to help return these families’ loved ones to
them as soon as possible.”
On the 23 February the boiler house at Didcot A power
station partially collapsed and a major incident was
declared. Ken Cresswell, 57, and John Shaw, 61, and
Chris Huxtable, 34, were trapped under rubble. The
body of Michael Collings, 53, of Teesside, was
recovered.
A statement on Thames Valley Police’s website,
following the controlled explosion said: “The controlled
explosive demolition of the remaining structure took
place this morning with all of the remaining structure
being brought down successfully.
“An inspection will now take place to confirm the area
is safe, and the recovery operation will resume.
“As part of the recovery operation, the site owners
RWE, Brown & Mason and Alford Technologies were
responsible for the remaining structure being brought
down safely.
“Specialist officers are continuing to support the
families of the missing men; Christopher Huxtable,
Ken Cresswell and John Shaw, as well as the family of
Michael Collings, whose body has already been
recovered from the site.
“The absolute priority of our multi-agency response
remains the recovery of the missing men so they can
be returned to their families and to understand what
caused this tragic incident”
Search resumes at Didcot
August 20162
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
• The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2015/16 is
144, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.46 deaths per 100,000
workers.
• The figure of 144 worker deaths in 2015/16 is 7% lower than the average for
the past five years (155). The latest rate of fatal injury of 0.46 compares to the
five-year average rate of 0.52.
• The finalised figure for 2014/15 is 142 worker fatalities, and corresponds to a
rate of 0.46 deaths per 100,000 workers.
• Over the latest 20-year time period there has been a downward trend in the
rate of fatal injury, although in recent years this shows signs of levelling off.
• There were 67 members of the public fatally injured in accidents connected to
work in 2015/16 (excluding incidents relating to railways, and those enforced by
the Care Quality Commission).
More information is available from the HSE, including a spreadsheet that
categorises each fatal accident. Go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm
HSE release accident statistics for 2015/16
Number and rate of fatal injuries to workers 1996/97 to 2015/16 (provisional)
Everyone should consider taking vitamin D supplements in autumn and winter,
public health advice for the UK recommends. The advice comes as a government-
commissioned report sets the recommended levels at 10 micrograms of the
vitamin a day.
Limited amounts of the vitamin are found in foods such as oily fish, eggs and
fortified cereals. But, for most people, the bulk of their vitamin D is made from the
action of sunlight on their skin.
Vitamin D supplements advised for everyone
An official estimate suggest one in five
adults and one in six children in
England may have low levels.
The review of the evidence, was
carried out by the Scientific Advisory
Committee on Nutrition (SACN).
Public health officials say, in winter
months, people should consider getting
this from 10 microgram supplements, if
their diet is unlikely to provide it.
Vitamin D’s main function is to regulate
the amount of calcium and phosphate
in the body, which are vital for the
growth and maintenance of healthy
bones, teeth and muscles. In extreme
cases, low levels can lead to rickets in
children - where the bones become
soft and weak and misshapen as they
continue to grow. In adults, vitamin D
deficiency can lead to osteomalacia -
causing severe bone pain and muscle
aches.
August 20163
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
General Motors UK Ltd was prosecuted by the HSE
after work being undertaken at its North Road,
Ellesmere Port site in 2014 exposed contractors to
risks associated with asbestos.
An investigation by the HSE found that during work to
replace high pressure hot water boilers with gas
burners in the company’s paint unit, suspected
asbestos insulating boards (AIB) were discovered
beneath external cladding on the stores building.
Contractors carrying out the refurbishment had
submitted a risk assessment and method statement for
the work which was originally due to traverse a roof.
When the location of the new pipework was changed to
the side of the building no review of the risk
assessment for the job, specifically in relation to
asbestos was undertaken. Subsequent sampling
confirmed the presence of asbestos.
On the day the suspected boards were discovered the
asbestos register was not fully available to the
contractor to allow them to check whether the boards
contained asbestos. No direct instruction was given by
General Motors to the contractor to stop the work to
prevent any AIB being disturbed. The work, including
the removal and cutting of holes in AIB board,
continued without suitable precautions.
Liverpool Crown Court heard no assessment of the risk
was undertaken by General Motors to determine if the
work was notifiable or licensed asbestos work.
On completion of the work licensed contractors were
employed to conduct a clean-up and decontamination
programme of the roof and in the stores.
General Motors UK Ltd, of Osborne Road, Luton,
Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to a single breach of
Section 3 (1) the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act
1974 and was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay
£11,779 in prosecution costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jane Carroll
said: “Asbestos kills around 5,000 workers each year;
this is more than the number killed on UK roads.
“Asbestos can be present within any premises built or
refurbished before the year 2000.
“Whenever asbestos containing materials are found to
be present, companies have a legal duty to document
and implement an Asbestos Management Plan which
includes measures to adequately control the risk of
exposure to asbestos fibres.”
A London borough council has been fined after a road
worker suffered serious injury whilst cutting trees.
Southwark Crown Court heard how an employee of
London Borough of Havering sustained a serious cut
injury just above his left knee after a Sthil cut-off saw
he was using was fitted with an inappropriate blade and
used to cut tree roots and branches with.
The blade became stuck and on pulling it free the blade
ran across the top of his left knee.
He suffered a deep cut above the left knee damaging
ligaments and cartiledge requiring sixty stiches.
An investigation by the HSE into the incident which
occurred on 2 March 2015 found that the wrong
equipment was being used for the task.
No risk assessment was conducted for the use of the
saw and blade.
A safe system of work should have been in place that
identified suitable and compatible machinery for certain
tasks.
London Borough of Havering, Town Hall, Main Road,
Romford, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 4(2)
and 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment
Regulations 1998, and was fined £500,000 and ordered
to pay costs of £8,240.
Motor Manufacturer Fined over Asbestos Contamination London borough fined
August 20164
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
A building site manager who had a “total disregard of
health and safety” has been convicted of gross
negligence manslaughter following the death of a 40-
year-old worker who died when he fell through a
skylight. Site manager Faruk Patel “continued to put
workers’ lives at risk even after a fatal accident on the
site” the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said.
The court heard how during the afternoon of Saturday
24 January 2015 Tasadaq Ur-Rehman was working on
a site in Leicester, when he fell through a skylight
aperture in a first floor roof and sustained serious head
injuries. He was taken to the Leicester Royal Infirmary
but later transferred to the Queen’s Medical Centre in
Nottingham where he subsequently died.
Following Mr Ur-Rehman’s death a joint investigation
between Leicestershire Police and the HSE was
launched. The investigation discovered that Mr Patel
was the manager on the building site and had asked Mr
Tasadaq to fit windows on the first floor. Mr Ur-
Rehman, an experienced window fitter, agreed to fit
doors and windows on the site over the weekend.
However, shortly after arriving on site he fell three
metres through an open skylight on a first floor flat roof.
On 26 January, HSE inspectors issued a prohibition
notice on Mr Patel, ordering a halt to any work at
height. But on two subsequent visits, one after Mr Ur-
Rehman’s death, they found evidence that work had
continued. When police attended they found the order
had been breached, Mr Patel was arrested and
charged with manslaughter by gross negligence.
Investigations revealed that:
• there was no scaffolding provided in the area
where the windows were to be fitted;
• there was no safe method of transferring the
windows to the first floor, where access was only
by way of a broken, untethered ladder;
• ladders were not secured properly and one was
found balancing in a pile of sand;
• nobody on site was wearing any personal
protective equipment;
• there was no qualified first aider on site;
• openings in the ceilings on the first and second
floors were not guarded;
• there were no signs warning of hazards; and
• scaffolding was not properly secured on the site.
Faruk Patel, 40 was found guilty of manslaughter by
gross negligence after a trial at Birmingham Crown
Court. A jury convicted Patel after less than three
hours of deliberation.
Mr Patel also pleaded guilty in December 2015 to three
health and safety offences. He was sentenced to 2 ½
years in prison for manslaughter by gross negligence
and eight months in prison for the health and safety
offences, to run concurrently.
On sentencing Mr Justice John Saunders said: “It
seems the defendant had no idea of the responsibilities
he had for maintaining the safety of the site. The
defendant paid no regard to health and safety
requirements whatsoever.”
Health and Safety Executive inspector Sarah Hill said:
“We identified several areas around the St Saviours Hill
site where falls could occur, and where workers were at
risk of being seriously injured or killed as a result. No
health and safety precautions had been taken in
relation to health and safety on this site. Faruk Patel
continued to put workers’ lives at risk even after a fatal
accident on the site.
During the sentencing hearing, a victim impact
statement from Mr Ur-Rehman’s family was read out in
court. It said: “The loss of Tasadaq Ur-Rehman has
had a devastating impact on our lives.
“We’ve lost a loving dad, husband and one of the most
wonderful people we’ve known. His family meant
everything to him.
“He was taken away from us in his prime.
“Every day little things remind us of him but we know
he is not coming back.”
Deanna Heer, prosecuting, told the jury: “[Patel] said
[safety] was everyone’s responsibility and that the
tradesmen knew the dangers of working on a building
site.
“He said if they did not work safely, well, that was their
fault; everyone took care of themselves.
“He said if the deceased needed help he should have
asked for it and, since he chose to work alone, the
deceased only had himself to blame for his
misfortune. As far as he was concerned, the site was
safe.”
Building site manager convicted of gross negligence manslaughter
August 20165
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
A Gateshead contractor has been fined £120,000 after
a worker sprained his ankles when he fell down a
service riser shaft.
Newcastle upon Tyne Magistrates’ Court heard how
Meldrum Construction Services Limited (MCS) was
principal contractor for refurbishment work at premises
in Percy Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
MCS failed to plan for the requirement for temporary
platforms to be installed in the service riser to provide a
safe work area.
Subsequently, temporary floors were installed to
specifications they had not been designed for.
A worker stepped onto the temporary wooden floor on
the first floor riser which collapsed and he fell 4.5
metres to the floor below, spraining both ankles.
An HSE investigation into the incident which occurred
on 6 July 2015 found that MCS failed to plan and
manage the construction phase of the project in that
they failed to plan and manage the temporary works
within the service riser.
Meldrum Construction Services Limited of Dunston,
Gateshead, pleaded guilty to breaching the
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
and was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay costs of
£1969.
Pokemon Go is a reality smartphone game which
encourages players to catch Pokemon characters
by exploring their surroundings using their phones.
Using the phone's GPS facility players walk around the
'real' world in order to catch virtual Pokemon characters
at various landmarks and locations.
There have been reports of players attending railway
stations and level crossings to try and capture the
Pokemon characters they believe to be around.
Network Rail warn that players are often so absorbed in
the screens of their phones that they fail to appreciate
their surroundings and the inherent dangers around
them or whether access to an area is restricted.
The British Safety Council and the International
Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) have
written an open letter to the prime minister urging the
government to publish a schedule and structure for exit
negotiations following the EU referendum, in order to
assure the safety of the UK workforce.
In the letter they say: “We are concerned that the level
of uncertainty related to political restructuring and the
lack of any firm structure or schedule for withdrawal, is
already resulting in unintended consequences which
could adversely affect the safety, health and wellbeing
of workers in the UK.”
Philip Pearson, chief executive, IIRSM and Mike
Robinson, chief executive, British Safety Council,
explained that employers in the UK need a firm and
clear schedule for exit negotiations so that they are
able to develop plans to assure the safety, health and
wellbeing of workers in the short and medium turn,
while formal negotiations take place.
For over 40 years Britain has been working hard to
manage safety and reduce occupational diseases in the
workplace, becoming a recognised world leader. Since
the UK has voted to leave the EU, it is possible that
there will be calls for changes to the established
framework of legislation. “If this does occur, caution will
be required to maintain current standards and protect
the health and safety of workers in the UK,” urged the
British Safety Council and IIRSM.
Contractor fined £120,000 after
worker sprains his ankles
Network Rail issue safety
bulletin warning of pokemon go
BSC and IIRSM send letter to
PM concerning BREXIT
August 20166
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
Penny Mordaunt MP has been appointed as Minister of
State for Disabled People, Health and Work with
responsibility for oversight of HSE, at the Department
for Work and Pensions.
This new title reflects the broader portfolio she is taking
on, which will include all areas related to supporting
disabled people and those with long-term health
conditions.
The appointment follows the announcement of the Rt
Hon Damian Green MP being appointed Secretary of
State for Work and Pensions.
Penny Mordaunt MP has been appointed as Minister of
State for Disabled People, Health and Work.
An Essex school has been fined after poorly-planned
and managed refurbishment and maintenance activities
exposed school staff and others to asbestos.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard that managers at The
Boswells School, Chelmsford, decided to convert an
old boiler room at the school into a cleaning store.
During the course of this work, asbestos residue on the
walls was disturbed and caretakers swept
contaminated debris from floors. Their exposure to risk
only came to light after a later asbestos survey was
completed in the area.
The HSE investigated this incident and learned that
asbestos containing materials (ACM’s) were also
present in other areas. School caretaking staff and
contractors disturbed the fabric of school buildings over
many years without being alerted to the presence of
ACM’s. Persons who entered potentially contaminated
areas were placed at risk of developing serious ill
health conditions arising from exposure to airborne
respirable asbestos fibres. The school also failed to
ensure that spread of asbestos was prevented or
reduced.
The Boswells Academy Trust, of Burnham Road,
Chelmsford, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching the
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 – Sections
2(1) & 3(1). The trust was fined £26,000 and ordered
to pay costs of £20,000.
New minister for health and
safety
Essex school fined for asbestos
failings
Get you own copy of the HSQE newsletter by emailing us at:
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
July 20167
Key features:
• Meets the category A training requirements for
asbestos awareness in the Control of Asbestos
Regulations 2012
• For managers, supervisors and trades people
that could be exposed to asbestos, so that they
can avoid the risks it presents
• Independently audited and approved by the
IATP
• Works on PC or tablet
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £15.00 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £12.50 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £10.00 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £7.50 +VAT per licence
Asbestos awareness
(cat A) online course
Asbestos awareness for
designers online course
Key features:
• Meets the category A training requirements for
asbestos awareness in the Control of Asbestos
Regulations 2012
• For designers, architects and anyone that
needs a more in-depth understanding of the
risks associated with asbestos
• Independently audited and approved by the
IATP
• Works on PC or tablet
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £15.00 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £12.50 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £10.00 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £7.50 +VAT per licencew: www.hsqe.co.uk e: [email protected]
More info:
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
July 20168
Key features:
• For anyone that uses ladders, or is responsible
for people that use ladders
• Explains the dangers associated with the range
of ladders and the practical steps that should be
taken to manage the risk they present
• Also covers ladder components, the key legal
requirements, risk assessment and basic ladder
inspection and maintenance
• Works on PC, tablet or mobile
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £15.00 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £12.50 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £10.00 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £7.50 +VAT per licence
Ladder safety
online course
Working at height
online course
Key features:
• For anyone that works at height, or is
responsible for people that work at height
• Explains the dangers associated with heights
and the practical steps that should be taken to
manage the risk it presents
• Also covers key legal requirements, risk
assessment and the issues associated with
commonly used access equipment
• Works on PC, tablet or mobile
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £15.00 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £12.50 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £10.00 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £7.50 +VAT per licencew: www.hsqe.co.uk e: [email protected]
More info:
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
July 20169
Key features:
• For anyone that is a fire warden or is
responsible for managing fire wardens
• Covers: accidents involving fire, fire safety
legislation, basic components of fire, stages of a
fire, how fire spreads, fire classification, fire
prevention, fire extinguishers, risk assessment,
fire safety arrangements and the duties of fire
wardens
• Works on PC, tablet or mobile
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £15.00 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £12.50 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £10.00 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £7.50 +VAT per licence
Fire warden / marshal
online course
w: www.hsqe.co.uk e: [email protected]
More info:
Fire safety awareness
online course
Key features:
• For anyone that needs an awareness of the
dangers associated with fire and the practical
steps that should be taken to reduce the risk
• Covers: accidents involving fire, fire safety
legislation, basic components of fire, stages of a
fire, how fire spreads, fire classification, fire
prevention, fire extinguishers, risk assessment
and fire safety arrangements
• Works on PC, tablet or mobile
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £15.00 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £12.50 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £10.00 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £7.50 +VAT per licence
newsletter
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July 201610
You will learn:
• The reasons for managing safely
• What risk is
• How to conduct risk assessments
• How to control risks effectively
• Basic legal responsibilities of managers and
supervisors
• How health and safety law works
• Key parts of a health and safety management
system
• Common hazards encountered in the workplace
and how to control the risks they present
• How to report and investigate incidents
• How to measure health and safety performance
• How to prevent pollution and waste
• The key parts of an environmental management
system
IOSH Managing safely online course
Key features:
• The industry-standard health and safety course
for managers and supervisors in the UK
• Meets the latest IOSH Managing safely syllabus
(version 4.0) – fully approved by IOSH
• Course is fully online, including the exam and
project, so no need to attend a training centre or
pay the associated overheads
• Interactive content will keep you engaged
• Works on PC, tablet or mobile
Prices:
• 1 to 4 students £175 +VAT per licence
• 5 to 9 students £165 +VAT per licence
• 10 to 49 students £145 +VAT per licence
• 50+ students £125 +VAT per licencew: www.hsqe.co.uk e: [email protected]
More info:
August 201611
newsletter
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This year was the hottest June ever recorded worldwide, and the
14th straight month that global heat records were broken, scientists say.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says
global sea temperatures were fractionally higher than for June last year while
land temperatures tied.
Its global temperature records date back 137 years, to 1880.
Most scientists attribute the increases to greenhouse gas emissions.
They also say climate change is at least partially to blame for a number of environmental
disasters around the world.
The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for June was 0.9C above the
20th Century average of 15.5C, the NOAA said in its monthly report.
Last year was the hottest on record, beating 2014, which had previously held the title.
Hottest June worldwide
August 201612
newsletter
t: 077 1380 1380 | w: www.hsqe.co.uk | e: [email protected] | To subscribe: [email protected]
United Utilities Water Limited (UU) has been fined
£600,000 and its contractor, KMI+ £333,000 at Bolton
Crown Court after pleading guilty to polluting a brook.
Both companies were also ordered to pay a total of
£45,262 in costs (United Utilities £19,090 and KMI+
£26,172) following a prosecution by the Environment
Agency.
The court heard how KMI+ was contracted by UU to
carry out improvement works at Wayoh water treatment
works at Turton Bottoms. In December 2013, as part of
the works, KMI + emptied and removed a tank which
had been used to store sodium hypochlorite in 10%
solution. Sodium hypochlorite is used in the water
purification process and is also the principle ingredient
of household bleach. It is very corrosive and is highly
toxic to aquatic organisms.
The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy
Clayson, heard that by 4 December 2013 the majority
of the contents of the tank had been removed but up to
300 litres of the highly toxic chemical was left in the
bottom and needed to be emptied.
Counsel Richard Bradley, prosecuting on behalf of the
Environment Agency, told the Court that instead of
pumping or siphoning the remaining liquid out, a
decision was taken to put a hosepipe into the tank and
dilute the sodium hypochlorite with water, letting it
overflow into a bunded area and leave the hosepipe
running unattended overnight for 15 hours.
This was carried out without any risk assessment or
method statement and the companies were not in
agreement on what they understood had been agreed
prior to the removal taking place.
Neither company had surveyed the drainage
adequately and did not realise there were faults in the
drainage system which meant the diluted toxic
chemical entered the surface water drainage system
and discharged to Bradshaw Brook, a trout spawning
ground.
On December 6 2013, the Environment Agency was
alerted by a member of the public who had found dead
fish floating in the water.
A 1.7km stretch of the brook leading towards Jumbles
Reservoir was so badly polluted that virtually all aquatic
organisms, including fish, shrimp and earthworms were
killed.
Up to 900 dead fish were recovered, including Brown
Trout, Loaches and Bullheads, but the number killed is
likely to be much greater. At the end of June 2014 the
brook had recovered sufficiently for restocking to take
place and UU paid for the brook to be restocked with
native fish from the downstream section.
Both UU and KMI+ pleaded guilty at the first available
opportunity and cooperated with the prosecution.
The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy
Clayson said the incident had arisen through senior
management failings to ensure proper system and
procedures were in place.
Gordon Whitaker, Environment Manager of the
Environment Agency, said:
“This was a serious and avoidable pollution incident
caused by the negligence of both parties. It took
several months for Bradshaw Brook to return to a
healthy state and even then it was necessary to assist
this process by restocking fish in the affected stretch.
This case should bring home the message to all
company directors and shareholders that
environmental offences are taken seriously both by the
regulators and the courts.”
United Utilities Water Ltd and one of its contractors fined nearly £1m for pollution offence