A probe has been launched after a passenger's iPhone mysteriously caught fire on-board a plane as it came into land.
The Apple iPhone 4 model started smoking and glowing red before self-combusting on the Australia's Regional Express Flight ZL319 destined for Sydney on Friday, according to flight attendants.
As black smoke filled the cabin, cabin crew rushed to put out the fire. A photo taken after the incident shows the back of the smartphone looking as though it had melted away.
Regional Express said in a statement: "Regional Express flight ZL319 operating from Lismore to Sydney today had an occurrence after landing, when a passenger's mobile phone started emitting a significant amount of dense smoke, accompanied by a red glow. In accordance with company standard safety procedures, the Flight Attendant carried out recovery actions immediately and the red glow was extinguished successfully."
After landing in Sydney, the phone was handed over to officials from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau as well as the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for investigation – which claimed that they had no previous records of iPhones undergoing spontaneous self-ignition.
Nobody was hurt during the incident.
An Apple spokeswoman in Australia responded saying the tech firm was looking "forward to working with officials".
Apple devices have caused trouble before, with a reported six iPods catching fire in Japan last year leaving four people with minor burns.
Only two weeks ago, first generation iPod Nanos were recalled by Apple over fears that their batteries can catch fire - with the firm also offering a free replacement.
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Recent HSE Construction Enforcement Activity
CRS has gathered together for the interest of our readers details of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement actions in the construction sector.
We have also provided links to associated sources of information under each heading for reference by our readers.
Roof work
3 November 2011 – Three roofers were spotted working on top of a Nottingham cash and carry store without any safety equipment.
Roofing contractors SPV Road Carpet Ltd were fined £14,000 with £6,659 costs. An SPV employee was fined £480 and ordered to pay costs of £650.
Read more HERE
7 November 2011 - Two roofers have received suspended sentences after a Derbyshire office worker was injured when a roll of roofing felt crashed through the ceiling of her office.
Jason Lunt and Gregory Wright, both of Bloxwich , West Midlands, and pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They both received sentences of 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months on the condition that they complete 280 hours of community service. In addition, they were both ordered to pay £2,114 costs each. Read more HERE
11 November 2011 – A roofing contractor, Hawarden Roofing Supplies & Contractors Limited, of Flintshire, has been fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.95p after one of its employees was injured when he fell from a garage roof. Read more HERE
14 November 2011 - A member of the public reported a roofer to HSE after photographing him working on an industrial unit roof in Newark without any safety equipment.
Mr Hallwood, of Oldham, and his son, pleaded guilty to breaching section 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They were fined £2,500 each and ordered to pay costs of £2,604 between them. Read more HERE
14 November 2011 – A Carmarthenshire man has been fined after his employee was injured when he fell 5.5m through a fragile PVC skylight at a Carmarthenshire farm.
Anthony William John Daniel, trading as Towy Valley Fabrications was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay £2,651 in costs. Read more HERE
Further information
Assessing all work at height - Read more HERE
Roof work - Read more HERE
Transport on site
25 November 2011 - Three construction companies were fined after a worker helping build Arsenal’s Ashburton Grove stadium was injured so badly, his leg had to be amputated.
A dumper truck drove over the right leg of Michael O’Donovan, 41, from Bromley, while he was kneeling to clean steel ‘shuttering’ used to form reinforced structures and pillars.
Principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine Limited was fined £19,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.
Sub-contractors McNicholas Plc (now Skanska Utilities Ltd) was fined £17,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.
Maylim Limited, sub-contracted by McNicholas Plc to undertake the work on the South Bridge area of the site, was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000. Read more HERE
Further information
Traffic management on site - Read more HERE
Asbestos
7 November 2011 – A Birmingham handyman has been prosecuted after releasing asbestos fibres while refurbishing a kitchen at a flat in Solihull. William Rogers, of Yardley, was fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,799 costs. Read more HERE
Further information
Asbestos - Read more HERE
Asbestos health and safety - Read more HERE
Asbestos surveys – Read more HERE
Gas
4 November 2011 – A Cheshire builder has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £3,500 in prosecution costs after a worker was badly burned in a gas explosion at Macclesfield Town's training ground. Read more HERE
4 November 2011 - An engineer called in to investigate a gas leak in an office block was nearly killed by carbon monoxide poisoning following faulty work on a boiler. Gas engineers, BR Greenwell Heating and Plumbing Services of Llantrisant, were fined £5,000 in total and ordered to pay costs of £8,000. Read more HERE
Further Information
Domestic gas health and safety - Read more HERE
We have also provided links to associated sources of information under each heading for reference by our readers.
Roof work
3 November 2011 – Three roofers were spotted working on top of a Nottingham cash and carry store without any safety equipment.
Roofing contractors SPV Road Carpet Ltd were fined £14,000 with £6,659 costs. An SPV employee was fined £480 and ordered to pay costs of £650.
Read more HERE
7 November 2011 - Two roofers have received suspended sentences after a Derbyshire office worker was injured when a roll of roofing felt crashed through the ceiling of her office.
Jason Lunt and Gregory Wright, both of Bloxwich , West Midlands, and pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They both received sentences of 18 weeks, suspended for 12 months on the condition that they complete 280 hours of community service. In addition, they were both ordered to pay £2,114 costs each. Read more HERE
11 November 2011 – A roofing contractor, Hawarden Roofing Supplies & Contractors Limited, of Flintshire, has been fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.95p after one of its employees was injured when he fell from a garage roof. Read more HERE
14 November 2011 - A member of the public reported a roofer to HSE after photographing him working on an industrial unit roof in Newark without any safety equipment.
Mr Hallwood, of Oldham, and his son, pleaded guilty to breaching section 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They were fined £2,500 each and ordered to pay costs of £2,604 between them. Read more HERE
14 November 2011 – A Carmarthenshire man has been fined after his employee was injured when he fell 5.5m through a fragile PVC skylight at a Carmarthenshire farm.
Anthony William John Daniel, trading as Towy Valley Fabrications was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay £2,651 in costs. Read more HERE
Further information
Assessing all work at height - Read more HERE
Roof work - Read more HERE
Transport on site
25 November 2011 - Three construction companies were fined after a worker helping build Arsenal’s Ashburton Grove stadium was injured so badly, his leg had to be amputated.
A dumper truck drove over the right leg of Michael O’Donovan, 41, from Bromley, while he was kneeling to clean steel ‘shuttering’ used to form reinforced structures and pillars.
Principal contractor Sir Robert McAlpine Limited was fined £19,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.
Sub-contractors McNicholas Plc (now Skanska Utilities Ltd) was fined £17,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000.
Maylim Limited, sub-contracted by McNicholas Plc to undertake the work on the South Bridge area of the site, was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000. Read more HERE
Further information
Traffic management on site - Read more HERE
Asbestos
7 November 2011 – A Birmingham handyman has been prosecuted after releasing asbestos fibres while refurbishing a kitchen at a flat in Solihull. William Rogers, of Yardley, was fined £600 and ordered to pay £1,799 costs. Read more HERE
Further information
Asbestos - Read more HERE
Asbestos health and safety - Read more HERE
Asbestos surveys – Read more HERE
Gas
4 November 2011 – A Cheshire builder has been fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £3,500 in prosecution costs after a worker was badly burned in a gas explosion at Macclesfield Town's training ground. Read more HERE
4 November 2011 - An engineer called in to investigate a gas leak in an office block was nearly killed by carbon monoxide poisoning following faulty work on a boiler. Gas engineers, BR Greenwell Heating and Plumbing Services of Llantrisant, were fined £5,000 in total and ordered to pay costs of £8,000. Read more HERE
Further Information
Domestic gas health and safety - Read more HERE
CRS welcomes the findings of the Löfstedt Review into UK health and safety
Corporate Risk Systems Limited (CRS) welcomes the findings of the Löfstedt Review into UK health and safety legislation which was published this week [Download full report HERE]. The review - called ‘Reclaiming health and safety for all: An independent review of health and safety regulation’ - confirms that the present legal framework for health and safety is broadly fit for purpose, but says that the challenge now is to embed a proportionate approach to accident and ill health prevention across the entire health and safety system.
The Löfstedt review was commissioned by the coalition Government in March 2011, following the recommendations in the earlier report ‘Common Sense Common Safety’ report by Lord Young published in October 2010 [View report HERE]. The review was led by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt of King’s College London, who was aided by an independent panel, and investigated opportunities for “reducing the burden of health and safety legislation on UK businesses while maintaining the progress made in improving health and safety outcomes”.
Professor Löfstedt has made recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of unnecessary regulation on businesses while maintaining Britain's health and safety performance, which is thought to be the best internationally. The Government has accepted in full his recommendations.
Stephen Asbury, Managing Director of CRS said: “I am pleased and relieved that Professor Löfstedt has rejected the mass deregulation recommended by some, and has confirmed that the present legal structure is broadly fit for purpose. His detailed recommendations for technical change show there is always scope for some tidying up of the law and eradicating unnecessary red tape without removing the essential protection for workers and the public that it provides. But like the previous reviews of this subject, he has confirmed that not only has the UK got the regulatory balance about right but we also have much to be proud of.”
CRS fully supports the recommendations to reduce repetitive and clumsy regulatory requirements. We are pleased that although the report points to the UK’s relatively good accident record, it also recognises the continued need for managing health and safety risks in the workplace. The report cites estimates that suggest the cost of injury and ill health to UK business alone could be just over £3billion, while the overall cost to society of workplace accidents and ill health has been estimated to be up to a jaw-dropping £20billion a year.
We welcome the report’s proposals for bringing local authority enforcement under the control of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and we’re also pleased that it identifies the very significant influence that third party “semi-regulators”, such as insurers, clients and funders, can have on duty holders. We believe the positive, helpful influence needs to be encouraged and the negative influence, which can increase bureaucracy unnecessarily, reduced. We also welcome the report’s recommendations to improve the understanding of ‘risk’.
CRS believes the proposed exemption from health and safety law of the self-employed “whose work does not impact on others” will need careful handling, as we do not wish to see an increase in serious injuries in this sector of our economy.
Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE, said: "Professor Löfstedt's insightful report will go a long way to refocusing health and safety in Great Britain on those things that matter - supporting those who want to do the right thing and reducing rates of work-related death, injury and ill health. We must have a system of health and safety which enables employers to make sensible and proportionate decisions about managing genuine workplace risks. Simplifying and streamlining the stock of regulations, focusing enforcement on higher risk businesses, clarifying requirements, and rebalancing the civil litigation system - these are all practical, positive steps. Poor regulation - that which adds unnecessary bureaucracy with no real benefits - drives out confidence in good regulation. We welcome these reforms because they are good for workers and employers but also for the significant contribution they will make to restoring the rightful reputation of real health and safety."
Stephen Asbury added: “We are delighted that Professor Löfstedt has emphasised the importance of a proportionate, risk-based approach to safety and health assurance rather than an inflexible one based on prescriptive rules. It is vital that this message is now embedded once and for all across the wider system, including in the activities of third parties, because there are many fresh opportunities for cutting harm and loss and making health and safety easier just waiting to be grasped.”
Professor Löfstedt accepts that more work is needed is in tackling the very real difficulties which some smaller firms seem to face in responding in a proportionate way to goal-setting duties informed by risk assessment. It seems that SMEs are ‘making a meal of things’ or accepting ‘over-the-top’ advice uncritically, and this points to the need for such firms to get effective diagnosis and signposting so they can access the information, training and advice they need to manage their health and safety problems effectively. CRS recommends that firms use consultants on the official ‘OSHCR’ register of occupational safety and health consultants’ for proper advice and assistance, such as ours [View HERE].
Another Government regulatory reform initiative, the Red Tape Challenge, will report in the New Year on further possible changes to the stock of health and safety regulations.
The Löfstedt review was commissioned by the coalition Government in March 2011, following the recommendations in the earlier report ‘Common Sense Common Safety’ report by Lord Young published in October 2010 [View report HERE]. The review was led by Professor Ragnar Löfstedt of King’s College London, who was aided by an independent panel, and investigated opportunities for “reducing the burden of health and safety legislation on UK businesses while maintaining the progress made in improving health and safety outcomes”.
Professor Löfstedt has made recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of unnecessary regulation on businesses while maintaining Britain's health and safety performance, which is thought to be the best internationally. The Government has accepted in full his recommendations.
Stephen Asbury, Managing Director of CRS said: “I am pleased and relieved that Professor Löfstedt has rejected the mass deregulation recommended by some, and has confirmed that the present legal structure is broadly fit for purpose. His detailed recommendations for technical change show there is always scope for some tidying up of the law and eradicating unnecessary red tape without removing the essential protection for workers and the public that it provides. But like the previous reviews of this subject, he has confirmed that not only has the UK got the regulatory balance about right but we also have much to be proud of.”
CRS fully supports the recommendations to reduce repetitive and clumsy regulatory requirements. We are pleased that although the report points to the UK’s relatively good accident record, it also recognises the continued need for managing health and safety risks in the workplace. The report cites estimates that suggest the cost of injury and ill health to UK business alone could be just over £3billion, while the overall cost to society of workplace accidents and ill health has been estimated to be up to a jaw-dropping £20billion a year.
We welcome the report’s proposals for bringing local authority enforcement under the control of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and we’re also pleased that it identifies the very significant influence that third party “semi-regulators”, such as insurers, clients and funders, can have on duty holders. We believe the positive, helpful influence needs to be encouraged and the negative influence, which can increase bureaucracy unnecessarily, reduced. We also welcome the report’s recommendations to improve the understanding of ‘risk’.
CRS believes the proposed exemption from health and safety law of the self-employed “whose work does not impact on others” will need careful handling, as we do not wish to see an increase in serious injuries in this sector of our economy.
Judith Hackitt, Chair of HSE, said: "Professor Löfstedt's insightful report will go a long way to refocusing health and safety in Great Britain on those things that matter - supporting those who want to do the right thing and reducing rates of work-related death, injury and ill health. We must have a system of health and safety which enables employers to make sensible and proportionate decisions about managing genuine workplace risks. Simplifying and streamlining the stock of regulations, focusing enforcement on higher risk businesses, clarifying requirements, and rebalancing the civil litigation system - these are all practical, positive steps. Poor regulation - that which adds unnecessary bureaucracy with no real benefits - drives out confidence in good regulation. We welcome these reforms because they are good for workers and employers but also for the significant contribution they will make to restoring the rightful reputation of real health and safety."
Stephen Asbury added: “We are delighted that Professor Löfstedt has emphasised the importance of a proportionate, risk-based approach to safety and health assurance rather than an inflexible one based on prescriptive rules. It is vital that this message is now embedded once and for all across the wider system, including in the activities of third parties, because there are many fresh opportunities for cutting harm and loss and making health and safety easier just waiting to be grasped.”
Professor Löfstedt accepts that more work is needed is in tackling the very real difficulties which some smaller firms seem to face in responding in a proportionate way to goal-setting duties informed by risk assessment. It seems that SMEs are ‘making a meal of things’ or accepting ‘over-the-top’ advice uncritically, and this points to the need for such firms to get effective diagnosis and signposting so they can access the information, training and advice they need to manage their health and safety problems effectively. CRS recommends that firms use consultants on the official ‘OSHCR’ register of occupational safety and health consultants’ for proper advice and assistance, such as ours [View HERE].
Another Government regulatory reform initiative, the Red Tape Challenge, will report in the New Year on further possible changes to the stock of health and safety regulations.
Saturday 26 November 2011
Rail Deaths - Prosecution Planned
A prosecution is being brought against Network Rail over the deaths of two teenage girls heading out on a Christmas shopping trip in December 2005.
Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, died when they were hit by an express train at a level crossing in Elsenham, Essex. They were on their way to do some shopping in Cambridge.
The father of one of the girls said the Office of Rail Regulation was planning to lodge charges over the deaths. Chris Bazlinton said a senior prosecutor would lodge the summons at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.
Mr Bazlinton said the families "never felt that we had heard the whole story". He added there seemed to be "unanswered questions" from various inquiries which were held in the year after the girls died.
Network Rail Chief Executive David Higgins said that since the accident there had been a major programme to update the assessments of 7,000 level crossings - improving risk management and safety. He added that the company had closed more than 500 crossings since 2009.
The first hearing is due to take place at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in Essex on 31 January 2012.
Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, died when they were hit by an express train at a level crossing in Elsenham, Essex. They were on their way to do some shopping in Cambridge.
The father of one of the girls said the Office of Rail Regulation was planning to lodge charges over the deaths. Chris Bazlinton said a senior prosecutor would lodge the summons at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court.
Mr Bazlinton said the families "never felt that we had heard the whole story". He added there seemed to be "unanswered questions" from various inquiries which were held in the year after the girls died.
Network Rail Chief Executive David Higgins said that since the accident there had been a major programme to update the assessments of 7,000 level crossings - improving risk management and safety. He added that the company had closed more than 500 crossings since 2009.
The first hearing is due to take place at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in Essex on 31 January 2012.
Mistakes Led to Helicopter Deaths
A problem was highlighted with a North Sea helicopter a week before it crashed killing 16 people, according to an accident report published this week.
Operators had planned to replace the main rotor gearbox of the Eurocopter Super Puma a week before the unit suffered a "catastrophic failure" and caused the crash.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reported that a magnetic particle had been discovered on the chip detector within the gearbox.
As a result, there were plans to remove the gearbox and replace it with a spare, but this was subsequently changed when it was not recognised as an indication of the second stage planet gear's degradation.
The report said: "The gearbox was declared serviceable by the operator and its planned replacement cancelled."
But it was the failure of the second stage planet gear, due to a fatigue crack, that contributed to the main rotor gearbox's problems and caused the death of all 14 offshore workers and two crewmen.
The helicopter was flying from the Miller Platform in the North Sea on April 1, 2009, when the main rotor separated from the fuselage, sending the aircraft into the sea.
Operators had planned to replace the main rotor gearbox of the Eurocopter Super Puma a week before the unit suffered a "catastrophic failure" and caused the crash.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) reported that a magnetic particle had been discovered on the chip detector within the gearbox.
As a result, there were plans to remove the gearbox and replace it with a spare, but this was subsequently changed when it was not recognised as an indication of the second stage planet gear's degradation.
The report said: "The gearbox was declared serviceable by the operator and its planned replacement cancelled."
But it was the failure of the second stage planet gear, due to a fatigue crack, that contributed to the main rotor gearbox's problems and caused the death of all 14 offshore workers and two crewmen.
The helicopter was flying from the Miller Platform in the North Sea on April 1, 2009, when the main rotor separated from the fuselage, sending the aircraft into the sea.
Fire Service Managers in Court on Manslaughter Charges
Three fire service managers have been bailed until next year after appearing in court charged in connection with the deaths of four colleagues in a Warwickshire blaze.
Station Manager Timothy Woodward and Watch Managers Paul Simmons and Adrian Ashley have been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. The charges followed a probe into the deaths of their colleagues in November 2007.
Fire fighters Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley all died in the fire. They had been battling a warehouse blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour.
The defendants were not required to enter a plea to the charges at the hearing at Warwick Crown Court. Warwickshire County Council also faces a charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees in relation to the blaze.
Simmons, 50, from Hampton Magna, Warwickshire, Ashley, 45, from Nuneaton, and Woodward, 50, from Leamington Spa, are next expected to appear at Stafford Crown Court in January 2012.
Station Manager Timothy Woodward and Watch Managers Paul Simmons and Adrian Ashley have been charged with gross negligence manslaughter. The charges followed a probe into the deaths of their colleagues in November 2007.
Fire fighters Ian Reid, John Averis, Ashley Stephens and Darren Yates-Badley all died in the fire. They had been battling a warehouse blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour.
The defendants were not required to enter a plea to the charges at the hearing at Warwick Crown Court. Warwickshire County Council also faces a charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees in relation to the blaze.
Simmons, 50, from Hampton Magna, Warwickshire, Ashley, 45, from Nuneaton, and Woodward, 50, from Leamington Spa, are next expected to appear at Stafford Crown Court in January 2012.
CRS raises concerns about rising work deaths
Corporate Risk Systems Limited (CRS) raises concerns today over rising work-related deaths, suggesting the figures could be a delayed effect of the recession and ‘belt-tightening’.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual statistics show that from April 2010 to March 2011, workplace fatalities have risen to 171 – up from 147 last year. Overall, 26.4 million working days were lost to injury and ill-health across the 12 months, but encouragingly, incidents of injury and ill-health are down overall.
CRS Managing Director Stephen Asbury said: “It’s disappointing that the drop in fatal injuries from last year hasn’t been maintained - even one death is too many. We’re concerned that this could be a delayed knock-on effect of recession and ‘belt-tightening’ – like cutting back on training and maintenance – that could now be beginning to bite.
“The solution is better health and safety management. With this, employers can play a part in reversing the tide once again - saving lives, supporting business and sustaining the UK economy.“
While fatalities have increased, the number of major injuries is down from 26,268 in 2009/10 to 24,726, and where injuries have kept people off work for four or more days, these show a drop of six per cent to 90,653. And where illness is concerned, an estimated 1.2 million people said they had a condition that had been caused or made worse by work, compared to 1.3 million last year.
Stephen added: “These slightly improved figures on injury and ill-health are welcome and it’s positive that fewer people returned home from work with conditions that are preventable. However, far more still needs to be done. In the current climate it can be difficult to tell whether these figures show genuine improvement in occupational safety and health management, or whether they reflect lower levels of industrial activity during this period of austerity.”
Following these new statistics, Britain continues to have the lowest rate of fatal occupational injuries in Europe, as well as one of the lowest levels of work-related ill-health.
In the announcement this week, HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “Britain can be proud that it has one of the best health and safety records in Europe, but as the increase in the number of fatalities makes clear we can never let up in our commitment to addressing the serious risks which continue to cause death and injury in workplaces.
“HSE will continue to work with employers, employees and other organisations to maintain and, where necessary improve, health and safety standards. We all have a responsibility to make sure serious workplace risks are sensibly managed."
Among other statistics, the construction and agricultural industries have the highest levels of work-related injuries.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual statistics show that from April 2010 to March 2011, workplace fatalities have risen to 171 – up from 147 last year. Overall, 26.4 million working days were lost to injury and ill-health across the 12 months, but encouragingly, incidents of injury and ill-health are down overall.
CRS Managing Director Stephen Asbury said: “It’s disappointing that the drop in fatal injuries from last year hasn’t been maintained - even one death is too many. We’re concerned that this could be a delayed knock-on effect of recession and ‘belt-tightening’ – like cutting back on training and maintenance – that could now be beginning to bite.
“The solution is better health and safety management. With this, employers can play a part in reversing the tide once again - saving lives, supporting business and sustaining the UK economy.“
While fatalities have increased, the number of major injuries is down from 26,268 in 2009/10 to 24,726, and where injuries have kept people off work for four or more days, these show a drop of six per cent to 90,653. And where illness is concerned, an estimated 1.2 million people said they had a condition that had been caused or made worse by work, compared to 1.3 million last year.
Stephen added: “These slightly improved figures on injury and ill-health are welcome and it’s positive that fewer people returned home from work with conditions that are preventable. However, far more still needs to be done. In the current climate it can be difficult to tell whether these figures show genuine improvement in occupational safety and health management, or whether they reflect lower levels of industrial activity during this period of austerity.”
Following these new statistics, Britain continues to have the lowest rate of fatal occupational injuries in Europe, as well as one of the lowest levels of work-related ill-health.
In the announcement this week, HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “Britain can be proud that it has one of the best health and safety records in Europe, but as the increase in the number of fatalities makes clear we can never let up in our commitment to addressing the serious risks which continue to cause death and injury in workplaces.
“HSE will continue to work with employers, employees and other organisations to maintain and, where necessary improve, health and safety standards. We all have a responsibility to make sure serious workplace risks are sensibly managed."
Among other statistics, the construction and agricultural industries have the highest levels of work-related injuries.
Sick Leave "A Big Problem for UK Firms"
A soon to-be-published-report looking at ways of slashing the £60 billion cost of poor health among workers will state the rules around sick leave and GPs signing patients off work should change.
The director for health and work, Dame Carol Black, and the former director of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Frost, were asked by ministers to undertake the research.
Their report will argue that independent assessors should have the final say on absences for illness and not GPs, and businesses that hire people with continuing health problems should be given tax breaks.
The British Chambers of Commerce director-general John Longworth said: "Sickness absence and the rules that surround it are a big problem for UK firms - 70% of businesses believe that the rules on how to handle sickness absence are burdensome. On that basis, we welcome the deregulatory measures recommended in this review."
Lord Freud, Welfare Reform Minister, added that people on long-term sick leave were not given any help or guidance for up to 24 weeks and this then meant people were unnecessarily drifting onto state support.
The director for health and work, Dame Carol Black, and the former director of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Frost, were asked by ministers to undertake the research.
Their report will argue that independent assessors should have the final say on absences for illness and not GPs, and businesses that hire people with continuing health problems should be given tax breaks.
The British Chambers of Commerce director-general John Longworth said: "Sickness absence and the rules that surround it are a big problem for UK firms - 70% of businesses believe that the rules on how to handle sickness absence are burdensome. On that basis, we welcome the deregulatory measures recommended in this review."
Lord Freud, Welfare Reform Minister, added that people on long-term sick leave were not given any help or guidance for up to 24 weeks and this then meant people were unnecessarily drifting onto state support.
Monday 21 November 2011
Man to Spend Five Years in Jail for Storing Waste in his Back Yard
A California man has been ordered to spend five years behind bars - the longest prison term ever handed down by a California federal judge in a hazardous waste case - for illegally storing toxic and explosive hazardous waste in his backyard, posing a threat to neighbours. Edward Wyman, 64, was also ordered to pay $800,000 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for costs associated with the 47-day clean-up response.
Wyman was convicted in April of violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, along with a special finding that his conduct knowingly placed another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. In handing down the
sentence this week, U.S. District Judge George H. King said Wyman's crimes were "not victimless or hyper-technical offenses," but rather constituted "a real and present danger" to the defendant's family and neighbours. During the clean-up, EPA contractors were forced to call out the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb and arson squad seven separate times to deal with possible explosives mixed into the burned debris, prosecutors said. Wyman was charged in June 2009, soon after fire fighters responded to a report of a fire and explosions at his home. Investigators discovered a large cache of toxic materials, such as thousands of rounds of corroded ammunition, lead-contaminated waste from shooting ranges, hundreds of pounds of decades-old gunpowder and military M6 cannon powder, and industrial solvents that contained 1,1,1-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, which are potent chemicals listed as hazardous substances under US laws, prosecutors said. Wyman did not have a permit to store any of the materials, authorities said.
Because ammunition was exploding in the fire, fire fighters had to wear bulletproof vests. The sentence "demonstrates the serious nature of federal environmental crimes," U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said. "Federal environmental regulations exist to protect both public safety and the environment," he said. "The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the environment and to prosecuting persons who threaten the community through their illegal actions."
Wyman was convicted in April of violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, along with a special finding that his conduct knowingly placed another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury. In handing down the
sentence this week, U.S. District Judge George H. King said Wyman's crimes were "not victimless or hyper-technical offenses," but rather constituted "a real and present danger" to the defendant's family and neighbours. During the clean-up, EPA contractors were forced to call out the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb and arson squad seven separate times to deal with possible explosives mixed into the burned debris, prosecutors said. Wyman was charged in June 2009, soon after fire fighters responded to a report of a fire and explosions at his home. Investigators discovered a large cache of toxic materials, such as thousands of rounds of corroded ammunition, lead-contaminated waste from shooting ranges, hundreds of pounds of decades-old gunpowder and military M6 cannon powder, and industrial solvents that contained 1,1,1-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene, which are potent chemicals listed as hazardous substances under US laws, prosecutors said. Wyman did not have a permit to store any of the materials, authorities said.
Because ammunition was exploding in the fire, fire fighters had to wear bulletproof vests. The sentence "demonstrates the serious nature of federal environmental crimes," U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said. "Federal environmental regulations exist to protect both public safety and the environment," he said. "The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the environment and to prosecuting persons who threaten the community through their illegal actions."
Monday 7 November 2011
CRS Mighty Mini Raises over £2000 for Local Charities
A good day was had by all at the 2011 Castle Combe Mini World Action day, where drivers from the Mightys and Supers racing series took their race Mini’s out for fast passenger laps. Team CRS were represented with the CRS Mighty Mini and team drivers Caroline and David. Despite the bad weather over 120 people paid for a fast passenger laps and over £2300 was raised for local charities.
Rodney Gooch, Castle Combe Director emailed “As always it was a pleasure having all you guys here, I know I say it each year but for you all to turn up, wear out your race Minis and tyres, spend a lot on fuel and then give all the money away, it always seems a very British thing to do.
You are all very much part of the event and will always be very welcome.”
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