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Stress - The Problem is Growing 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Stress is now accepted by the medical profession as a serious condition that can be a major factor in a variety of illnesses from migraine to eczema and even stroke. Stress is believed to weaken the immune system, leaving the sufferer vulnerable to all kinds of infection.Employers have a legal duty toward their employees to ensure they do not face serious risks to their health in the course of their work, and that includes stress.According to the Health and Safety Executive, prevention is better than cure and they encourage employers to assess the risks and discuss how to address them with their workforce.If, after reading this month's article, you are still unsure what you need to do, then call us in to help you sort things out. more... Read more:Problem
, Growing
Confined Space Working 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You may be one of those people who cannot work in confined spaces, because you find the sense of claustrophobia overwhelming. On the other hand it may not trouble you at all.Claustrophobia in confined spaces, however, is not the main concern of health and safety. It's more to do with the hidden risks that lurk in places were there is a lack of adequate ventilation or where access and egress are difficult - things like reduced oxygen levels, build up of noxious gases, sudden and rapid flooding, build up of heat, presence of explosive gases and other things.Part of the problem is that circumstances can change in unexpected ways between places that are superficially similar or in the same place over a period of time. It's this "uncertainty' aspect that is the subject of our latest newsletter.Perhaps you think that confined space working doesn't affect you but then you may be wrong. You see a confined space doesn't have to be physically small. An enclosed place of any size †Read more:Space
WEEE is Coming 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Christmas is a time for rejoicing, celebrating, meeting with family and friends, parties and generally having a good time. However, it can also be a bit "messy" with plenty waste packaging, food, decorations and, of course, old items that need to be discarded because someone has bought us the latest models.Not surprisingly, there is perhaps more emphasis this year on the environmental effect of our festivities - about the impact are we having on our planet.This is the topic of our newsletter. If your business is involved with the production, distribution or sale of any type of electrical or electronic equipment, then you are affected and you need to have appropriate systems in place by July 2007.Being in Health and Safety, it would be remiss of me not to point you to our newsletter articles about Keeping Safe at Christmas. You can find them on our website and the information applies as much to your home as in the office. more...
Corporate Manslaughter 1970-01-01 00:59:59 In legal circles there has been much frustration with the failure to successfully prosecute any of the companies involved with such major disasters as the Zeebrugge ferry or the rail disasters at Southall Potters Bar or Hatfield.The general public also feel the frustration - being unable to understand why the law appears to be so impotent in the face of clear safety failures.It now looks increasingly likely that a new Corporate Manslaughter Bill will be in force by July of this year to address these injustices, at least in part.If you are not already aware of the changes in the Bill, you need to act now and ensure your organisation is adequately prepared.We are participating in a "Corporate Manslaughter Conference", being run by JSB in central London. It may be worth your while to book a place on the 22nd March.Alternatively, call in one of our Consultants to discuss the implications of the new Bill for your organisation and recommend what action you need to take. Call us now on 08
Mobile Phones and Driving - Update 2007-03-07 00:16:00 It's more than three years since we last wrote about the ban on using mobile phones whilst driving. At that time we were anticipating introduction of the initial legislation.Since then the evidence has been mounting about just how dangerous the practice is. In addition, it has become clear that people who are driving as part of their work are more likely than most to be involved in accidents where mobile phones are implicated.The obvious conclusion is that if you are in business or if you need to drive for work, then the revised regulations are very important indeed.As with any legislation, the precise meaning will only be known once it is "tested" in a court of law. Our recommendation, therefore, is to adopt a cautionary approach and do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of yourself and others.more... Read more:Mobile
, Phones
, Driving
, Update
, Mobile Phones
Smoking in Public Places 2007-04-02 17:36:00 The topical issue for this month's newsletter is the Smoking
Ban that is currently being rolled out throughout the UK. If you haven't made your arrangements already for this legislation you are running out of time fast.However, I have some other fantastic news that I just had to share with you, which is that one of our biggest clients has recently been awarded the British Safety Council's 5-Star Award for health and safety.EDP has been working in partnership with Microsoft Limited for 14 years and the success of that partnership was ably demonstrated when they achieved the award at their very first attempt.We want to congratulate Microsoft Limited on this tremendous achievement, which comes hot on the heels of a top award from the British Institute of Facilities Managers for "Impact on Organisation and Workplace". We have included a press release about this most recent achievement later in this month's issue.To quote Nick Willis, who is Head of Facilities at Microsoft"I am very Read more:Public
, Places
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 2007-06-07 08:51:00 We recently published our new website for Construction
Work, based on the new CDM Regulations
that came into force on the 6th April 2007. You can access it at http://www.edp-uk.com/construction/.This month’s main article introduces the new regulations; what they are about, who is affected and why it is in your interest to know about them before you start thinking about having any building work done.The construction industry has the dubious reputation of having the highest rate of fatal accidents.It needn't be so. By working together we can dramatically improve the industry's reputation.more... Read more:Management
Road Haulage 2007-07-19 08:22:00 British roads just seem to get more and more crowded and you would be forgiven for wondering how long it will be before our busiest roads simply grind to a halt.If, like me, you are a car driver, then spare a thought for those who literally spend nearly all of their working lives on the road. I'm thinking about the heavy goods vehicle drivers. Most of us at one time or another have wished they would get out of our way, but the fact is that much of modern life that we take for granted would not be possible without them.Not only must they put up with crowded roads all day and every day, they also face many risks to their health and safety. In fact the rate of accidents in the industry ranks as one of the highest.That doesn't only reflect on haulage firms as employers. Most of us who are in business also carry some responsibility for their safety. So alongside benefiting from their work, let us also ensure we are doing all we should to protect their health and safety.more...
Training and Competence 2007-09-18 12:40:00 This month we are highlighting an important aspect of health and safety but one that is often overlooked or is given lip service only.Under Health and Safety legislation, employers have a duty to provide adequate Training
for their employees.It is easy enough to book people onto training courses. What is more difficult is to ensure the training delivers its intended benefits; the most important of which is "to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of employees".With the launch of our new Training Website, it seemed timely to address the issue of Effective Health and Safety Training.more... Read more:Competence
Business Benefits of Health and Safety 2007-12-14 09:23:00 Do you think health and safety is a worthwhile investment? I certainly do, but then as the owner of a health and safety consultancy you would expect me to say that anyway.But I'm sure you would agree that anything which reduces accidents, injuries, occupational diseases and even fatalities has to be a good thing.The next question is, "Is it is profitable for your business?" Again I would answer "yes", though you need to approach it in the right way to achieve maximum benefit.My contention is now born out by a report recently published by the HSE and this is the subject I address in this month's email newsletter.more... Read more:Business
, Health
, Safety
, Benefits
Corporate Manslaughter Revisited 2008-03-28 07:44:00 You can never be certain about the twists and turns of judicial systems, particularly as they operate in other national jurisdictions.Here in the UK, the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is about to come into force. For convenience, I have referred to it elsewhere in this newsletter simply as the "Corporate Manslaughter Act"Since it is untested in the courts, there remains a degree of uncertainty in regard to its application, though we are able to make a fair assessment of its likely impact on UK businesses and other organisations.From directors down, if you have any responsibility for health and safety in your organisation, then it behoves you to learn as much as you can about this new legislation and ensure you are well prepared for it.more... Read more:Revisited
Your Environmental Responsibility 2008-02-18 06:35:00 The amount of environmental work we are asked to undertake has been steadily growing to the point where we needed to create a separate business unit to handle it all.I thought it timely, therefore, to interview our new Head of Environment (Andrew Nicholson) to discover what is behind the increasing concern of UK organisations in all things Environmental.If you have not yet thought seriously about your organisation's impact on the environment – and even if you have – I think you will find his answers interesting and informative.more... Read more:Responsibility
Nanotechnology – Benefits and Risks 2008-06-20 08:26:00 The wonders of modern technology have brought many benefits to humanity, but can also bring new hazards for people and the environment.This is particularly true when technologies are still in their infancy, when risks are increased due to greater uncertainty. Genetically Modified (GM) crops is an example that has received much media coverage as the potential benefits and hazards are vigorously deb Read more:Nanotechnology
, Benefits
, Risks
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