Issue One : October 2014
Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges
For Client Eyes Only
www.infinitesafety.co.uk
Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: Welcome to the New World Order
Things Change, Even Health & Safety Since setting up Infinite Safety way back in 2006 things really haven’t changed that much. Until this year. Suddenly, the recessions over and basic compliance is not good enough. Basic Compliance gives the wrong message to potential clients. It says “Safety is important because we can’t win work without it” There’s a housing boom, competition is fierce and businesses will only be successful with the right attitude. In safety terms that attitude must be pro-active. CHAS, SMAS and Constructionline are no longer the entry level. It’s the International Standards that differentiate the competitors. OSHAS 18000, ISO 14001 and the new Corporate Responsibility Standard ISO26000. We’re changing too. Joyce has been appointed to take care of the admin. Qualified to Certificate level Joyce has the safety understanding you need an administrator to have. Our inspections are now inputted via an app and every client will have online access to documents. We’ve also partnered with Halo HR to give clients access to Employment Law and HR Advice from HR Director Samantha Moxham. So we’re striding ahead the extra mile to make our clients the best they can be. Are you with us?
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Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: It’s All About The Attitude
Let’s Start Positive… Site inspections aren’t all “This is Wrong. That is Wrong” We heap praise on individuals where credit is due and highlight this in our Site inspections and reports. Here’s this month’s gallery of Good Work. A staggered barrier gate makes drivers stop and think Mick Rushton for Melrose Construction
A clean and tidy, equipment-free drying room wins HSE points Gary Pepper for McDermott Homes
If there’s no sign – make one!! Some hazards need immediate action Les Sandham for F Parkinson Ltd
“Recognition is the greatest motivator.” Gerard C. Eakedale
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Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: Proposed Legislation
The CDM Regulations Replacement
Self Employed Persons Regulations 2015
The HSE are proposing the current 2007 Regulations are replaced with an easier to understand document and that the Approved Code of Practice is withdrawn.
Following the pledge to cut health and safety red tape, the Lofstedt Report has suggested that people in certain self employed roles are excluded from Health & Safety Legislation.
In my opinion, the CDM ACoP is one of the best and sets the standard for good practice across the industry. Yes, it may need updating, but certainly not removing.
The public consultation has now closed and the HSE report that the response is in favour of replacing the CDM Co-ordinator with a Principal Designer, that the requirements for assessing competence need to be changed and that limited duties should be placed on Domestic Clients to improve safety on small jobs.
The consultative document has made it clear those working in the Construction Industry or in a Construction based role will not be exempt from compliance with health and safety legislation. The work is deemed as high risk and therefore, regulation and compliance is essential. Read more about this at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/ condocs/cd273.htm
The wheels are still in motion on this one and I’ll update you when new info is released.
TAKE ACTION: Contractor Competence is a big deal in the new CDM
You can download the results at http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus /meetings/hseboard/2014/1308 14/paugb1462.pdf
Get your Subbie assessments up to date
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Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: Landlord Issues
Many of us are Landlords and are familiar with the Housing Act but are we all aware of other legislation that we must comply with? Many, many landlords are being prosecuted. Generally the rogue ones but some who genuinely didn’t keep up with legislative changes are receiving hefty fines and in some cases imprisonment. One landlord has received a six month suspended sentence, 200 hours of community service and instructed to pay £8,211 costs when their tenants suffered carbon monoxide poisioning. Two brothers have been found guilty of putting tenants lives at risk by not having gas safety checks carried out. They were fined £3,000. So what do you need to do?
Annual Gas Check All landlord supplied gas appliances must be checked annually by a GasSafe Registered Engineer. Double check they are registered. Many prosecutions are brought on unregistered Gas Engineers.
Electrical Wiring Checks Houses of Multiple Occupation must have the electrical system checked every 5 years by a qualified electrician.
Portable Appliance Testing It is the landlords responsibility to ensure any electrical items supplied as part of the tenancy are safe at the outset of the letting.
HMO Licencing Houses of Multiple Occupation over 3 or more floors with 5 or more tenants may need an HMO license from the local authority.
TAKE ACTION: Find out when the checks were done and put reminders in your diary at least 1 month before they are due
www.infinitesafety.co.uk
Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: Mind Map: Construction Health & Safety Blitz
Location of paperwork
Staff Holidays
1st Aid Cover
Lock Gates
Mid Sept To Mid Oct Signage Ear Plugs
Site Security Segregation
Traffic HSE Management Construction Banksman Blitz
Noise
Manual Handling
Long Term Health Issues
Toolbox Talks
Dust Dust Supression Face Fitted Masks
TAKE ACTION: Book your site inspections NOW Make sure the HSE can read an inspection from the last month
www.infinitesafety.co.uk
Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: European Week for Safety & Health
Each year the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work run a worldwide campaign This year the focus is on workplace stress. The Construction Industry is known for its high stress levels. Many workdays are lost to stress, having a massive impact on projects, both time and from a financial aspect. Bill Dove recognised this when working as a Head Teacher, a position which saw him dealing with stress, both on himself and his colleagues on a daily basis.
“Stress is a major corporate problem today” says Bill, MD of Metrostress. “Work-related stress accounts for over a third of all new incidences of ill health and can lead to an average of 30.2 working days lost. The CIPD report stress related illness is at an all time high. “Many good employees are lost to stress related illness. Early identification and a holistic approach to helping them through a tough time can save a company fortunes” Is stress treated as a problem in your Company? Employees can claim Personal injury for Stress-Related illness
TAKE ACTION: Download Bill’s Ultimate Stress Guide at http://www.metrostr ess.co.uk/stresstips.aspx
Can you afford the tribunals and damage award?
www.infinitesafety.co.uk
Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: European Week for Safety & Health
So what legislation actually covers stress? It’s the Health and Safety at Work Act itself. You have a duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare whilst at work of your employees. If their health is affected by stress incurred at work then you have failed in this duty.
How do I know if an employee is stressed? You Will Know. You know your employees and so do their colleagues. Someone suffering stress will show signs. Their body will be tensed up, maybe hunched over their workstation. They will look tired and worried. Very few people can hide the signs of stress. You will also know from the workload placed upon them. If they can’t cope, they are probably suffering some form of stress-related illness and are unable to work efficiently and effectively.
What do I need to do Now to Protect My Company? Undertake a Stress Audit to see if Work Related Stress is a risk to your business. We can provide this service to ascertain what is the best way to protect your business and your employees. Joyce is fully trained to undertake stress audits in the workplace. Samantha can meet with you to provide a Stress Management Policy with procedures that work for you and Claire can follow this up with implementing your system as a trained Stress Management Coach. Together we can get you through this and we’d love to work with you on this one.
TAKE ACTION: Carry out a Stress Audit. It is not always work related, but personal stress can be brought into the workplace and affect the employees productivity. The only way to find out is to speak to the employee. If you don’t have the rapport with them, ask someone who does if they can get to the bottom of the problem. You may not be able to help but you may be able to point them in the right direction for help such as Relate for relationship issues or the Money Advice Service for financial problems.
Identify Stressors and those at risk of suffering the effects
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Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: This Months Actions
So, what do you need to do this month? Put a great big cross through the boxes as you do them. UPDATE STRESS MANAGEMENT POLICY
LIKE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM /BLACKPOOLHEALTH ANDSAFETY UPDATE YOUR SUBCONTRACTOR APPROVAL DATABASE
TAKE ACTION: When you’ve done all these actions, leave a message on our facebook page for a surprise Delivery!
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Caution: Newsletter May Have Sharp Edges: Look Ahead
In Next Month’s Issue Electrical Safety – Do’s, Don’t and Definitely Don’ts What Standard Are You? And more importantly what that says about your company The Secret of Sub-contracting – How some clients go from job to job
Corporate Manslaughter Update How to Communicate with Your Staff The Environmental Complaince Cheat – Be Complaint Quick
From the Blog… Safety or Health and Safety...? A series of studies have identified that Safety is often controlled on site yet Health is not so high on the agenda with the causes of chronic illnesses often seen as low priority. The Fit For Work UK group warns that by 2030, almost half of UK workers will have a chronic health condition which will affect their productivity at work. Although this sounds like an age away, it is only 16 years away. Think back 16 years. What was the workplace like? Was it significantly worse than it is now? Have things really changed that much? Consider how the NHS and the Benefits system will work in 16 years time? I doubt we’ll be able to access services for free as we do now and the back up of sick pay is likely to be non-existent. I feel the burden will fall on your Company’s Employers Liability Insurers at the time the illness was sustained. And that can only mean one thing, increased premiums. Review your Risk Manual today and see if you are really addressing the Health AND Safety issues and not just taking the quick fix option of managing safety. It could cost you massively in the future.
Asbestos Deaths on the Rise...The HSE have this week reported that workplace fatalities are at an all time low. Being cynical, I feel this is proportionate to the number of people in work during the reporting period of April 2013 and March 2014. What is alarming is that the number of deaths caused by Mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer, have risen from 2,291 in 2011 to 2,535 in 2012. Although it could be presumed that these deaths are a result of poor realisation of the dangers of asbestos years ago, but there will be an element of new exposures since the ban of asbestos use and the tightening up of the regulations. Plumbers, electricians and maintenance operatives still today remain wide open to asbestos exposure unless the asbestos management of the building and detailed work instructions are in place. Have your employees received asbestos awareness training? Its a quick online course costing less than £40 per employee and could literally be a lifesaver.
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Dates for Your Diary October 2014 1 October Infinite Safety Price Increase 8-9 October Health & Safety North Expo Bolton Arena 17 October Anticipated End of H&S Blitz 20 October Claire available for meeting Lancaster or Lakes Area 22 October Claire available for meeting Preston, Chorley or Blackburn Area 31 October Hallowe’en!! Check our Facebook Page for Frightening Offers
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