On 28th April, Prospect, the union which represents inspectors, scientists and other professionals in the Health and Safety Executive, warned that the government's priorities favour enforcing financial regulations rather than ensuring the health and safety of workers in the UK.
In a speech to a Workers’ Memorial Day rally in Manchester’s Peace Gardens, Neil Hope-Collins, chair of Prospect’s HSE branch, warned that at present workers in the UK are 11 times more likely to be killed by their job than by homicide.But despite this statistic, in the period 2002-06 the Financial Services Authority saw a 25% increase in staff while HSE reduced staff numbers by a tenth.
In the last year alone, courts awarded average fines of £216,000 – excluding one in excess of £13m – for breaches of FSA regulations, compared with an average fine of just under £30,000 for health and safety offences.
Speaking before the event, Hope-Collins questioned: "What kind of civilised society was Gordon Brown talking about when he referred to health and safety being a cornerstone of that society? A society where the watchdog for financial regulation receives more funding to deal with 23,000 firms than HSE receives to deal with over 300,000 firms. And one which imposes greater fines on firms that break financial rules than it imposes on firms that break people?
Cuts in funding have already forced HSE to shed between 250-300 jobs by 2008 to stay in budget. The situation looks set to deteriorate further if government efficiency savings of 15% imposed on HSE’s parent body, the Department for Work and Pensions, are passed on.
Said Hope-Collins: "HSE’s reaction to a shrinking budget and shrinking workforce is to decrease the amount of investigation and enforcement and use ‘intermediaries’ and ‘stakeholders’ who do not have legislative backing. Provisional figures for 2007 already show an increase in fatalities across the construction industry and we fear this will be reflected across other divisions. But it is not too late to stop the rot."
Prospect is calling for all advocates of health and safety to raise the issue with MPs and ensure
HSE receives adequate funding in the next spending round to cut Britain’s accident rate at work.
For further information click on the link below
http://www.prospect.org.uk/news/newsstory.php?news=423
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
HSE warns of dangers of disturbing asbetos
On May 15th 2007, the East Midlands Branch of HSE warned local authorities, schools and contractors of the danger of disturbing asbestos, and their responsibility to ensure correct procedures are in place to manage asbestos in schools following a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution.
In 2004, asbestos was disturbed at Silverhill Primary School, Mickleover, while windows were being replaced. This happened in spite of the fact that its presence was known to the Council and the contractor.
Derby City Council was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW) Act
Peter Westran, Director of Horizon Windows and Glass Limited was fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 9(1) and Regulation 15 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. CAW Regulations.
Samantha Peace, HSE Principal Inspector of Construction Wales, Midlands and South West said, "Asbestos can be a killer if disturbed, but if contained and well managed poses no health risk. This is why it is vital that proper records are kept, showing where asbestos may be found and the condition of these materials. This information must be given to anyone who is likely to disturb it.
"If governors and head teachers approve building work directly, they need to ensure that it is done safely and they need to understand their responsibilities. This should be on the agenda of every Local Authority and school governors' meeting."
Both staff and pupils were present at the school during the work, which lasted three weeks. The work was stopped once the problem was identified and the school was closed for several weeks while decontamination was carried out.
To read the full story click on the link below
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=284699&NewsAreaID=2
To visit the HSE website, click on the link below
http://www.hse.gov.uk/
In 2004, asbestos was disturbed at Silverhill Primary School, Mickleover, while windows were being replaced. This happened in spite of the fact that its presence was known to the Council and the contractor.
Derby City Council was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW) Act
Peter Westran, Director of Horizon Windows and Glass Limited was fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 9(1) and Regulation 15 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002. CAW Regulations.
Samantha Peace, HSE Principal Inspector of Construction Wales, Midlands and South West said, "Asbestos can be a killer if disturbed, but if contained and well managed poses no health risk. This is why it is vital that proper records are kept, showing where asbestos may be found and the condition of these materials. This information must be given to anyone who is likely to disturb it.
"If governors and head teachers approve building work directly, they need to ensure that it is done safely and they need to understand their responsibilities. This should be on the agenda of every Local Authority and school governors' meeting."
Both staff and pupils were present at the school during the work, which lasted three weeks. The work was stopped once the problem was identified and the school was closed for several weeks while decontamination was carried out.
To read the full story click on the link below
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=284699&NewsAreaID=2
To visit the HSE website, click on the link below
http://www.hse.gov.uk/
Benfleet Asbestos Firm Unblocks Tunnel
A Benfleet company has been congratulate for helping to reduce traffic chaos when bags of asbestos fell from a vehicle in the Blackwall Tunnel on 9th May 2007.
Immediately after the incident the tunnel was sealed off. Police contacted asbestos experts, Mackenzie Asbestos Environmental Consultants, and escorted their analysts to the scene through the backed up traffic.
There they were able to advise how to clean up the asbestos, which is at its most dangerous when fibres become airborne. As crews worked through the night, Mackenzie's staff stood by ready to give the tunnel the all clear before the following morning's rush hour.
Director Barrie Goddard, revealed that the company had well rehearsed contingency plans to deal with such incidents rapidly. He said that he, and the other companies involved in the clear up, had been thanked by the police for the speed of their response and their professionalism.
Police are trying to establish how the incident occurred and whether regulations relating to the carriage of dangerous waste had been flouted.
Immediately after the incident the tunnel was sealed off. Police contacted asbestos experts, Mackenzie Asbestos Environmental Consultants, and escorted their analysts to the scene through the backed up traffic.
There they were able to advise how to clean up the asbestos, which is at its most dangerous when fibres become airborne. As crews worked through the night, Mackenzie's staff stood by ready to give the tunnel the all clear before the following morning's rush hour.
Director Barrie Goddard, revealed that the company had well rehearsed contingency plans to deal with such incidents rapidly. He said that he, and the other companies involved in the clear up, had been thanked by the police for the speed of their response and their professionalism.
Police are trying to establish how the incident occurred and whether regulations relating to the carriage of dangerous waste had been flouted.
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