On this page you will find health and safety information, news and links from 2008
(30/10/08)
HSE has revamped its guidance on worker involvement. This includes a trio of publications comprising a legal guide, a good practice guide and a revised free leaflet. There is ample evidence that involving workers in health and safety risk management has clear benefits and improves health and safety performance. Worker involvement makes a significant contribution to:
(22 September 2008)
Two employees of an animal feed company were killed in November 2005 when they were cleaning inside an animal feed mixer which started up unexpectedly without warning. This month the company was fined £18,750 (£25,000) under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and their electrical contractor fined £45,000 (£60,000) under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Both fines were reduced by 25% following guilty pleas.
HSE Principal Specialist Inspector (Electrical Engineering) John Madden said "The incident, involving the tragic deaths of two men, could have been easily prevented if the power supply to the machine they were working on had been properly isolated using a lockable switch secured in the 'off' position with a padlock to prevent it being switched back on until the work was finished".
In the food manufacturing industry 8 workers have died over the past 7 years after entering machinery or plant which had not been isolated and 'locked off' and which subsequently started up unexpectedly
(14 April 2008)
HSE has opened a new website 'Working in GB from overseas' providing guidance for employers and workers. The site aims to help protect vulnerable workers by capturing in one place the increasing amount of key guidance and essential information available. The webpages have been developed to help migrant workers understand their rights and responsibilities. They also explain what employers need to do to manage the health and safety of this group of workers.
This new website compliments existing HSE guidance booklet 'Guidance for employers in agriculture and food processing' and guidance produced by the food manufacturing industry 'Working safely in a multicultural food and drink industry'.
25 March 2008
Analysis by HSE of over 6000 injuries during 2006/07 reveals that 35% of the injuries resulted from manual handling and 28% from slips and trips (mostly slips). Although machinery was only involved in 8% of injuries, falls from height 3% and hit by vehicles 1%, these classes of accident were often severe or even fatal.
Over the last 10 years there have been 35 fatal injuries, excluding contractors. The main causes of fatal injury are machinery (>30% of fatalities), workplace transport (>25%), falls from height (>20%) and confined spaces/asphyxiation (>10%). One particular cause of concern is workers entering machines for cleaning or maintenance purposes and being trapped when the machine starts unexpectedly, this can be prevented if a safe system of work with lock-off procedures is in place.
3 March 2008
A number of workers in the popcorn industry in the USA have developed severe lung disease after inhaling fumes from a flavouring agent known as diacetyl (2-3-butanedione) which imparts a butter flavour to food. In its pure form diacetyl is a green-yellow coloured liquid which gives off fumes, especially when heated. Although safe for humans when eaten in the small amounts permitted in the final food product, workers mixing the liquid in concentrated bulk form before adding to foodstuffs can be exposed to vapour that is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. In some cases permanent lung damage may occur when the small airways in the lungs become blocked by inflammation.
The extent of diacetyl use for flavouring food and drink products in GB is uncertain. Where it is used, worker exposure to fumes must be controlled in accordance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations. Under these regulations there is a hierarchy of control - (1) substitution with a safer chemical where possible, (2) containment within sealed plant, (3) effective fume extraction and, if none of these are possible, then goggles and suitable respiratory protective equipment. In addition workers handling diacetyl need to be informed of the hazards/risks and be provided with appropriate training.
