Daily Hazardno. 94 sept 2007 - PDF document

Daily Hazardno. 94 sept 2007  http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/docs/allannominationform2007.pdfPrevious reports in The Daily Hazard http://www.lhc.org.uk/members/pubs/newslet/91dha.htm 2| The Daily Hazard | No. 94 September 2007 There are no signs the government or HSE are to reverse their lighter touchpolicy and accept calls for increasedenforcement activity by HSE. Health andSafety Commissioner John Spanswick ofBovis Lend Lease said: It is wrong to think that if we double the number ofinspectors it will stop this.Ž He added:The ownership being placed more heavilyon the industry is more important thanthe number of safety inspectors on site.ŽThis flies in the face ofrecommendations previously made by agovernment select committee that saidstronger enforcement was key to reducingworkplace health and safety problems.These recommendations have beenconsistently ignored by this governmentwith their cuts and pro-business agenda.Alan Ritchie, General Secretary ofconstruction union UCATT, said: It is not rocket science to realise that if youimplement a rigorous inspection andenforcement regime, sites will become saferand bosses will be forced to accept theirsafety responsibilities. If you sit back and do little or nothing deaths will increase.ŽPeter Hain the Secretary of State atthe Department of Work and Pensions andin charge of health and safety is callinganother construction safety summit inSeptember. Prospect, the union representing HSEinspectors, policy advisers, scientists andmanagers said the 2006…07 statistics forwork-related deaths confirm that HSEsreaction to its shrinking budget andreduced workforce has been to cut theamount of investigation and enforcement.They also said this is despite evidenceshowing that inspection backed byenforcement is the most effective way ofensuring employers comply with theirhealth and safety responsibilities.Mike Macdonald of Prospect said:Unless HSE is properly funded it cannotfunction. It cannot meet its publicexpectations to advise, inspect andenforce workplace health and safety sothat Britains 28 million workers haveconfidence they will not be injured orkilled at work. Over 350 major injurieswere not investigated last year due to the lack of trained inspectors.Ž Stephen Griffiths, 44, from Poplar,died on the 6th August when he fellon a Sir Robert McAlpine site in UpperThames St in the City.John Walker, 33, from Dunstable, died on the 1st August when he wascrushed on a Multiplex site at theElephant and Castle. He was employedby 777 Demolition.Kolawole Ojo Babadiya, 28, known as Kola, was shot while working asdoor security as he was trying toprotect a woman outside a bar inWandsworth in July.Tan Li, 18, from Enfield, drowned inSouthgate swimming pool on 3rd July.Southgate Leisure Centre swimmingpool is run for Enfield council byprivate sector company Enfield LeisureCentres Ltd. Massive increase in work deaths Rise in workplace fatalitieslinked to HSE cutsFlawedlaw passedThe government has finally passed itsCorporate Manslaughter and CorporateHomicide Act. The new law has beenroundly criticised for only allowingcompanies to be fined if found guilty ofmanslaughter. It avoids the key issue ofindividual responsibility at the highestlevel within businesses, directors andsenior managers who make decisions onhow the business is to be run, and doesnot allow for imprisonment if found guilty.Apart from a fine on a companythere are two further possible penalties …a remedy order (in which the court ordersparticular improvements to be made) anda publicity order (in which the courtrequires the convicted organisation topublicise details of the conviction).Alan Ritchie, General Secretary ofconstruction union UCATT said: This is ahollow victory. The legislation falls farshort of Labour party policy whichcommitted the party to campaign fordirectors duties and the possibility ofimprisonment for negligent directors.ŽFurther information from the Ministryof Justice: http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/newsrelease260707b.htmFigures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for 2006/7show there was an 11% rise in the number killed at work, with a 28%increase in construction alone. In total 241 workers died, up from 217deaths in 2005/06 with 77 construction workers killed, up from 60 theprevious year. The service sector also saw a rise from 73 to 85 workerfatalities, an increase of 16%. Recent fatal incidents using thecentre Health and safety training The London Hazards Centre (LHC)provides training on workplace health and safety which is suitable for managers and employees alike. The training is participative and willcover the problems encountered at the workplace, what to do to ensurecontrols are in place and that the law is complied with.Our training is provided in twoways, either by running courses as aconsultant or alternatively by peopleattending our in-house courses held in Islington.training consultancyWe will train up to 16 people per dayfor £550.00. We provide the trainerand course which is delivered at avenue organised by our client.in-house training coursesCourses cost £65.00 per person andare held at the Red Cross building near the Angel, Islington which is fully accessible.Our current programme includes:  Introduction to Workplace Healthand SafetyThursday 25th October 2007  Introduction to Risk AssessmentTuesday 30th October 2007  Introduction to Workplace Healthand SafetyThursday 1st November 2007  Introduction to Risk AssessmentTuesday 6th November 2007Our training is activity based and the timetable is from 10am to 4pm.Should you wish moreinformation or to discuss any of theabove or other training courses wemay be able to provide please call LHC on 020 7794 5999. 6| The Daily Hazard | No. 94 September 2007 notice of agm The London Hazards Centres AGM will be:Wednesday 21st November 2007 6pmHampstead Town Hall Centre213 Haverstock Hill London NW3 4QPThe AGM is a public meeting for LHC members and supporters. and if any major faults are found thenHSE have to be informed, known as anadverse insurance report. The system for dealing with adverseinsurance reports was changed three yearsago as HSE tried to focus diminishingresources on priority topics.Machinery safety was not a prioritytopic, and still is not. After such a reportan inspection visit by an inspector used tobe highly likely but since the change visitshave become highly unlikely.In recent years the boom inconstruction has seen small family firmsbecoming big operators and huge numbersof relatively unskilled workers taking onsafety critical work. Campaigners havequestioned whether the change in HSEprocedures, which downplayed theimportance of machinery and cranesafety, led to or contributed to theincrease in serious crane incidents.Liliana Alexa of the Battersea CraneDisaster Action Group (BCDAG) and motherof Michael, has been busy drawing peoplesattention to the issue of crane safety.Outside the Croydon site Liliana said: I wasvery angry when I heard another crane hadcollapsed in Croydon. Why is thishappening? Even after my sons deathanother crane collapsed in Liverpool, killingsomeone. The emphasis seems to be onlaunching investigations after accidents andnot enough is being done to prevent theseaccidents from happening in the first place.ŽThese comments reflect thecampaign aims of BCDAG who want more HSE inspectors out in the field andfor them to have a more vigorousenforcement policy. BCDAG are alsocalling for stronger laws covering cranes.They are likely to get their chance as they have been invited to attend anevent organized by the Strategic Forumfor Construction (SFfC), a crossindustry/government body who will bediscussing what can be done to preventsimilar incidents in the future.Continued from page 1 London Hazards Advice Line Free advice and support for Londoners on health and safety at work and in the community.We aim especially to work with local groups such as tenants/residents organisations, blackand minority ethnic networks, union branches, etc. Well provide the level of support youneed, from a single phone call to long-term support for a local campaign. 020 7794 5999 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 10…12 and 2…5 Stress Network Conference Enforcing the HSE Stress Management StandardsSaturday November 10th 2007Hillscourt Conference Centre, Rednal, Birminghamhttp://www.workstress.net/ Laser printers Laser printers are often placed on desktops beside workers and they produceozone like conventional photocopiers.Thus there must be regular checks onfilters which may need to be replaced as often as once a month. Tests on the efficiency of filters under factoryconditions on new machines do nottake into account deterioration underheavy use in the workplace. LEV LHC is unaware of any Local ExhaustVentilation (LEV) systems for copiers orprinters currently on the market. LEVwould be the best option if available asit would take the offending gasses fromwhere they were generated and pumpthem into the general atmosphereoutside the workplace. It is because ofthis lack of availability we recommenddilution ventilation. The law The Health and Safety at Work Actimposes a general duty on everyemployer to ensure the health, safetyand welfare of all employees at work.This covers the maintenance of plant,the use, storage and handling ofsubstances and the provision ofinformation, instruction and training.The Workplace (Health, Safety andWelfare) Regulations state that anadequate supply of fresh air must becirculated in all workrooms. Rooms withno direct access to fresh air must beprovided with mechanical ventilation.The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 requireemployers to carry out an assessmentof all chemicals on their premises …ensure that safety data sheets for allcopier chemicals are obtained and allrecommended precautions are taken. Action points 1. Preferably site photocopiers andlaser printers in separate, wellventilated rooms. If this is notpossible, then site them away fromworkers where good ventilation is ensured. Do not site busy laserprinters on or next to workers desks. 2. Ventilation is crucial! Ensure thatthe area in which the machine issited has a complete change of air every hour, that the exhaust vent is kept free of obstruction, and that no-one is situated next to the exhaust vent of the machine.If someone is employed specificallyto operate copiers and printers it is essential to ensure the room iswell ventilated. Machines should not be sited in clusters or in verysmall rooms.3. Make sure copiers are regularlyserviced and the filter replaced on a regular cycle. Servicing alone willonly reduce chemical contaminationfor as short a period as a month if use is heavy. If the machine is old and faulty, get it replaced.4. When maintaining the machine,adding toner etc follow guidelinessuch as wearing gloves. Hands andface must be washed immediatelyafterwards.5. Vet new laser printers andphotocopiers in advance … demandspecific information on filterchanging and servicing. Only acceptmachines with clear maintenanceguidelines, health and safetyinstructions and easy change filtersystems. If they cannot provide thisinformation do not buy or acceptthe product. Demand the data frommanagement and check the systemis correctly installed.6. Check health effects on peopleworking with or near this equipmentby carrying out a survey andinvestigate any complaints further,taking necessary preventativeaction. Symptoms should bereported in the accident book andmedical tests taken when serioussymptoms occur. London Hazards Centre Factsheet 94 | Photocopier and laser printer hazards | September 2007 Reference Printer particle emissions add up http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2007/aug/science/nl_printers.html Hampstead Town Hall Centre213 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4QPTel: 020 7794 5999 Fax: 020 7794 4702Email: mail@lhc.org.uk Website: www.lhc.org.ukRegistered Charity No. 2936772007 London Hazards Centre Trust Limited Funded by Factsheets online www.lhc.org.uk London advice 020 7794 5999