SEPTEMBER 2015
FOOD TEAM FOCUS
SAFETY EDITION
RESPONSIBLE RIDDOR REPORTING The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDR) 2013 requires employers, those who are self employed and other people in control of work premises to report and keep records of: •
Work related accidents which cause death
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Work related accidents which cause certain serious injuries (known as ‘reportable injuries’)
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Diagnosed cases of certain industrial diseases
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Certain dangerous occurrences (known as near misses)
What is an accident?? By definition, an accident is ‘an incident or occurrence that results in personal injury, including physical attack or violence.’ Not all accidents need to be reported. Accidents need only be reported when: The accident is work related and results in an injury which is ‘reportable’.
What is a ‘reportable’ injury? Deaths and major injury must be reported as soon as possible. A list of specified injuries details what is reportable and includes injuries such as; fractures, amputations, permanent loss of sight and serious burns. This list is not exhaustive, for further information please see the guidance available on www.hse.gov.uk/riddor An incident in a workplace setting to a member of the public or people who are not at work must be reported if the person is injured and goes straight to hospital from the scene of the accident for treatment for that injury. Accidents must be reported where they result in an employee or self employed person being away from work or unable to perform their duties for more than 7 consecutive days.
How to report an accident, incident or dangerous occurrence An online form is available for reporting accidents and incidents and can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm
Lifting tips Manual handling is one of the most common causes of injury at work and causes over a third of all workplace injuries. Follow our simple tips to keep yourself and any employees injury free! •
Remove obstructions for lifting
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Plan to rest the load midway
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Keep the heaviest side of the load next to the body
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Adopt a stable position and make sure your feet are apart with one leg slightly forward to maintain balance.
CARE HOME TRAINING We are pleased to announce that from October, we will be offering the CIEH level 2 Award in Health and Safety in Health and Social Care, delivered by our experienced Officers, Andre Hunt and Stuart Handley. The six hour course will benefit care
workers and help staff to recognise the hazards and understand the significant risks that your actions can have on the health and safety of residents and colleagues in the work environment. We also provide the CIEH level 2 award in food safety and refresher courses.
For more information, or to book a place, please ring the Environmental Health admin team on 01524 582935 or visit our website at: www.lancaster.gov.uk and search for Environmental Health training.
Bogus Officers
Slips and Trips
Reports have been flying around Lancashire of people entering food businesses, posing as Environmental Health Officers, issuing fixed penalty fines for all offences. The scammers have also been known to take samples of raw and cooked food to improve the believability of their scam and may also include a request to seize or remove food. All our officers carry council identification and will always show this when introducing themselves and explaining the purposes behind their visit, including any food sampling we carry out. Whether the visiting Officer is from Environmental Health or Trading Standards, fixed penalties or charges will not be made, although please note there are exceptions for smoking offences. If you are in any doubt of any visitor claiming to be from Lancaster City Council, you should contact us so that we can verify their identity on 01524 582935.
Slips and trips remain the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces. Most common causes of slips and trips in the catering environment: •
Food spillages—be sure to clean as you go and don’t leave spillages unattended.
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Water overflow or leak—an overflowing sink or leak can cause water to drip on the floor, especially on a smooth surface. If your floor is in a poor condition— arrange for areas of damage to be repaired.
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Trip hazards—an unexpected obstacle in your path can cause a serious trip and fall. There should be a clear space in which to work.
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Cleaning—most slips happen on wet or dirty floors. Anything that gets onto the floor needs to be removed quickly and effectively.
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Carrying hot oil—emptying oil from deep fat fryers can be difficult, make sure you and your staff follow the manufacturers instructions to carry out this work safely.
Unsuitable footwear— ensure your footwear is suitable and have a non slip sole.
Common Myth: Risk Assessment
‘Risk assessment is too complicated for me’ Risk assessment does not need to be complicated. It should be straightforward. It’s about focussing on real risks and hazards that cause real harm, and more importantly, taking action to control them. For useful help and information, please visit the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/risk
Contact Dermatitis Using chemicals and regularly submerging your hands in water can take its toll on your hands. Signs of dermatitis can include, dryness, itching and redness.
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Store chemicals safely and correctly
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Ensure staff receive adequate chemical training i.e. chemical use and concentration ratio
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Provide washing up gloves for washing up (latex free as people may have allergies)
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Consider using a long handled washing up brush to minimise hand contact with water
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Use a soap which contains a moisturising agent
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Thoroughly dry your hands with a clean paper towel
Website: www.lancaster.gov.uk/foodsafety
Job_11125. creative-council.net
Follow these simple tips to reduce the risk of dermatitis to you and your employees:
Email: environmentalhealth@lancaster.gov.uk Telephone: 01524 582935