WOBO is pleased to provide a series of news items relating to health and safety.
Justin Hollins was working replacing step bolts on the pylon at Treforest Industrial Estate in Pontypridd, when he received an electric shock of 33 thousand volts. The 50-year-old sustained burns to 40 per cent of his body, including to his arms and legs, and also lost part of his right buttock.
National Grid Electricity Distribution (South Wales) Plc and 4 Power Ltd both received fines in relation to the incident, which happened on 3 December 2020.
Mr Hollins, who had six operations in the space of his first 10 days in hospital, told of how he required 24 hour care for months afterwards.
“This was a very difficult time, with relentless operations and endless, painful changing of dressings. I stopped needing to attend hospital appointments in August 2022 but will remain a burns patient for the rest of my life.
“At the time of my accident I was in peak physical condition, which I was told by the hospital is probably the reason I survived.
“Although I appreciate that I have been lucky to survive, I have to live with the physical and mental effects of the accident for life. I also have to live with the uncertainty of the long term damage 33 thousands volts have done to my internal organs.”
Cardiff Crown Court heard that Mr Hollins, also suffered nerve damage that affects mobility, was wearing a climbing harness and left hanging on the pylon for some time before being rescued by his colleagues.
Invitation to help inform policy to prevent and manage work-related stress
HSE is funding a new research project to collect information on work-related stress.
The findings will be used to inform policy decisions and create practical guidance for employers.
We’d like to understand how work-related stress is talked about and managed in the real world, what barriers people face and collate any best practice.
We are reaching out to employers, clinicians, occupational health/wellbeing leads, advisory agencies, support charities, professional bodies, unions, academics and invite you to share your recommended practices, guidance resources and trusted literature in the field of work-related stress.
Submissions are anonymous, and personal information is not required. – The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2024.
How to take part
If you would be interested in participating, complete the call for evidence.
You can upload documents, links and share thoughts across 3 questions.
If you would prefer to email directly, please email oscar@affinityhealthatwork.com
Demolition and structural stability – guidance
Incidents of building collapses or because work activity has rendered a structure unstable during demolition works have resulted in emergency road closures.
Interventions by authorities have then been required to deal with dangerous structures.
Construction clients, contractors and other stakeholders must thoroughly plan, manage, and monitor all demolition work.
HSE’s website has guidance on:
HSE release annual figures for mesothelioma
July saw the publication of the latest annual workplace fatality figures for 2023/24 as well as annual figures for mesothelioma deaths.
The annual workplace fatality figures for 2023/24 show that a total of 138 workers were killed at work in Great Britain between April 2023 and March 2024. HSE also published the annual figures for mesothelioma, a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos.The figures show 2,257 people died from the disease in 2022. This is slightly lower than the 2,290 deaths in 2021, and substantially lower than the average of 2,529 deaths per year over the period from 2012 to 2020. Asbestos remains in millions of homes and buildings today and it can become dangerous when disturbed or damaged.
HSE is currently running 2 asbestos campaigns:
- Asbestos and You highlights the risk of asbestos to tradespeople
- Asbestos – Your Duty raises awareness of the legal duty to manage asbestos in buildings
Illegal working crackdown targets rogue employers
HUNDREDS OF rogue employers across the UK have been targeted by the Home Office during a nationwide weeklong intensive operation into illegal working.
The home secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced last month that the government would crack down on unscrupulous employers who are hiring migrants illegally and exploiting vulnerable people, alongside extensive work to disrupt the criminal networks who bring the workers to the UK.
During an intensive week of action from 18 – 24 August, immigration enforcement teams carried out targeted visits to rogue businesses suspected of employing illegal workers, with a particular focus on car washes.
Over the course of the operation, more than 275 premises were targeted, with 135 receiving notices for employing illegal workers. In addition, 85 illegal workers have been detained.
In many cases, illegal workers live in squalid conditions on-site, earn far below the UK national minimum wage, work longer hours than legally allowed and may have entered the UK illegally, overstayed their visas or arrived under visitor conditions.
Safety measures in food production
IN FOOD production, many chemical soaps, disinfectants, and refrigerants are used to ensure the freshness of the product for as long as possible.
Anhydrous ammonia, for example, is a common chemical found in refrigerants in food processing and has the capability to burn the skin upon contact. At minimum, workers should be provided with appropriate PPE when exposed to such concentrates but should also have access to emergency decontamination facilities in the event of a chemical spill.
Both the European standard, EN 15154, and the internationally recognised American National Standard, ANSI/ISEA Z358.1-2014 provide uniform minimum requirements for the performance, use, installation, testing, maintenance and training of emergency safety shower and eyewash equipment.
In this month’s partnership article, Andrew Sanderson and Jessica Solsberg of Fieldfisher’s Health & Safety practice group reflect on the death of demolition operative, Stephen Picken, in the emerging recycling industry and the importance of having carefully curated risk assessments and effective supervision in demolition work.
Summary headline points:
- Firm/persons prosecuted: Veolia ES (UK) Ltd
- Date of offence: 2019
- Did the offence result in fatality? Yes
- Conviction: following guilty pleas to breaching HSWA 1974, s 2(1)
- Date of sentence: 22 July 2024
- Sentencing court: Ipswich Crown Court
- Sentence imposed: Veolia ES (UK) Ltd was fined £3m and ordered to pay costs of £60,000.