Thomas Appleby congratulations you are our Delegate of the Month

Well done to Thomas Appleby who has been chosen as our Delegate of the Month for March. Thomas  was one of 12 delegates who attended our NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management course which was held at our Manchester training venue last week. Thomas was nominated by our tutor Paul Johnson. When we asked Thomas what he liked about the course he said “I found the course stimulating, interesting, relevant and engaging, the tutor made the course content easy to understand”. Thomas booked his course online through one of CRS’s third party introducers, and found the booking system really easy. Thomas is a single and well-travelled chap, who likes outdoor pursuits, poetry and with a lust for life.
I am sure that we will be seeing Thomas and the rest of the delegates from this course at our FREE Seminar to be held at Sahara Force India Friday 10th April where our Head of Environment Richard Ball will be speaking about our follow courses and career development – IEMA – Associate Certificate in Environmental Management and Chartered Environmentalist with potential earnings of around £52K. If you would like more information on this special event please contact Ros Stacey – rs@crsrisk.com

Britain’s beetles: One species lost every decade

Latest research reveals many of our leaf beetles and stoneflies are on a ‘red list’ of species that are under threat of local extinction.
CRS’s Head of Environment commented ‘Environmental Protection can be a hard sell within organisations sometimes and one reason for this is that people struggle to link personal action to environmental harm.  This report shows that on our own doorstep species are being lost’. If you are interested in learning more about the environment, what you and your organisation can do to protect it CRS offer a broad range of courses suited to those entering the discipline right through to Chartered Environmentalists. Visit our website for more information.

Stonefly © David Pryce, Buglife
The two new reports from the Species Status Project have been published by Natural England in collaboration with Buglife. They assess the conservation status of 2 groups of insects - leaf beetles (named after their habit of eating leaves) and stoneflies (aquatic species found in rivers and streams) – and classifies them as either ‘vulnerable’, ‘endangered’ or ‘critically endangered’ .
The review of leaf beetles found that out of the 283 species in the UK:

• 3 have become extinct in Britain in the last 100 years
• 7 are classified as critically endangered and possibly already extinct in Britain, as they have not been seen since 1950
• 35 are placed on the new red list and considered either ‘critically endangered’, ‘endangered’ or ‘vulnerable’, and under threat of becoming extinct in Britain in the near future

Stoneflies fare slightly better. Out of 34 species found in Great Britain, one is now extinct, one is vulnerable to extinction, and another now joins the red list as a critically endangered species.
The 2 reports are the latest in a series to be published under the Species Status Project, which will help conservation organisations to target future action. The Species Status project is a new initiative that provides up-to-date assessments of the threat status of various species of insects using the internationally accepted guidelines developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Both groups of insects are highly sensitive to their environment. Leaf beetles are often specific to certain plants in certain habitats. Stonefly larvae are particularly sensitive to organic pollution. They are regarded as excellent indicators of the health of the natural environment and targeted action supported by both Natural England and the voluntary conservation sector is underway to try to prevent further declines in these species. The reports provide vital new evidence that will help focus resources on managing habitats in the best way to improve the conservation status of these overlooked but important insects.
Case studies
Tansy beetle
The rare and visually stunning iridescent green tansy beetle (Chrysolina graminis) was once widespread in the Britain living in wetland areas, but it is currently critically endangered, not just in the UK but across its worldwide range. It is now a conservation priority species in England (section 41) species, which means that public bodies have a duty to protect it, together with its habitat. It was believed to have one last remaining stronghold in the UK on a 30km stretch of the banks of the river Ouse in York, mainly eating tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), a perennial herb which has given the beetle its name. At their York site they complete their entire life cycle on and around the plant, beside riverbanks or in wetlands. The site (Clifton Ings and Rawcliffe Meadows) was confirmed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in May last year, and work is underway to improve its habitat and control the increase of invasive species such as Himalayan balsam which has resulted in a decline in tansy plants over the past few decades. This has of course affected tansy beetle numbers.
Recently another population of tansy beetle was discovered in in the East Anglian fens in July 2014 after a 40 year absence. The discovery at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve (NNR) was significant as it demonstrates the resilience of the species when given the right conditions. Natural England has been working closely with partners on the Great Fen vision to create new habitat around the NNR, and with the Tansy Beetle Action Group (TBAG) to study how best to improve conditions for the beetle. Work underway also includes a recent re-introduction at Wicken Fen.
Hazel pot beetle
Pot beetles are a fascinating group of petal and leaf-eating beetles that get their name from the protective shell-like ‘pot’ that the larvae live in, created using their own droppings. A hazel pot beetle colony was found in Sherwood Forest in 2008. It was the first time the insect had been recorded in Sherwood Forest for 70 years. Management techniques underway include the nurturing of young birch as a food source.
Ten-spotted pot beetle
The ten-spotted pot beetle occurs on wetland on protected sites. Whilst the beetle’s numbers continue to be monitored, its future will be linked to the action plan for lowland raised bogs, its favoured habitat, and enhancing willow as a food source in its wetland home.
Jon Webb, Senior Entomologist at Natural England said: “These reviews further build on our knowledge of the status of these species, helping us to focus our attention on managing our protected sites appropriately to support those most in need”.
Steve Falk at Buglife said: “The recently published State of Nature Report showed that at least two out of three species of British wildlife are declining, and we know that many species of invertebrate have already become extinct in Britain. These reports will put a strong spotlight on those species that will become extinct over the next few decades unless we take positive action and try to reduce the many threats facing them.”
The reviews can be found on Natural England’s publications catalogue:
NECR161 - A review of the scarce and threatened beetles of Great Britain: The leaf beetles and their allies; and
NECR174 - A review of the stoneflies (Plecoptera) of Great Britain
Background information
Stoneflies, or Plecoptera from the Greek, “pleated wing” are an ancient group of insects, dating from 250 million years ago, with 2,500 known species worldwide. Unsung inhabitants of the freshwater world, their larvae can grow to over 30mm in length, making them among the largest invertebrates found in fresh water. Due to their high oxygen requirements, the larvae are particularly sensitive to organic pollution.
Leaf beetles are important as ecological indicators due to the dependency of many species on complex factors such as vegetation structure. They are found in a much wider range of habitats then some other groups of insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and bumblebees. Monitoring their status and abundance can provide a very useful indication of the ecological ‘health’ of the natural environment.
The Species Recovery Programme
For more information about England’s red list species and action being undertaken to ensure their survival, find out about Natural England’s research and the Species Recovery Programme.
Source: Natural England

Contractor fined for workman’s death on sewerage pipe scheme

A company has been fined after a workman was killed by a piece of flying timber which struck him on the head while laying sewerage pipes in Swindon.
Fredric March, 52, from Croydon, was working at the site in Galton Way, Swindon on 10 June 2011 when a piece of timber used as a cushion on the ends of the pipes being pushed in place by an excavator snapped.
The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Cappagh Contractors Construction at Swindon Crown Court on 11 February 2015.
The court heard that Cappagh were the main contractors for the work and employed three workmen to lay iron sewerage pipes in a trench.
The sections of pipe were designed to slot together and the workmen used an excavator bucket to push them in place. Two pieces of timber were used to cushion the ends of the pipes – one horizontally and one vertically. This was so the excavator could work around an existing horizontal strut on a trench box. The horizontal piece of timber snapped while being pushed by the excavator and a broken piece hit Mr March on the head. He sustained critically injuries and died six weeks later.
Cappagh had not given the workmen any guidance or alternative ways to carry out their work around the strut which was causing an obstruction. They had been allowed to come-up with their own method which was inherently dangerous.
Cappagh Contractors Construction (London) Ltd of Waterside Way, Wimbledon, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and a breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The company was fined a total of £130,000 and ordered to pay £70,000 in costs. NEBOSH Combined Construction/General Certificate Course
HSE Inspector Sue Adsett, speaking after the hearing, said:
“This tragic loss of life could have been avoided if Cappagh had taken proper measures before the work started and planned the task properly.
“Pipe laying companies must have safe systems of work and ensure their workers don’t have to improvise safety measures.
“Employers have a duty to carry out thorough risk assessments and provide safe ways of working. Including the workforce in designing safe methods also makes it less likely that they will improvise when problems arise.”

Company fined £220,000 for river pollution

The Environment Agency took Thames Water to court over the incident on the River Blackwater, a tributary of the River Loddon, on 7 September 2012. Thames Water has been fined £220,000 for polluting a Surrey river, damaging water quality and suffocating a large number of fish.
The company was found guilty of breaching its environmental permit by allowing partially-treated sewage from its treatment works on Doman Road in Camberley to enter the river, which flows through a site of special scientific interest.
Three weeks later, the company also reported an illegal storm discharge at the same facility, which it said was caused by a build-up of toilet paper and sewage debris.
The case was first heard in Redhill Magistrates’ Court, but was moved to Guildford Crown Court for sentencing due to the serious nature of the offences. Thames Water pleaded guilty and was fined £220,000, and ordered to pay costs of £27,500.
CRS’s Head of Environment, Richard Ball commented ‘ It is not just water companies that need to understand the impacts of breaching environmental regulations, many organisations still do not have a clear understanding of their legal duties  in relation to areas such as duty of car for waste, disposal of batteries, energy use and f-gases. Organisations need to recognise Environment as a business risk area and have a clear management approach.’
A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We very much regret this incident and have reviewed procedures and invested in new equipment at the treatment works to reduce the chance of anything like this happening again.”
Judge Lucas QC said: “It is important that the courts send out a clear message to Thames Water and all companies operating in this sector. Regulations are there to protect the environment and that the courts will act firmly where regulations are breached and where the environment is either damaged or put at risk of damage.”
Corporate Risk Systems offers a broad range of training to support those entering and progressing through the environmental professional visit our website  for more information on the range of courses on offer.

Care home owner fined £100K after resident died from serious burns

The owner of a Leicester care home has been fined £100,000 after a vulnerable 85-year-old resident died from serious burns. Walter Powley was admitted to Western Park View in Hinckley Road for emergency care in May 2012 after an occupational therapist advised his family he could no longer be safely left alone at home due to his risk of falling.
Leicester Crown Court heard recently (23 January 2015) that four days later, Mr Powley fell in his room and became trapped between a wardrobe and a radiator. He suffered serious burns right through the skin of his right leg from the radiator pipe and valves, and superficial burns to both legs probably from hot water leaking from the valve. He died in hospital from his injuries eight days later.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the pipes and valves at the home, owned by Western Park Leicester Ltd, were not covered and to touch had temperatures of around 73 degrees centigrade. It also found Western Park Leicester Ltd was aware that Mr Powley was at risk of falls and injury and that staff should be vigilant, but the company failed to assess the risks in his room and take appropriate action to control and manage them.
Western Park Leicester Ltd, of Queen Street, Wolverhampton, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay a further £35,000 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Dr Richenda Dixon said: “This was a foreseeable and preventable fatal incident. While most of the residents at Western Park View are physically disabled with limited mobility, Walter was not. He was more mobile, and known to be so, hence at greater danger from any risks in his room. The scalding or burning risks from the pipes were longstanding and could have caused injury to any resident. Western Park Leicester failed to heed published guidance from HSE about the need to cover hot pipes and valves. Had they been covered or boxed-in Walter’s death could have been prevented.”
In a statement on behalf of Mr Powley’s family, his son, Colin, said: “We are still devastated not only by our Dad’s death but also how it came about. His stay at Western Park View was only to be for two weeks’ respite while we explored all options for future care. We had supported and cared for Dad daily and kept him safe in his own home for six years following a stroke. The fact that he died from injuries sustained as a result of, in our view, inadequate care in a place where he was supposedly safer than at home, is heart-breaking. We all have to live with the thought that Dad trusted our decision to place him in temporary respite care and that decision ultimately cost him his life. We have lost valuable time with our dearly-loved Dad and his young grandchildren have lost the time to build on their relationship and memories of him. Nearly three years on we are still grieving for our loss and for the huge hole left in all our lives. We hope that the lessons learned with regard to exposed pipe work and acceptable temperatures for hot surfaces in care homes will prevent other families having to experience what we have.”
CRS consultants include residential care home health and safety specialists who can provide advice and assistance to incident prevention at your institution. Contact us at advice@crsrisk.com for a confidential discussion.

Rutland furniture company fined £20K over worker's hand injuries

A Rutland company which manufactures children’s bedroom furniture has been fined after a machine operator suffered serious hand injuries in a makeshift vacuum cleaner. Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard Belvoir Associates Ltd had modified a portable dust extraction system using pipes and connections to secure a long flexible hose to the extractor’s inlet, but the system regularly became blocked with wooden off-cuts.
On 4 April 2013, the portable dust extraction system had been used to clean down both wood processing machinery and the floor and eventually it became blocked. Three operatives attempted to unblock it using two tried and tested methods, including the removal of an end cap. When these failed one of them put his left hand into the opening, where the flexible and solid pipes joined, to try clear the blockage, but his hand was drawn directly into the blades of the machine. He suffered multiple finger fractures and dislocations and required a number of operations. He has undergone physiotherapy but has lost 40 per cent of the use of his hand and is not expected to regain full use of his fingers. The 46-year-old employee, from Stamford, was off work for ten months but has returned to Belvoir Associates albeit in a different role as he no longer has the manual dexterity to undertake physical work.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the company had failed to assess what risks the machine posed to those using it. In addition, no training or information had been provided to employees and the injured employee was unaware of the location of any rotating fan blades.
Belvoir Associates Ltd, of Pillings Road, Oakham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was on Friday (23 Jan) fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £4,449 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector David Lefever said: “This incident was foreseeable and preventable. As soon as the unit was converted, several significant risks resulted. It was, in effect, a Heath Robinson arrangement of domestic pipe fittings, flexible hoses and duct tape, none of which constituted the provision of fixed guards. The use of domestic pipe fittings created an obvious place for blockages to occur and using the machine to vacuum not only wood dust but also solid wood waste and off-cuts, as well as general debris from the floor, increased the risk of blockage considerably. Belvoir Associates failed to see any of the potential dangers arising from the new use of the unit because it neglected to properly judge the risks. It also failed to act once it became aware of the blockages in the machinery and instead left individual operators to unblock the unit resulting in the development of unsafe methods.”

Football legend Stuart Pearce fears risk of deadly asbestos - get free app here

Former England football star Stuart Pearce is blowing the whistle on asbestos after revealing he could have breathed in the deadly dust while working part time as an electrician during his early football career. The Nottingham Forest manager and former Newcastle and England left back fears his ignorance about the fatal fibre when he worked for four years as an electrician, means there’s a real possibility he could develop a deadly asbestos related disease in the future. He is now backing an asbestos safety campaign by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) urging all tradespeople to be aware of asbestos and take sensible measures against the hidden killer.
While safe work with asbestos has come a long way since Pearce was working as an electrician in the early 1980s, it remains a very real danger today.  HSE estimates 1.3 million tradespeople are still potentially at risk of being exposed to the microscopic fibres that can prove fatal if breathed in.
Pearce said: “I was working as an electrician for four and a half years and it’s chilling to think I could have been exposed to it without knowing, we were simply ignorant about the risks back then. Today there’s no excuse – most people know how dangerous asbestos is but many think it’s a thing of the past, it’s not, it’s still there.  It can be found in walls, ceilings, even floor tiles and guttering – basically in any type of building built before the year 2000. Making sure you’re aware of where it can be found and how to deal with it safely, even on basic jobs like drilling holes or sanding, really could mean the difference between life and death.”
The trained electrician turned football legend is also encouraging workers to use a free web app – provided here by CRS - for phones, tablets and  pcs that helps tradespeople easily identify where they could come into contact with asbestos as they go about their day-to-day work and gives them easy-to-follow  guides on how to deal work safely.
Pearce added “It can be so easy to breathe in this deadly dust and it may be years until you realise you’ve been affected. Every tradesperson that falls victim to asbestos related diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis is one too many, especially if it’s a result of ignorance. Let’s make asbestos deaths a thing of the past.”
To get the free web app please visit www.beware-asbestos.info/news 

Suffolk offshore company fined £100K after worker plunged 23 meters to death

An offshore services company has been fined for serious safety failings following an incident in which a worker died after plunging 23 metres from a platform into the sea. Lee Bertram, then 37, from Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, was working for Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited on a platform in the North Sea when the incident happened on 16 June 2011. Mr Bertram was using ropes to access below the deck and carry out a sweep for dropped objects that could fall into the water, potentially injuring divers working in the sea below.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard recently (2 February 2015) that Mr Bertram had successfully abseiled around an area about eight square feet taking photographs and removing debris. He then started back up the ropes and was a metre from the top when he noticed a beam clamp that needed to be removed, which he did with a hammer. As Mr Bertram started his ascent to the deck he had to stop, suspended, just below the hatch in order to open the rope protector so he could move his ‘jammer’ up the working rope and past the edge allowing him to move through the hatch. However, as he pushed down on his foot loop to come up through the hatch both the main and the safety rope sheared against the sharp edge and he fell to the sea – a distance of 23 metres – striking steelwork as he fell. When he landed in the water, his lifejacket inflated and a rescue vessel was deployed.  Despite showing some signs of consciousness during the rescue he died from his injuries before reaching the onsite hospital.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the job Mr Bertram was undertaking had not been properly planned and was contrary both to industry (IRATA) guidelines and the company’s own procedures. Inspectors concluded that had the work been properly planned the edge of the hatch would have been identified as being sharp and the risk of rigged ropes coming into contact with it could have been prevented. Instead the ropes were rigged against the edge leading them to be severed.
Bilfinger Salamis UK Limited of Pinbush Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, was fined £100,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Following the case, HSE Inspector Katie McCabe, said: “This was a tragic incident and Mr Bertram’s death could have been prevented had Billfinger Salamis planned the job correctly and put suitable safety measures in place. Assessing the risks of that job properly would have identified that the potentially sharp edge presented a very clear danger to anyone suspended and working on ropes rigged against it. However, the company failed to do this so failed to take safety precautions and instead, Mr Bertram fell to his death.”

Cheshire construction firm fined £10K

A house building firm has been sentenced after a joiner suffered serious injuries when he fell five metres from the second floor of a new development in Alderley Edge. The 25-year-old from Congleton was knocked unconscious in the fall down a staircase void and was in hospital for six days as a result of his injuries. Cheshire Housebuilders Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at its Oak Park development on Heyes Lane in Alderley Edge.
Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court heard the joiner had been laying floorboards on the second floor of a five-bedroom detached house when the incident happened on 25 September 2012. Another worker was using the forks on a tele-handler to lift a stack of roof beams onto the second floor when they swung out of control and struck the joiner. He was knocked down a two-metre square staircase void to the ground below. His injuries included a fractured wrist, arm and punctured knee. He also needed stitches to his lower lip and tongue.
The HSE investigation found that there were no handrails or other safety measures in place around the void, despite the company’s own health and safety document highlighting this requirement. There was also no crash decking beneath the joists to catch the workers if they fell through the gaps while they fitted the floorboards.
Cheshire Housebuilders Ltd, of Byley Road in Byley, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £3,633 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Kevin Jones said: “The joiner suffered serious injuries in the incident but he could easily have been killed in a fall of that distance. The workers should never have been allowed to fit floorboards to the second floor before safety measures had been put in place, such as a handrail around the void for the stairs. Cheshire Housebuilders identified the need for these measures in its own health and safety document but there was absolutely no point in having the document unless it was going to act on it.”
CRS says that falls from height are the biggest single cause of workplace deaths in the construction industry, and urges firms to review their safe systems of work and other take precautions now.

Three firms fined £176K after worker's death installing solar panels

A renewable technology company and two sub-contractors have been fined for safety failings after a worker was killed when he fell seven metres from a roof while installing solar panels. Kevin Brookes, 35, from Tamworth, suffered fatal injuries in the incident at Southam Drive, Kineton Road Industrial Estate, Southam on 31 May 2012.
Principal contractor Alumet Renewable Technologies Ltd was jointly prosecuted recently (6 February 2015) with sub-contractors Midlands Solar Solutions Ltd, who employed Mr Brookes to install the panels, and Rugby Scaffolding Services Ltd, responsible for installing edge protection. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified serious flaws with the health and safety plan and the way the work was managed.
Coventry Crown Court heard that Mr Brookes was attempting to retrieve a drill that had started to slide down towards the edge of the roof when he slipped and slid through the handrail, over the edge of the building, landing on his head. Mr Brookes, who was the sole carer for his elderly disabled father, fell into an immediate coma and died 19 days later in hospital.
The HSE investigation found that Alumet had failed to put an adequate health and safety plan in place. The measures outlined in their plan were not sufficient to protect the workers, and those measures that were in place were not being followed by Alumet or the other two companies involved in the work. The investigation identified that the edge protection did not meet nationally agreed standards. It also revealed that employees of Rugby Scaffolding Services Ltd weren’t properly trained to install the protection and didn’t have appropriate supervision. The investigation also revealed that there were unsuitable provisions in place to prevent people falling through the skylights.
Alumet Renewable Energy Technologies Ltd, of Senator House, Bourne End, Southam, was today fined £66,000 and ordered to pay £12,491 in costs after admitting breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Rugby Scaffolding Services Limited, of 24 Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire, admitted the same charge and was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,491.
Midlands Solar Solutions Ltd, of Emmanuel Court, 10 Mill Street, Sutton Coldfield, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the same Act and was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £12,491 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Amy Kalay, said: “This fatal fall was entirely and easily preventable.  The health and safety plan and mechanisms put in place to carry out the work fell far below the required standards. All three companies had copious experience of working at height to install solar panels and as such should have been experts. Alumet Renewable Technologies Ltd knew that the work was a high-risk activity, and the company should have known what measures to put in place to keep workers safe and making sure these precautions were followed by everyone involved.”

JCB fined £25K after worker crushed

JC Bamford Excavators Ltd (JCB) has been fined after a worker was left with multiple injuries after being crushed during the assembly of a telescopic handler. Roger Pearce, 56, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, was installing the vehicle’s offside light and mirror arm at the firm’s Lakeside works in Rocester, Staffordshire, when the incident happened on 3 June 2013.
Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court heard recently (14 January 2015) that Mr Pearce had to crouch down so could not be seen by a colleague testing the steering, resulting in him being crushed between a wheel and the bodywork. He fractured ten ribs; damaged the bones at the base of his spine, and injured his bladder and kidney. He was hospitalised for ten days and is still undergoing treatment. He has not been able to return to work.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation identified that, at the time of the incident, there was a designated area of the assembly track where hydraulic fluids were pumped into the machine and steering and other systems operated to force the fluids through the system. HSE found the assembly sequence for the telescopic materials handler was changed, which led to the fitting of the front offside light and mirror arm being moved from a point when the hydraulics were not live, to a point when the hydraulics were live and functions such as steering were tested.
JCB, of Lakeside Works, Denstone Road, Rocester pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £1,390 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector David Brassington said: “This was a serious incident with Mr Pearce sustaining injuries from which he has yet to recover. It was also a preventable incident. JCB had allowed the introduction of a serious hazard and failed to assess the risk from this change. The controls that were in place were inadequate and Mr Pearce suffered serious harm as a result. Since the incident, the fitting of the light and mirror arm has been moved back to earlier in the assembly sequence when the hydraulics are not operational. Other changes have included barriers around the assembly area and the introduction of a banksman to control personnel working within it. The risks associated with the manufacturing processes involving large pieces of powered equipment should be assessed to ensure that there are effective controls and safe work procedures to protect those involved in this work.”

Britain's oldest brewer fined £10,000 after 21-year old loses finger

Britain’s oldest brewery business – Shepherd Neame – has been prosecuted for safety breaches after a 21 year-old agency worker lost a finger in an unprotected machine. Billy Scanlan, from Sheerness, had entered a fenced-off section housing a running production machine, and was hosing down an area when he slipped. His left arm instinctively shot out as he tried to regain his balance, but his hand came into contact with one of the operating parts of the machine. It immediately began to be drawn in by a sprocket at the end of a conveyor. Mr Scanlan, realising what was happening, pulled his arm back but when he managed to free his hand, he realised he had lost the top part of his index finger and crushed his thumb and middle finger.
The incident at Shepherd Neame Ltd, at Court Street, Faversham, on 23 June 2014 was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). It found the company had failed to make sure that staff couldn’t access dangerous moving parts of the machine.
Maidstone Magistrates’ heard recently  (29 January 2015) that the area around the machine was mostly protected with interlocks and light-guards. However, Mr Scanlan, who had been employed at the site for over a year, used a maintenance gate that wasn’t interlocked to access the area where he slipped. Because there was no automatic shut-off, the machine kept running. As a result of the incident he needed a full amputation of the left finger and repairs to his thumb and middle finger. He has been unable to return to work since and still suffers significant phantom pain and flashbacks.
HSE established that the maintenance gate had been only sporadically secured since it had been installed. It had been seen to be open during an earlier inspection by HSE in 2012, at which time the company agreed to lock and secure the gate as soon as the line became operational again following repair work. The court was told that despite this agreement, the later incident proved that little had changed.
Shepherd Neame Ltd of Court Street, Faversham, Kent, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,007 in costs after admitting a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Rob Hassell said: “This was an entirely-preventable incident. Shepherd Neame was aware of the guarding requirements for such a machine, but neglected to make sure that these safety measures were fully and consistently implemented. Those failures led to Billy Scanlan suffering a painful injury that has permanent consequences. Shepherd Neame had received previous advice from HSE on the same issue, but didn’t act sufficiently robustly to prevent this type of incident happening. All employers have a duty to protect their staff from risks they face doing their work and, in this case, that means making sure running machinery is effectively guarded.”
CRS recommends the NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety for process supervisors, line managers and others responsible for employee safety.  Higher standards of awareness usually lead to higher standards of care. And always cheaper than paying fines! Contact us at advice@crsrisk.com for more details.

Falling fuel prices - safety must not be compromised, even in tough times

The impacts of falling oil prices is having a wide ranging effect in the UK – from the lower cost of filling up the car to people’s livelihoods being under threat. It is inevitable companies seek to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances and the decisions they are being forced to make are tough ones. It’s actually a stress test of leadership and senior management. Part of that test is whether company decision makers have all the relevant information to make informed decisions. How can they?
At the very least, they have to make assumptions about what the future will look like. In this case, how long oil prices will stay at these levels? What decisions are competitor companies and industries taking? After all, they need to be making the right decisions for the company in the short term and for the mid to long term.
We’ve been here before, of course, in the 1990s when oil prices dropped and assumptions were made about the long term life of North Sea assets that proved to be wide of the mark. So this is a time when corporate memory really counts.
On that occasion, the assumption was made that North Sea production would be wound down in the medium term and assets could afford to be neglected because they would soon be out of service. As prices rose again, the assets were called upon to continue to produce and many are now operating well beyond their original life expectancy. Doing that has required huge effort by the North Sea Oil and Gas industry to bring those neglected assets back up to the required standard. Those who have led this effort to improve asset integrity deserve to be praised, but their voices need to continue to be heard as we go through this next difficult phase for the industry.
Cutting costs where there seems to be least tangible day-to-day effect is obviously tempting but leaders and senior managers need to pass the stress test on knowing where health and safety – and particularly process safety and asset integrity - sits in this mix.
Asset integrity must not suffer from short term expediency over where the axe falls. Leadership is critical to avoid wrong assumptions being made about the lifespan of assets, assumptions we know from previous experience can take years to reverse. Current news headlines may be disconcerting, but I want all industries dealing with process safety to avoid inadvertently writing tomorrow’s headlines today.
Safety must not be compromised, even in tough times.

Suspended prison sentences for sub-contractors for part in worker's crushing death

Two sub-contractors have been handed eight-month prison sentences, suspended for 18 months, after a worker was killed when part of a 33-tonne metal barge he was dismantling collapsed on top of him. William Ward, 56, from Handsworth, Sheffield, sustained catastrophic crush injuries in the incident at European Metal Recycling Ltd’s Kingsbury depot in Warwickshire on 12 October 2011.
Warwickshire Crown Court heard recently (4 February 2015) that Mr Ward was working for and alongside brothers, Stuart and Dennis Cheesman, also of Sheffield, to cut and dismantle two large steel barges using oxy-acetylene torches. Mr Ward had finished cutting through the outer skin of the barge’s hull and had moved inside the now unsupported structure to cut some supporting braces when the side collapsed in on him. The married father of two died at the scene.
The brothers, who were contractors working for European Metal Recycling (EMR), failed to ensure the barge was adequately supported to prevent a possible collapse, and did not properly assess or manage the work.
Stuart Cheesman, 42, of Mauncer Lane, Woodhouse, Sheffield, and Dennis Cheesman, 47, of Greenwood Avenue, Sheffield, both pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were each sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the community. They must both also pay costs of £3,000 each.
Today’s sentencing follows the sentencing of European Metal Recycling Ltd on 19 December 2014, who were fined £150,000 after HSE identified serious flaws with the method of work being used to dismantle the barges.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Mark Austin said: “Stuart and Dennis Cheesman recruited Mr Ward to work for them as a burner and were responsible for his safety and for ensuring the barges were being dismantled in a safe manner. Our investigation found Stuart and Dennis Cheesman neglected their responsibility and Mr Ward has paid the ultimate price with his life – a terrible and senseless loss that was completely preventable had the work been better planned and managed.”
Mr Ward’s wife of 25 years, Mrs Jayne Ward, said: “On hearing of Billy’s death, my world was turned upside down. In those first days after his death, I was in a state of shock. The news was so sudden and one of the worst things was not to have been able to say goodbye. Other people can go home to talk to their partners and parents. I have no partner now and the boys have no father. I think of all the things that Billy will never see – the boys getting married, having children, children which would have been our grandchildren. As a couple, you build up a picture of your life together going forward – seeing the boys settled, grandchildren, retiring and spending time together. All this has been taken from him, from me and from the boys.”

Are you a winner?

CRS are looking for the winner of the ‘CRS Candidate of the year award 2015 – NEBOSH Environmental Certificate’
If you attended one of our open NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Courses at one of our ten venues across the UK during 2014  you could be the winner of the above award.
We are currently gathering all the exams results from NEBOSH from 1^st January 2014 to 31^st December 2014 and the winner will be the person with the highest exam and practical marks achieved on one of our courses.
The winner will be announced just as soon as all the results are in.

The presentation of the award will be made at Sahara Force India Formula One HQ, Silverstone on Friday 10^th April 2015
We will also be holding a seminar on MIEMA – Full Membership to IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management Assessment)– the next career development qualification which follows the NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management. The MIEMA course which is delivered by distance learning also leads to Chartered Environmentalist.
As government legislation continues to tighten its grip on Environmental issues – Carbon footprint, GHG’s, Sustainability to name a few are you and your organisation be able to conform and comply. The MIEMA course will help you put into place the right procedures and policies in readiness.
The seminar will be delivered by our Head of Environment – Richard Ball. Places will be limited at this event on a first come first served, if you would like to come to the presentation (its free to attend) and find out more about  MIEMA – Full Membership to IEMA or would like to hold a Chartered Environmentalist qualification come and find out.  Contact Ros Stacey – rs@crsrisk.com 01283 509175 to get your name on our guest list.

Construction firm fined £16,000 for failing to ensure licenced disposal of waste

Glasgow based waste management firm, CMI Demolition Limited, received a £16,000 fine at Airdrie Sheriff Court) after the company failed to ensure the proper disposal of waste from their facility between March and June 2011.
The company, which operates a waste transfer station on Clydeholm Road, Glasgow, knowingly allowed unlicensed contractors from OTL Plant & Haulage to transport and dispose of waste materials produced from CMI Demolition’s transfer station, over the 4 month period in 2011.
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste management companies have a legal duty of care to ensure that all operators who transport waste on behalf of the company are licenced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as legitimate waste carriers. Each producer of waste  is also required to produce accurate Waste Transfer Notes as evidence of what type of waste it is, where waste materials are taken to, when and by who, to ensure waste is disposed of correctly and deter the potential for illegal dumping.
SEPA was alerted to the breach in regulation following a prolonged investigation into the discovery of illegally dumped waste at a site on Avonhead Road near Longriggend, in North Lanarkshire. Official documents which were salvaged from the waste stockpiles allowed SEPA officers to trace the original owners of the refuse, who subsequently identified CMI Demolition Ltd as their waste management provider.
While the illegal activities at Avonhead Road did not directly involve CMI Demolition Ltd, the company is still liable to enforcement action for failing to carry out adequate background checks, provide accurate waste transfer documentation and ensuring waste produced from their transfer station was disposed of correctly.
CRS’S Head of Environment, Richard Ball comment ‘ All construction organisations should be aware of the legal requirements for the duty of care for waste, organisations need to have trained staff to regularly check licences of all waste contracts and the locations they are taking them to. ‘ CRS offer a range of courses to support this from NEBOSH and IEMA courses for Environmental Practitioners to our range of in-house course such as CITB’s Site Environmental Awareness Training Scheme (SEATS)  to ensure all operatives understand your organisation’s legal duties and EMS.
Jennifer Shearer, Reporting Officer from SEPA, said:
“It’s critically important that waste management companies ensure their contractors are fully licenced and credible operators to transport their waste materials. Providing business to unlicensed groups or individuals is not only illegal, it undercuts legitimate waste carriers and impacts on the wider industry as a whole.
“It is also important that waste management companies ensure their Duty of Care waste transfer paperwork is completed to the required standard, for every load of waste leaving their site, to ensure incidents like this do not happen.
“While the unravelling of this case has been a long process, involving a number of different companies and individuals from the waste industry, I hope the sentence handed down today serves as an important reminder that the price of non-compliance far outweighs the effort it takes to operate legitimately."
Due to the early acceptance of responsibility and cooperation by CMI Demolition, the sentence was reduced from £24,000 to £16,000.
Source SEPA

Thank you RAF Digby

CRS took to the road for the second time this year with a visit to RAF Digby. Ros Stacey attended the RAF Education and Learning Development day, in which MoD service personnel can visit during the day and find out more about what training is available for when they leave the forces for civilian life. The event was well attended by RAF, Army and Navy personnel all eager to find out how they can add to their military qualifications in readiness for employment. Ros said “I was surprised at the number of attendees today (10^th Feb) visiting our stand all interested in furthering their career prospects with many considering a NEBOSH course to add to their CV”. CRS have during the last year or so trained over 500 service leavers and the numbers continue to rise. Ros went on to say “With so many HSE jobs available in all sectors and with the military background of many service leavers these people are ideal candidates for these job roles”. CRS currently have over 21 courses approved by ELCAS for ELC funding and with the new 2015/16 allowances now available from 1^st April now is a good time to take a look at how CRS can give you the qualifications in readiness for a whole new beginning in Civvy street. www.crsrisk.com/mod . Remember if you have left the forces you still have 10 years to claim your Resettlement funding, contact Ros for more information rs@crsrisk.com

Building firm sentenced for corporate manslaughter - fined £220,000

A building firm and its owner were sentenced  on 3 February 2015 at Preston Crown Court, following an incident in 2011 where a man died as a result of falling through a roof.
Peter Mawson Ltd, a building and joining firm, pleaded guilty in December to ‘corporate manslaughter’ and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure the safety of employees. The company was fined £200,000 for the corporate manslaughter offence, and £20,000 for the Health and Safety breach.
Peter Mawson, owner of the company, also pleaded guilty to a breach of the same act and was sentenced today to: eight months in prison, suspended for two years; 200 hours unpaid work; a publicity order to advertise what happened on the company website for a set period of time, and to take out a half page spread in the local newspaper; and pay costs of £31,504.77.
At around 3:15pm on Tuesday 25 October 2011 emergency services attended West Cumberland Farmers LTD, Lindal, Ulverston, following a report that a man had fallen through a roof. The man, 42 year old Jason Pennington, had been working on the roof and had fallen through the skylight from a height of approximately 7.6 meters onto a concrete floor. He was taken to Furness General Hospital where he died a short time later.
DS Paul Yates for Cumbria Constabulary said:
“This has been a long and complex investigation, and we have worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive to establish what happened on that tragic day. I hope that this case serves as a warning to other businesses in Cumbria that health and safety measures are extremely important, and if not implemented correctly can result in devastating consequences.
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Pennington at this difficult time. Hopefully the sentencing today will provide some sort of closure, and they can be left to grieve in peace.”
Chris Hatton, the investigating inspector at HSE, added:
“Jason tragically lost his life because the company that employed him did nothing to make sure he was safe while he worked on a fragile roof.
“Peter Mawson knew the clear panels on the roof weren’t safe to walk on but neither he nor his company provided any equipment to prevent workers falling to their death. If scaffolding or netting had been fitted under the fragile panels, or covers had been fitted over them, then Jason would still be here today.” IOSH Directing Safely

F-Gas Regulations 2014 – Do your refrigeration systems comply?

The 2014 F-Gas regulations aim to reduce F-Gas emissions by two-thirds of today’s levels by 2030 through encouraging the use of alternatives. The new regulations build on the requirements of the 2006 regulations; the new regulations bring in a number of significant changes.
CRS’S Head of Environment highlights ‘Many organisations are still not aware that refrigerant gases in chiller systems and air handling units contain gases that can contribute to climate change. The 2006 F –GAS regulations saw the final phase out of R22 and other ozone depleting gases whilst the new 2014 regulations, which are now in force, focuses more on global warming potential. For most organisations compliance will be about selecting the right contactors to maintain, record and dispose of refrigerant gases correctly for air conditioning systems. But I recommend that organisations review their current compliance status and take action where required.'
The key changes are summarised below.
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
The regulations introduce a change to the calculation of threshold values for F-Gases. Rather than being based on physical quantities (kg) of F-Gases, the new regulations introduce threshold values based on the GWP of a refrigerant as equivalent tonnes CO2 i.e. CO2(e).
Phase-Down Mechanism
A phase-down mechanism, a gradually declining cap on the placement of bulk HFCs on the EU market (in tonnes of CO2 equivalent), has been introduced. The aim of phasing down is to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly technologies and substances.
Restrictions & Prohibitions
The regulations introduce restrictions and bans on the use of F-Gases in some new equipment, such as air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, technical aerosols, and insulating foams, where more environmentally friendly alternatives are available.
Additionally, F-Gases with a GWP of greater than 2,500 that are used for the servicing and/or maintenance of refrigeration equipment that have a charge size of 40 tonnes CO2 equivalent, will be prohibited from 1st January 2020. There are also restrictions on the use of reclaimed and recycled F-Gases for servicing and maintenance.
Use, Containment, Recovery and Destruction of F-Gases
The regulations implement requirements on the use, containment, recovery and destruction of F-Gases. Certain F-Gas containing equipment must be subject to maintenance and servicing, and the recovery of the F-Gas is required at the end of equipment life.
Leak Testing
The 2014 regulations change the F-Gas quantity limits and leak testing frequencies. From the 1st January 2015 operators of certain equipment containing F-Gases of 5 tonnes CO2 equivalent or more (and not contained in foams) must ensure that the equipment is leak tested at regular intervals, as detailed in the regulations. Leaking equipment must be repaired without delay and, following the repair, must be checked by a certified person within one month to verify effectiveness of that repair (exemptions apply for certain equipment).
Until 31 December 2016, equipment containing less than 3 kg of F-Gases and also hermetically sealed equipment which is labelled accordingly and contains less than 6 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases, will not require leak testing. Electrical switchgear is also not subject to leak checks provided it complies with one of the conditions detailed in Article 4 of the regulations.
Record Keeping
As per the previous regulations, operators of equipment which are subject to leak testing must establish and maintain records for each piece of such equipment. These records must be retained for at least 5 years.
Training and Certification
Article 10 of the regulations requires Member States to establish or adapt certification programmes, including evaluation processes, for individuals who install, service, maintain, repair, leak test, recover F-Gases, and decommission F-Gas containing equipment.
Market Restrictions
Placement on the market of equipment and products containing/relying on F-Gases is also controlled by the regulations. The regulations allocate annual quotas, beginning 2015, for the placement of certain F-Gas containing equipment on the market by producers and importers. By 31 October 2017, and every three years thereafter, the EU will recalculate the reference values for producers and importers. From 1st January 2017 certain F-Gas containing equipment cannot be placed on the market unless the F-Gases used in the equipment are accounted for within the EU quota system.
Reporting
With regard to the production, import, export, feedstock use and destruction of F-Gases listed in Annexes I or II of the regulations, equipment manufacturers/producers who meet the criteria as detailed in Article 19, must annually declare conformity; this declaration must be verified by an independent external auditor.
Corporate Risk Systems offer a range of courses to support Environmental Professionals in their career development including our Pathway to MIEMA which supports delegates to become a Full Member of IEMA and Chartered Environmentalist.

Source CRA Europe

UK greenhouse-gases fall 2.4% in 2013

Greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGs) in the UK were 2.4% lower in 2013 than in 2012, according to government statistics published today. The largest fall in emissions in 2013 was in the energy sector. Its emitted 6.8% (13.8 MtCO2e) less GHGs in 2013 compared with 2012, the energy and climate department (Decc) reports.
The reduction in the energy sector was largely due to a change in the fuel mix at power stations for electricity generation, with less coal and gas being used. Total fuel used for electricity generation has also decreased, Decc says. It reports that GHGs from power stations accounted for just over a quarter (147.9 MtCO2e) of the UK’s total emissions in 2013.
The waste management sector also saw it emissions fall significantly in 2013. Its emissions were down by 14.1% (3.7 MtCO2e) due to a reduction in emissions from landfill waste, says Decc. Carbon dioxide emissions were 1.8% lower in 2013 than the previous year, but were still the predominant GHG, accounting for 82% of all UK emissions.
CRS’s Head of Environment Richard Ball commented’ These new figures show that growing GHG emissions are not evitable, sectors are looking at their practices and findings ways to save money and reduce their environmental impact. Fifteen years ago Carbon Reduction and Waste Minimisation where on the fringes of good business practices, now they are part of main stream thinking, highlighting what can be achieved’  Corporate Risk Systems offer environmental courses at all levels and our unique IEMA Associate  Certificate in Environmental Management includes how to develop Carbon reduction and adaption within an organisation.
Further statistics on the UK’s progress against its emissions reduction targets will be published once details are finalised, Decc added.

Company and director in court for poor site standards

A Gloucestershire housebuilder and the company’s managing director have been fined for poor welfare facilities and unsafe excavation work at a construction site near Cinderford.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified a number of concerns at the new-build development on Hudson Lane, Buckshaft, in December 2013. They included a lack of hot running water and washing facilities, and an unsupported excavation for a new sewer.
Local firm K W Bell Group Ltd and MD Keith Bell, aged 74, both accepted yesterday (26 January) that welfare and safety standards at the site fell short and the offences had been committed with the consent, connivance or was attributable to the neglect of, Keith Bell himself.
Cheltenham Magistrates heard the firm was building five homes at the site, work that commenced in April 2013 and was overseen by Keith Bell
The sanitation and excavation failings were found during a site visit on 11 December, although it was established there had been failures during the entire period of works to date.
HSE served an Improvement Notice requiring urgent welfare improvements. A Prohibition Notice was also served to stop any further excavation work with immediate effect until the excavations were  properly supported.
K W Bell Group Ltd, of Whimsey Industrial Estate, Steam Mills Road, Cinderford, was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay £765 in costs after pleading guilty to two separate breaches of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.
Keith Bell, of Elton, Gloucestershire was fined £9,000 with £3,502 costs after also pleading guilty to the same breaches.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Sue Adsett said:
“The standards I saw at the Hudson Lane development were poor. The excavation work, in particular, was a major cause for concern because there was clear evidence of excavation entry without adequate precautions. The consequences of the sides of the excavation collapsing on someone could have been devastating, and precautions, such as a trench box, could have easily been provided mentioned in the company’s own method statement.
“The welfare failings  – no toilet or hand washing facilities for four months worth of construction work – were particularly disappointing given previous Improvement Notices served by HSE on the subject at other sites.  Construction workers need access to hot running water and washing facilities in order to remove potentially harmful dirt and dust before they eat and drink. It is a clear legal requirement, and both parties should have known that as experienced developers.”
NEBOSH Combined General and Construction Course in Health & Safety