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Two-thirds of employees stressed by work
WORK IS the third biggest cause of stress for UK employees, after lack of sleep and money worries, according to new research.
Over two-thirds (70%) of the 1,238 employed adults surveyed by HR software provider Ciphr, identified at least one aspect of work that contributes to their stress levels.
Work in general is the biggest cause of stress for around one in three (37%) employees, with workload pressures (35%) coming a close second.
Despite the rise in remote and hybrid working since the pandemic, commuting is still a significant source of stress for a fifth (19%) of workers. And, worryingly, nearly one in six have anxiety about their job security (17%).
Over 80% of Londoners affected by construction noise
EIGHT OUT of ten Londoners say they have been impacted by construction noise where they live in the last year, research has revealed.
A new survey from urban impact agency Urban Thinking revealed 82% of those living in the capital have faced issues from construction noise in the past 12 months.
Almost one in three (32%) said they have been impacted by noise more than three times in the last year.
Dusan Durdevic, senior manager at Urban Thinking, said: “Noise pollution is a huge issue in the infrastructure development space and can have an impact on the public’s health and mental wellbeing.
“Most Londoners will have already been exposed to a noisier environment than those who live in the countryside, but development projects can produce levels of sound that can really create serious issues in the lives of those affected.
Chemicals firm fined following explosion
A SOLVENTS manufacturer has been fined following an explosion at its factory in the Scottish Borders.
The blast at Rathburn Chemicals in Walkerburn on 10 January 2020 resulted in a laboratory, which was part of the factory, being demolished.
It was likely caused by excessive pentane vapour, generated by the company’s distillation process, overheating and being ignited by the site’s extraction system.
No one was injured by the explosion. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Rathburn Chemicals had an inadequate system in place which failed to control the amount of steam and heat being generated during its distillation process. The company also failed to adequately detect any signs of overheating which could lead to flammable vapour being ignited.
Conviction for illegal asbestos site
PDM INDUSTRIES has been handed fines and costs totalling £60,046 and its director, Peter Marquis, received a 42-week prison sentence (suspended for 18 months) and 200 hours of unpaid community work for his involvement in the offences.
The sentencing follows an investigation conducted by the Environment Agency into operations at two sites in the Northwest of Preston, Stanley Lodge Farm, Salwick Road, Preston, and a yard adjacent to Wards House Farm, Lea Lane, Preston.
PDM Industries Ltd disposed of controlled waste, specifically tyres, at Stanley Lodge Farm without obtaining the required environmental permits.
Although the Environment Agency instructed them to transfer the waste to a legally permitted facility, Marquis opted to illegally bury the waste tyres, thus violating environmental regulations. Between 31 December 2016 and 15 February 2023, PDM Industries Ltd also operated a facility handling asbestos without authorisation by an environmental permit, in violation of environmental protection regulations.