CRS joins Mark Carney – Governor of the Bank of England for Lunch

Ros Stacey  UK Sales Director at Corporate Risk Systems (CRS) will today meet in Nottingham with other business leaders for Mark Carney’s first public speech since taking over the role of Governor of the Bank of England. CRS one of the UK’s largest privately owned training providers of Accredited Health, Safety and Environmental Training courses based at Burton on Trent was invited to attend the meeting by Derbyshire  & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce. CRS was recently appointed by the Chamber as their preferred training provider of Health, Safety & Environmental Courses for Chamber members and will shortly be delivering  a programme of courses specific to members of both Derby & Nottingham Chambers of Commerce.
Ros said “ I am delighted that CRS have been chosen to represent businesses in this area at what must be one of the most talked about events since Mark Carney took office a few months ago, as this is Marks first public address everyone in the city and surrounding areas are waiting to see the content of his speech and to get an understanding of how he will be helping businesses and individuals get the assurance and stability  they need to borrow, invest and spend”.

Employers looking to hire but candidates lack quality says CIPD

The manufacturing sector's dilemma over skills shortages is facing a further twist with the CIPD's new labour market survey showing that for the sixth quarter in a row, employers expect jobs growth – meaning more openings for job seekers but more competition among employers for the right candidates.
The report shows that the net employment balance – which measures the difference between the proportion of employers who expect to increase staffing levels and the proportion who intend to reduce staffing levels – stands at +14, the highest figure since the recession in 2008.

CIPD chief economist Mark Beatson said there should see further jobs growth over the summer and autumn and similar prospects for 2013. "The challenge for the increasing proportion of employers looking to hire will lie in finding the right talent to fill their vacancies," he continued, adding that turnover still remained low, perhaps because many employees were reluctant to leave the security of their current role for fear that the market dips again. "So employers could find fewer ideal candidates around than they might have expected," Beatson concluded.

Also commenting, James Reid from survey partner SuccessFactors, said: "Today's highly competitive economy has left businesses not only battling for custom and market share, but also for the acquisition and retention of talent. But an important balancing act must take place when it comes to employing new talent versus the training and development of the existing workforce."

FREE TICKETS – TO BE WON

Have you entered our Mighty Mini Competition?

2 FREE Tickets to Oulton Park, Cheshire for Rounds 9 & 10 of the Mighty Mini Championship race for Saturday  31^st August 2013 just answer this question:
How many years have CRS been trading is it:
A – 5 years
B – 25 years
C – 15 years
You can find the answer on our website www.crsrisk.com
Email you answer to rs@crsrisk.com before 5p.m. Wednesday 28^th August.

Liverpool John Lennon airport staff 'miss explosives' in tests

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has admitted that staff failed to spot explosives and knives planted during a security test last week. According to a whistle-blower, the incident involved two improvised explosive devices and two knives. The airport said members of staff were receiving additional training.

Merseyside MP and shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle described it as a "matter of concern" and that she would bring it up with the aviation minister.  The Labour MP for Garston and Halewood said these were "serious allegations". She said: "I shall be contacting the aviation minister to look at this issue and to give me some assurances about what is going on".

Paul Staples, operations manager for the airport, said: "This particular incident we are talking about was part of our on-going training programme, where we deliberately put items through. We are constantly looking to improve as we learn more about items that are brought through and how they can be hidden".

He added the public were never in any danger and they could be reassured that safety is a priority at the airport.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-23701984

6 Homes Evacuated after a spark caused a Fire

Two major companies were responsible for a major blaze in Leeds that led to the evacuation of six homes, the closure of a major road and gas supplies being cut off, a court heard.
Welding work on a gas main sparked a fire that sent 20-foot flames into the sky
Leeds-based Northern Gas Networks Operations Ltd and Morgan Sindall (Infrastructure) plc both neglected basic safety measures when a new section of gas mains needed to be installed during a major construction project on the Ring Road at Beeston.
Leeds Crown Court heard that numerous safety failings by both companies resulted in welding work on a gas main sparking a fire that sent 20-foot flames into the sky. Three workers had to flee to escape…. Read more
CRS says  "When undertaking high hazard activities such as this, it is essential that the proper steps are taken to ensure that risks are fully considered and then controlled. NEBOSH Fire Safety and Risk Management Certificate

Half-baked or overcooked

The evidence is clear but there are still so many commentators out there who just don't get it. Lord Young and Professor Löfstedt's reviews both concluded that it is NOT the regulations that lead to ridiculous decisions on health and safety grounds, but rather the over interpretation and over application of regulations in inappropriate and disproportionate ways.

Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Myth Busters Challenge Panel has demonstrated this to be true in more than 200 cases it has looked at over the last 15 months. When 'health and safety' is not being used as a convenient excuse - or non-existent rules being created - it seems even sensible regulations are being applied in silly ways.

No one would reasonably argue that an industrial electric pressure washer used by a variety of operators on a busy construction site should not be subject to regular tests to ensure that it is in a safe condition. Common sense and proper proportion would tell most of us the same level of testing for kettles and computers in offices is over the top. Indeed the regulations have never required it - but that didn't stop some people acting alone or guided by unqualified ‘health and safety advisers’ from interpreting them in that way.

We've seen again this week health and safety "rules" being lambasted as "half baked" in the national press. This time the story is about Georgie Hippolite from the Isle of Wight, whose mum baked cakes to sell at school for a charity.  Because her mum didn't have a food hygiene qualification, she was told they couldn't be sold - because of "health and safety”. A perfect cue for the comment pages to go into overdrive, mocking the deadly dangers of cooking a Sunday roast or the hidden threats which lurk in every kitchen. This reaction is amusing up to a point. But we at CRS struggle with any argument that blames the regulations for turning us into a nation of cowards and scaredy-cats, obsessed with red tape and bureaucracy and hell bent on stopping people doing harmless and very low risk activities.  We have looked at all 200 or so of the mythbuster cases HSE has dealt with. We’re sure the cases are not made up - many of them you literally couldn't make up, they're so silly. Only this week we heard of parasols being banned at a racecourse on grounds of you-know-what. Apparently, they could be used as a weapon.

This problem of over application is a real one, but until we can get more people to see that the problem is one of "overcooking” the rules, not the rules themselves being "half baked”, our rate of progress is going to be limited. But it's not been all bad in the press this week. Dr Mike Esbester, of Portsmouth University, reached some interesting conclusions after studying the history of health and safety. You can read them in this report in the Telegraph . Given the cooking theme of this blog, we only really need to say two words to Dr Mike - well done!

SALE STARTS TODAY – 15% OFF FOR 15 DAYS

The CRS Sale has already started we are giving a massive discount of 15% off any of our Open Courses but hurry it ends in 15 days’ time.

Visit our website at www.crsrisk.com and take a look at our complete range of courses, book now and take advantage of the discount, courses can be taken any time before 31^st December 2013.

SAVE £233.00 on our NEBOSH National General Course WAS £1299 plus vat NOW £1104 plus vat. SAVE £120 on our NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management  WAS £799 NOW £679 plus vat.

OUR DEAL OF THE DAY IS OUR NEBOSH CONSTRUCTION COURSE – BURTON W/C 12^TH AUGUST REDUCED TO £1000 NOW £850 plus vat A GREAT SAVING OF £449 probably the best deal around.

Call Ros Stacey 01283 509175 or email rs@crsrisk.com and quote CRS 15.