100 Kilos – 444 Miles – 100 UK Locations

Corporate Risk Systems Ltd is pleased to have Ben Greer as a delegate on their NEBOSH Full House package which has been designed for Ex Forces Personnel who are currently leaving the forces for a civilian life, whether they have naturally come to the end of their service or are part of the redundancies (circa 5000) announced last week.

Ben who was  Ex Royal Air Force having left 2 years ago,  was a Chinook helicopter crewman. Ben said “I had the pleasure of serving alongside some of the best young men and women I have ever met. I completed 6 tours of Afghanistan during 2006-2010. During these tours one of our main jobs was to provide casualty evacuation from the front line using the Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT). We evacuated the bulk of both the civilian and military casualties for the area of Helmand. It has been my honour to have been involved in such an operation which I should also state is still on-going.”

Ben is taking part in The Big Lift  and is  going to walk a mile for every British service person to have died in Afghanistan; currently sitting around 440. Each mile though will be done with the weight of a combat soldier, in fighting kit on his back to simulate evacuation from the battlefield. The weight will be 100kgs or 15.74 stone, 220 lb

Please give Ben and the Team your support find out more www.thebiglift.co.uk

Company fined after worker's hand crushed

A Wellingborough firm has been fined for safety breaches after a worker’s hand was crushed in an unguarded laminating machine.

Michael Taylor, 29, of Wellingborough, suffered serious injuries when his right hand and forearm were drawn into gluing rollers of the machine. Mr Taylor has had four operations and extensive physiotherapy but it is unlikely he will ever regain full movement in his hand.

The incident, on 20 January 2012, at The Paper Pallet Company Ltd was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which today prosecuted the company at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard that The Paper Pallet Company Ltd, which uses recycled paper to make pallets, failed to ensure a honeycomb laminating machine was guarded and that staff were adequately trained and supervised in order to use it safely.

HSE found several failings. Mr Taylor was inadequately supervised and the machinery was unguarded at several points, not just where the incident occurred. The guarding over the gears and chains allowed access to dangerous moving parts, and some of the emergency stops did not work properly.

In addition the company had not carried out a risk assessment on the machine. This meant there was no safe system of work for cleaning the gluing rollers or for the operation, use and maintenance of the line.

Ros Stacey – UK Sales Director for CRS says “Don’t let this happen to your organisation ensure your workforce is fully trained and risk assessments  are carried out regularly. IOSH Working Safely, IOSH Managing Safely and NEBOSH Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety contact us for more information 01283 509175

Sellafield Ltd fined £700k over Environmental Management System Failures

The company running the UK’s largest nuclear facility has been fined £700,000 after “basic management failures” resulted in low-level radioactive waste being sent to landfill
Sellafield Limited was ordered to pay the fine, plus more than £72,000 in costs, by Carlisle Crown Court after the firm admitted it did not have adequate management systems in place when waste from controlled areas of its site was mistakenly sent to landfill. In April 2010, it was discovered that four bags of low-level radioactive waste, including plastic, paper, clothing, wood and metal, had been sent to the Lillyhall landfill site in Workington. According to the firm, a wrongly configured monitoring system resulted in the bags being labeled as “general waste”, making them exempt from the usual disposal treatment process.
Judge Peter Hughes said the mistakes were the result of “basic management failures” and criticised a lack of procedures to check monitoring equipment.
“This prosecution arises out of the discovery, by chance, that bags of radioactive waste had been wrongly classified as exempt waste and allowed to leave Sellafield and to be transported to a landfill site and deposited there,” he said. “That such a basic mistake could possibly occur in what needs to be an industry managed and operated with scrupulous care for public safety and the environment is bound to be a matter of grave concern.”
He fined the firm £700,000 for seven environment and safety offences, including multiple breaches of the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 and the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010, and one offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The heavy fine was passed despite the waste being retrieved and disposed of correctly, and confirmation from the Environment Agency and the Office for Nuclear Regulation that no contamination has resulted from the waste being sent to landfill.
A statement from the company, which has held an ISO 14001 certification since 1997, said it regretted the incident and had suspended the disposal of waste from the site until it had identified and corrected the error.“Following the event, before waste operations were re-introduced on the site additional monitoring measures were put in place to prevent an incident of this type happening again,” confirmed the statement. “Safety is, and always will be, our number one priority at Sellafield.”
Head of Environment at Corporate Risk Systems commented ‘EMS such as ISO 14001 need to be embedded into organisations’ and their culture. Tick box certification and a badge does not drive the organisation to really look at the impacts of environmental issues on the company and develop an a robust management system based on continual improvement.’
Source Environmentalist

Climate change from overseas is a bigger threat to UK than climate change from home

In order to protect national interests and sustainability measures at home, UK investors must consider their environmental impact abroad, a major advising firm has warned.
A new study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has identified that climate change from overseas could have a larger effect in the UK, bigger than the effect from the climate change from home.

The PwC report commissioned by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and entitled, 'International Threats and Opportunities', identified key areas of threats. These included damages to financial assets due to extreme weather, increased frequency of humanitarian assistance, volatility in food prices, which include political impact on food availability, and an increased demand for UK Governmental services abroad.

But the report also identified opportunities for UK investors. Because Britain is a leader in sustainability and reduction of carbon emission measures, it suggested the UK could be a leading exporter of adaptation goods and services such as flood defence, climate modelling, and insurance.

Head of Environment at Corporate Risk Systems, Richard Ball commented ‘ this international perspective, brings home the global impacts of environmental issues. The NEW ISO 14001 model, recognises the risks and opportunities organisations will face in the next 20 years need to be identified and planned for if currently successful organisations are going to continue to survive and grow. Organisations need to act now to ensure threats to their operations, supply chains and customer base are effectively managed. Environmental Management is  Business planning on a different timescale!’ For more information on our range of environmental management courses for the workforce, management and environmental practitioners contact ros.stacey@crsrisk.com.

Countries UK vulnerable to
The report identified three categories of vulnerability for the UK from overseas countries: low threat, watch list, and priority countries. The priority countries include such names as India, China, and some African countries, like Sudan and Nigeria, but also the US, Spain and Germany.

It concludes the UK can't afford to think of itself in a secluded manner when it comes to risks in investment, supply chains and trading. And it calls for greater cooperation between private and public sector officials, as international climate concerns impact both sectors.

"Whilst further detailed modelling is needed, the report’s findings are an unequivocal call to action for business and policy-makers alike to examine how the UK can avoid the worst impacts of climate change globally, and demonstrate the business case for further and faster action to tackle rising emissions," Richard Gledhill, partner at PwC, said.

Areas of growth 
PwC identified areas of growth it has most confidence in as the food supplies sector and reducing the physical damages to financial assets due to extreme weather.

Potential reduction in shipping costs to the Arctic circle as well as a greater global diplomatic cooperation seem to be the other opportunities identified by the study.

Infrastructure-wise, the UK could gain an increased access to energy supplies in countries that do not require as much energy.

"Taking action now increases the UK’s capacity to adapt and also ensures we make the most of the opportunities, by investing in the skills, R&D, and services that are needed. The findings are a first step in understanding the likely possible impacts on the UK and the unavoidable consequences of climate change in other countries," Gledhill said.

The report calls on investors to see the linkages between domestic and international climate changing threats. The recommendations also mention that companies and governments should have a better understanding of supply chains as well as a development of better monitoring systems.

Source www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk

HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE TO OPEN IN BRISTOL

Corporate Risk Systems Ltd (CRS) One of the largest training providers of Health Safety and Environmental Training are pleased to announce that they will be delivering Health & Safety Open Training Courses at The Novotel Hotel, Victoria Street, Bristol commencing in September 2013. CRS based at Burton on Trent, Staffordshire currently have 12 venues across the UK where they offer NEBOSH, IOSH, CIEH and IEMA Safety, Health & Environmental Courses for anyone. They are also opening new Training Venues in Milton Keynes and Edinburgh later on this year. CRS is now coming up to its 15^th year of trading and will be planting another 15 trees to celebrate in the National Forest in Staffordshire. Ros Stacey – Sales Director for CRS said “CRS has seen rapid growth over the last 12 months and more training venues are required to meet the demand from individuals and small companies who need to have employees trained in SHE, but don’t have enough delegates for us to train them In House by opening more venues it helps as delegates don’t have far to travel saving on travel, and accommodation costs but more importantly protecting the environment”. Find out more www.crsrisk.com or email rs@crsrisk.com

YOUR LAST CHANCE TO ENTER THE PRIZE DRAW FOR THE TWO FREE TICKETS

MINI FESTIVAL

BRANDS HATCH (INDY)

SATURDAY 22 - SUNDAY 23 JUNE 2013

CRS will be making the Draw later today for the two FREE Tickets for the MINI FESTIVAL at Brands Hatch this weekend.

It promises to be an excellent day out. Come and meet Team CRS and our driver Ladies Champion for 2011/12 Caroline Gilbert.

To be in with a chance answer this question: What year was CRS registered as a Limited Company? – you can find the answer www.crsrisk.com  Answers to Ros Stacey – UK Sales Director ros.stacey@crsrisk.com The winner will be picked on Wednesday 19th June and be notified by email.

CD260 - Public consultation and associated communication activities to repeal or revoke twelve legislative measures

Corporate Risk Systems Limited (CRS) keeps you up-to-date with what is going on with regulatory changes.  This is especially important for those certified to OHSAS 18001, as you may need to update your registers of health and safety regulations.
Published this week, this consultative document (CD260) seeks views on the Health and Safety Executive’s proposals to remove twelve legislative measures (two Acts and ten Regulations) which HSE believes are either redundant or have been overtaken by more up to date legislation. It is proposed that the following legislation be removed:

• Factories Act 1961 (FA61)
• Offices, Shops & Railway Premises Act 1963 (OSRPA)
• Factories Act (Docks, Building and Engineering Construction, etc) Modification Regulations 1938
• Factories Act 1937 (Extension of Section 46) Regulations 1948
• Factories Act 1961 and Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 (Repeals and Modifications) Regulations 2009
• Factories Act 1961 (Repeals) Regulations 1975
• Factories Act 1961 etc (Metrication) Regulations 1983
• Factories Act 1961 etc (Repeals and Modifications) Regulations 1974
• Factories Act 1961 etc (Repeals) Regulations 1976
• Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 (Repeals and Modifications) Regulations 1974
• Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 (Repeals) Regulations 1975
• Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 etc (Repeals) Regulations 1976

You can download the full consultative document  here.
You can respond to the consultation using the online questionnaire or download a form  to complete.
This consultation began on 17 June and will finish on 12 July 2013. Responses should be sent by 12 July 2013 to:
Robbie Cowley
Health and Safety Executive
Redgrave Court
Merton Road
Bootle
Liverpool
L20 7HS
Email: repealsandrevocations@hse.gsi.gov.uk

Warm Ocean, Not Icebergs, Cause Most of Antarctic Ice Shelves' Mass Loss

Ocean waters melting the undersides of Antarctic ice shelves are responsible for most of the continent's ice shelf mass loss, a new study by NASA and university researchers has found.

Scientists have studied the rates of basal melt, or the melting of the ice shelves from underneath, of individual ice shelves, the floating extensions of glaciers that empty into the sea. But this is the first comprehensive survey of all Antarctic ice shelves. The study found basal melt accounted for 55 per cent of all Antarctic ice shelf mass loss from 2003 to 2008, an amount much higher than previously thought.

Antarctica holds about 60 per cent of the planet's fresh water locked into its massive ice sheet. Ice shelves buttress the glaciers behind them, modulating the speed at which these rivers of ice flow into the ocean. Determining how ice shelves melt will help scientists improve projections of how the Antarctic ice sheet will respond to a warming ocean and contribute to sea level rise. It also will improve global models of ocean circulation by providing a better estimate of the amount of fresh water ice shelf melting adds to Antarctic coastal waters.

The study uses reconstructions of ice accumulation, satellite and aircraft readings of ice thickness, and changes in elevation and ice velocity to determine how fast ice shelves melt and compare the mass lost with the amount released by the calving, or splitting, of icebergs.

"The traditional view on Antarctic mass loss is it is almost entirely controlled by iceberg calving," said Eric Rignot of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., and the University of California, Irvine. Rignot is lead author of the study to be published in the 14 June 2013 issue of the journal Science. "Our study shows melting from below by the ocean waters is larger, and this should change our perspective on the evolution of the ice sheet in a warming climate."

Ice shelves grow through a combination of land ice flowing to the sea and snow accumulating on their surface. To determine how much ice and snowfall enters a specific ice shelf and how much makes it to an iceberg, where it may split off, the research team used a regional climate model for snow accumulation and combined the results with ice velocity data from satellites, ice shelf thickness measurements from NASA's Operation IceBridge -- an continuing aerial survey of Earth's poles -- and a new map of Antarctica's bedrock. Using this information, Rignot and colleagues were able to deduce whether the ice shelf was losing mass through basal melting or gaining it through the basal freezing of seawater.

In some places, basal melt exceeds iceberg calving. In other places, the opposite is true. But in total, Antarctic ice shelves lost 2,921 trillion pounds (1,325 trillion kilograms) of ice per year in 2003-2008 through basal melt, while iceberg formation accounted for 2,400 trillion pounds (1,089 trillion kilograms) of mass loss each year.

Basal melt can have a greater impact on ocean circulation than glacier calving. Icebergs slowly release melt water as they drift away from the continent. But strong melting near deep grounding lines, where glaciers lose their grip on the seafloor and start floating as ice shelves, discharges large quantities of fresher, lighter water near the Antarctic coast line. This lower-density water does not mix and sink as readily as colder, saltier water, and may be changing the rate of bottom water renewal.

"Changes in basal melting are helping to change the properties of Antarctic bottom water, which is one component of the ocean's overturning circulation," said author Stan Jacobs, an oceanographer at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, N.Y. "In some areas it also impacts ecosystems by driving coastal upwelling, which brings up micronutrients like iron that fuel persistent plankton blooms in the summer."

The study found basal melting is distributed unevenly around the continent. The three giant ice shelves of Ross, Filchner and Ronne, which make up two-thirds of the total Antarctic ice shelf area, accounted for only 15 percent of basal melting. Meanwhile, fewer than a dozen small ice shelves floating on "warm" waters (seawater only a few degrees above the freezing point) produced half of the total melt water during the same period. The scientists detected a similar high rate of basal melting under six small ice shelves along East Antarctica, a region not as well-known because of a scarcity of measurements.

The researchers also compared the rates at which the ice shelves are shedding ice to the speed at which the continent itself is losing mass and found that, on average, ice shelves lost mass twice as fast as the Antarctic ice sheet did during the study period.

"Ice shelf melt doesn't necessarily mean an ice shelf is decaying; it can be compensated by the ice flow from the continent," Rignot said. "But in a number of places around Antarctica, ice shelves are melting too fast, and a consequence of that is glaciers and the entire continent are changing as well."

LAST CHANCE TO WIN TWO FREE TICKETS TO BRANDS HATCH 22ND-23RD JUNE

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE COOPER S

The legendary Brands Hatch circuit in Kent will once again host the Brands Hatch Mini Festival in association with Mini Sport UK on 22/23 June with a bigger and better show lined up for 2013! The event is a celebration of all things Mini from the classic Austin Mini of the late 1950s to its modern hatchback incarnation. This year we will be honouring the 50th anniversary of the legendary Mini Cooper S. All are welcome to join in the fun!
On track action will be solely devoted to the Mini in 2013 with the Mighty Minis and Super Mighty Minis joining the superb race schedule provided from the MINI Challenge, Mini Se7en, Mini Miglias and Pre-66 Minis. Old and new Minis will also do battle on the track in a unique handicap race to decide which variant is best!
Coupled with a superb race schedule, there will be a host of Mini-themed activities away from the circuit, including an extended Russ Swift Mini stunt show across both days, live music, rally demonstrations and show & shine competitions.
Mini Sport will be sponsoring a Red Devils Parachute Display and they will also head up an extensive trade village at the event. In addition, the trade village will feature an impressive display area which will be one of the focal points of the festival, featuring legendary Mini rally cars including Paddy Hopkirk's 1964 Monte Carlo winning Mini Cooper S, Niel Burgess's last WRC classic Mini 'Mildred' and Mini Sport's own in-house rally team and many more.
Mini clubs from across the UK and Europe are encouraged to showcase their pride and joy with the chance to take part in parade laps around the track. More than 30 car clubs booked club stands at the inaugural event.
Come and support Team CRS and our driver Caroline Gilbert Winners Champion 2011/12.
To have a chance at winning the TWO FREE TICKETS just answer this question: What year was CRS registered as a Limited Company? – you can find the answer www.crsrisk.com Answers to Ros Stacey – UK Sales Director ros.stacey@crsrisk.com The winner will be picked on Wednesday 19^th June and be notified by email.
Whichever Mini you prefer, there is one place to be on 22/23 June 2013.

Canadian F1 Grand Prix marred by death of steward - First fatality in F1 since 2001

The Canadian Grand Prix, won by Sebastian Vettel last Sunday (9 June 2013), has been marred by the death of a marshal, the first Fatality in F1 since 2001.

Several hours after the race, which was relatively incident free and saw Vettel extend his championship lead, the FIA issued a statement confirming that the marshal, subsequently named as 38-year-old Mark Robinson, had been injured in an unlikely accident towards the end of the race and had succumbed to his injuries.

"The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up," read the FIA statement. "As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle."

The car referred to in the statement was that of Esteban Gutierrez who crashed into the barriers as he rejoined the track after his final pit stop.

"The worker, a member of the Automobile Club de l'Ile Notre Dame, was transported via helicopter to Sacre-Coeur hospital where he was treated by the traumatology department of Dr Ronald Denis, deputy chief medical officer, and Dr Jacques Bouchard, chief medical officer of the grand prix," said the FIA. "Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital."

"When I came out from my second pit stop into the first corner, I went over one of the bumps, the front locked up and I couldn’t stop,” said Gutierrez.

In the wake of the news of the marshal's death, Gutierrez was one of many drivers to tweet their condolences.

"Today there is nothing to celebrate," tweeted Fernando Alonso. "Terrible news arrive with the death of a marshal this race. Very sad. R.I.P."

"Shocked & saddened by the news that a marshal who is there to keep us safe has lost his life during our race today," added Jenson Button. "Rest in peace my friend."

The last F1 related fatality was that of Graham Beveridge, a marshal at the Australian Grand Prix in 2001, who was hit by a wheel following a clash involving Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve.

Marshal are the unpaid, largely unsung, heroes of our sport, without whom it couldn't continue. Sincere condolences from all of us at CRS go to his family and his colleagues.