Workplace health and safety obstaclesParamedics

Safety should always be a top priority in any workplace, regardless if you work in an office setting or in a construction site. However, as evident by countless statistics over the years, workplace accidents are simply waiting to happen. Even though there are rigorous safety standards, accidents seem happen in any workplace.

So this week I thought that I would look at the five biggest obstacles to look out for so that you can improve the health and safety at your workplace.


The two HSE cases this week, look at tragic accidents that shouldn’t have happened

  • The injured man, Frank Kroeger, suffered a ruptured spleen, lacerations to his liver, a collapsed lung collapsing, multiple rib fractures on his left side, and significant crush injuries to his right arm and hand, with nerve damage to his thumb and fingers.
  • Short term contract worker Jodie Cormack, climbed onto the conveyor belt to clear potatoes into the auger in-feed, but slipped from the belt into the collecting hopper.

As ever, if you have a subject that you would like us to cover one week, please contact us by phone 01458 253682, email or via our Facebook page  or by Twitter.


 

Workplace safety obstacles

Safety should always be a top priority in any workplace, regardless if you work in an office setting or in a construction site. However, as evident by countless statistics over the years, workplace accidents are simply waiting to happen. Even though there are rigorous safety standards, accidents seem happen in any workplace.

So let’s look at the five biggest obstacles that can impede the health and safety at your workplace.

Lack of Training

TrainingIf you do not ensure that you and your workforce are suitably trained, you will be increasing the likelihood of accidents in your workplace.

Safety training is not an option, it is a priority. In fact it is a legal obligation The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires you to provide whatever information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of your employees.

This is expanded by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which identify situations where health and safety training is particularly important, e.g. when people start work, on exposure to new or increased risks and where existing skills may have become rusty or need updating.

Who needs health and safety training?

  • You do! Whether you are an employer or self-employed, are you sure that you’re up to date with how to identify the hazards and control the risks from your work? Do you know how to get help from your trade association, your local Chamber of Commerce, or your health and safety enforcing authority? Do you know what you have to do about consulting your employees, or their representatives, on health and safety issues? If not, you would probably benefit from some training.
  • Your managers and supervisors do! If you employ managers or supervisors they need to know what you expect from them in terms of health and safety, and how you expect them to deliver. They need to understand your health and safety policy, where they fit in, and how you want health and safety managed. They may also need training in the specific hazards of your processes and how you expect the risks to be controlled.
  • Your employees do! Everyone who works for you, including self-employed people, needs to know how to work safely and without risks to health. Like your supervisors, they need to know about your health and safety policy, your arrangements for implementing it, and the part they play. They also need to know how they can raise any health and safety concerns with you.
  • Contractors and self-employed people who may be working for you do! Remember, these people might not be familiar with your working environment and safety systems that you have put in place for regular employees.

A lack of safety training is the greatest obstacle to workplace safety.

Workplace distractions

In an era of high-paced environments with distracting technologies, it is easy for any worker to lose awareness.Distractions

Smartphones, the Internet, social media and emails are among the main distractions that can prove to be an obstacle to workplace e health and safety . In a recent survey, more than half of the employers surveyed say the biggest distraction at work comes from employees using their smart phones, with 44 percent saying the same about employees using the Internet.

It is essential for all members of the workforce to pay attention to their surroundings at all times. A common cause of workplace accidents is negligence to various hazards. I have seen operatives on construction site wearing ear protection – good. But these were covering the earphones to their iPhone or radio.

Distractions can easily impede any operation. For this reason, it is essential that employees be free of any electronic devices and assures their attention is on the task at hand at all times.

Workplace distractions can lead to some pretty significant consequences. Sadly there are too often accidents that happened because somebody wasn’t concentrating properly on what they were doing, because they were distracted by something or someone else.

The survey discovered that these interruptions can negatively affect quality of work, employee morale and the boss/employee relationships. Recognizing the difficulties these distractions can cause, nearly three-quarters of employers have taken at least one step to alleviate the problem.

The policies they have put into place include blocking certain websites, banning personal calls and smartphone use, other than at set lunch and break times, monitoring email and Internet use, limiting meetings, and having an open-space layout instead of cubicles.

One of the best ways to limit the health and safety risks from these distractions is for employees to take regular breaks. “Taking breaks from work throughout the day can also be good for productivity, enabling the mind to take a break from the job at hand and re-energize.”

Poor Housekeeping

Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work. On average, they cause 40 per cent of all reported major injuries and can also lead to other types of serious accidents, for example falls from height. Slips and trips are also the most reported injury to members of the public.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) requires employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone who may be affected by their work, so far as is reasonably practicable. This includes taking steps to control slip and trip risks. Employees have a duty not to put themselves or others in danger, and must use any safety equipment provided.

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess risks (including slip and trip risks) and, where necessary, take action to address them.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require floors to be suitable, in good condition and free from obstructions. People should be able to move around safely.

What can employers do to prevent slips and trips?

riskYou must manage the health and safety risks in your workplace. To do this you need to decide whether you are doing enough to prevent harm. This process is known as a risk assessment and it is something you are required by law to carry out.

A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork, but rather about taking sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace, for example using doormats to stop rainwater being tracked in and making the floor slippery.

You are probably already taking steps to protect your employees, but your risk assessment will tell you whether you should be doing more. Consider what risks in your workplace may lead to slip or trip injuries, and decide what suitable and effective control measures will prevent these types of accidents.

You then need to put these control measures into practice. Concentrate on the real risks – those that are most likely to cause harm. Think about how accidents could happen and who might be harmed. You can do this by:

  • asking your employees what they think the hazards are, as they may notice things that are not obvious to you and may have some good ideas on how to control the risks;
  • using a hazard-spotting check-list and slips and trips mapping tool to help you identify problem areas (contact The Wilkins Safety Group for further help with this if needed).

In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks, for example ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip.

Tired, stressed and dehydrated personnel

HydrationThis obstacle is unique and far varying from the other three, yet it is a direct physical threat to all employees. The greatest obstacle most workers have are themselves and this is even more true with a tired and stressed worker.

Simply put, workers will not perform at their best unless their body is treated at its best. A tired or stressed member of staff is far more likely to take dangerous shortcuts and less likely to be aware of their surroundings.

Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors.

Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries. That is why a population-wide approach is necessary to tackle it.

Furthermore, dehydrated workers are at a higher risk for heat stroke or to develop cardiac conditions. The severity of these conditions can be deadly.

In addition, fatigued personnel place all other workers at risk. It is essential that management look at the frequency of breaks and assure all staff have access to water/drinks so that they are ready to perform. It is imperative to take frequent breaks and drink about 1 litre of water during the day.

In addition, it is essential for employees to attempt to sleep eight hours per night to assure adequate energy for the next work day. In gruelling conditions that often accompany many high pressure jobs, this is absolutely imperative.

Not being prepared for an emergency

In the event of an emergency, a comprehensive plan can assure all employees and workers are protected from potentially deadly consequences. Sadly, many employees are unsure if such a plan exists. In many occasions, management ignores this as “Something unlikely to happen”.Fire exit

In the event of an accident, the implementation of recovery policies and procedures can serve as a framework to handle the most complex of scenarios. From these action plans, a course of action and a chain of command are implemented. It is essential that all employees know what to do in a variety of emergency situations.

This picture is of a “Fire Exit” door I found in a furniture warehouse that was open to the public. You must first remove the steel bar that is preventing the emergency push bar from working. This steel bar has been screwed into the door frame!!

Failing to establish this foundation is a great obstacle for any workplace and can cause significant collateral damage in the result of an actual emergency.

If you have any topic you would like us to cover in this newsletter  please contact us by phone 01458 253682 or email.

 


Training Courses

We have three courses set up, one in Bridgwater on 14th October and 2 in Glasgow but these are all fully booked.

However we are running the following courses:

EMERGENCY FIRST-AID AT WORK – ONE-DAY COURSE

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure they provide adequately trained persons to cover their First-aid requirements. The following course has been approved and recognised by the HSE as meeting the basic requirements set by the regulations.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?

  • Smaller companiesFirst Aid CPR
  • Offices and shops with less than 50 employees and other low risk environments
  • Employees working off site
  • Self-employed people
  • Anyone who wants to learn first aid and assist in an emergency situation.

SYLLABUS

  • First Aid Kits
  • How to manage an incident
  • Treating an unconscious casualty
  • Resuscitation and CPR
  • Asthma
  • Choking
  • Chest Pains
  • Seizures
  • Bleeding
  • Shock
  • Burns and Scalds
  • Care and Communication
  • Open Forum

Course Duration:  1 day

COURSE REF                                DATE(s)                                                LOCATION

WSG. EFA . 1502                                    Thursday 15th October 2015                                                Taunton Racecourse

Fee: £120 to include Course notes, mid-morning & afternoon refreshments, Finger buffet lunch and a Certificate of Training   (Fee subject to VAT)

 

 


CDM Regulations 2015 – For the Smaller Builder

Course Objective

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) come into force on the 6th of April 2015, and will apply to all construction projects in the UK incl. Domestic projects

This CDM 2015 awareness training course has been developed to provide smaller builders and tradesmen, especially those who haven’t dealt with CDM before, with an understanding of their role and responsibilities under CDM 2015.

Seminar Outline

  • Overview of the Industry accident rateCDM Regulations 2015
  • The Legal framework
  • Enforcement
  • Risk Assessment
  • CDM 2015 and the duty holders: Client, PD, Designers
  • Principal Contractors duties
  • Contractors duties
  • Construction Phase Plan
  • Site Safety Management

Benefits of Attending

This course give an overview of the requirements for smaller builders and domestic clients and how the regulations apply to all construction projects from minor repairs and decorating works through to building a new house for a domestic client.

Course Duration: 1/2 day – Morning   09.30 – 12.30

COURSE REF                                DATE(s)                                                LOCATION

CDM2015 1508                                       Tuesday 20th October 2015                                                 Taunton Racecourse

Fee: £80 to include Course notes, Coffee on arrival & mid-morning refreshments and a Certificate of Training   (Fee subject to VAT)

 

 

If this course is booked together with the Asbestos Awareness course below – A free lunch will be provided.


ASBESTOS AWARENESS – Half-Day Course

Course Objective – Training /CPD Certificate issued

Asbestos awareness training is essential for employees whose work holds the potential to expose them to asbestos. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 puts a requirement on employers to ensure that their staff have undergone suitable asbestos awareness training so that they are aware of the potential dangers they may face and also the procedures they must follow in the event they are working in the vicinity of asbestos containing materials (ACMs)

Who Is This Course Suitable For?Asbestos Training

The main groups of workers that are deemed to be at risk from asbestos exposure and therefore the groups most requiring asbestos awareness training are as follows:

  • General Maintenance Staff.
  • Electricians, Plumbers & Gas Fitters. Painters & Decorators.
  • Construction & Demolition Workers. Joiners and Plasterers.
  • Computing & Telecommunications Engineers.
  • Heating & Ventilation Engineers.
  • Roofers.
  • Architects & Building Surveyors
  • Fire & Burglar Alarm Installers

Syllabus

  • Asbestos- a  history of use
  • What is Asbestos
  • Amosite (Brown) – Chrysotile (White) – Crocidolite (Blue)asbestos types
  • Asbestos Containing Product Examples
  • Asbestos Properties and the hidden legacy of asbestos
  • Control of Asbestos Regs and Requirements
  • Exactly who is at risk
  • Action to take on discovery and Survey and Recording

Course Duration: ½ day – Afternoon 13.30 – 16.30

COURSE REF                                DATE(s)                         LOCATION

ASBESTA 1503                                           Tuesday 20th October 2015                  Taunton Racecourse,

Fee: £65 to include Course notes, Coffee/Tea on arrival & mid-morning refreshments, CPD Certificate of Training (Fee subject to VAT)

 

 


HABC Level 3 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace

Course Objective – Training /CPD Certificate issued

This qualification is suitable for directors, managers and supervisors who will gain an understanding of their responsibility for health and safety within their organisation; for those wishing to further their knowledge on the subject; or for those recently acquiring health and safety responsibilities within an organisation.

Course OutlineJon Wilkins Training

  • Understanding the requirements for health, safety and welfare in the workplace,
  • The benefits of using a safety management system,
  • The principles of risk assessment,
  • An understanding the risks and control methods for common workplace hazards.

Benefits of Attending

By the end of the training, delegates should have acquired the knowledge and understanding to undertake the assessment paper.

The HABC Level 3 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace (QCF) is accredited and recognised internationally. highfield

Qualification is assessed by a multiple-choice examination, where the candidate must answer at least 40 out of 60 questions correctly. A Merit is awarded to candidates scoring 50 or more. The examination will take a maximum of 2 hours to complete

Course Duration: 3 days (1 day a week for 3 weeks)

COURSE REF                           DATE(s)                                                  LOCATION

HABC3 1501                              15th / 23rd / 29th October 2015                                              Taunton Racecourse

Fee: £660 to include Course notes, exams, mid-morning & afternoon refreshments, a buffet lunch on each day and the appropriate Certificate of Training (Fees subject to VAT)

 

 


FIRST-AID AT WORK 3-DAY COURSE

All employers in the UK have a legal obligation to make first aid provision for their employees. This course is ideal for those who are going to be a nominated First Aider in the workplace. This three day course meets the statutory requirements of the Health & Safety Executive. Candidates must be of a working age and intend to practice first aid in the workplace during the validity of the certificate.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?First-Aid at work

  • Smaller companies
  • Offices and shops with less than 50 employees and other low risk environments
  • Employees working off site
  • Self-employed people
  • Anyone who wants to learn first aid and assist in an emergency situation.

SYLLABUS

  • Health & Safety Responsibilities
  • Managing an Incident
  • Priorities of First Aid
  • Managing an Unconscious Casualty
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Bleeding
  • Shock
  • Choking
  • Hyperventilation
  • Asthma
  • Low Blood Sugar
  • Head Injuries
  • Epilepsy
  • Chest Pains
  • Eye Injuries
  • Injuries to bones, muscles and joints
  • Burns & Scalds
  • Moving Casualties
  • Poisons, Gases & Fumes
  • Care and Communication

Course Duration: 3 Days

COURSE REF                                DATE(s)                                                LOCATION

WSG. FA . 1501                                   28th/29th/30th October 2015                                                          Taunton Racecourse

Fee: £360 to include Course notes, mid-morning & afternoon refreshments, Finger buffet lunch on each day and a Certificate of Training   (Fee subject to VAT)

 

 


 

CDM Regulations 2015 – The Management of Pre-Construction Health and Safety

Course Objective – Training /CPD and APS Certificates issued

This 3 day course, which is accredited by the APS, is aimed at all CDM 2015 duty holders and those involved in construction planning, design and management. It has been developed to guide you through the regulatory requirements and practical implementation of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015.

The course has been designed to advise Clients, Principal Designers, Designers, Principal Contractors and contractors on how they can ensure compliance with CDM 2015. It focuses on the duty holder roles for application of the regulations to construction projects in the Pre-Construction Phase. It is also aimed at construction safety professionals and CDM Advisors, Project Managers, Facilities Managers and any other construction professionals that have a duty to comply with CDM 2015

Seminar Outline Management of Pre-Construction Health and Safety

  • Historical background for changes
  • Notification
  • Client Duties and Domestic Clients
  • Principal Designer Duties
  • Principal Contractor Duties
  • Expectations of the HSE
  • CDM Documentation

Benefits of Attending

You will have an insight into the intentions and implications of CDM 2015 for duty holders in the Pre-Construction Phase and the detailed requirements for discharging health and safety coordination duties.

An individual who successfully completes this CDM2015 Awareness Course may claim points towards membership of the Association for Project Safety – APS CDM 2015 APS logo

Course Duration: 3 days (1 day a week for 3 weeks)

COURSE REF                                DATE(s)                                                        LOCATION

CDM2015/3 1501                            Tuesdays 3rd/10th/17th November 2015                                           Taunton Racecourse

Fee: £660 to include Course notes, exams, mid-morning & afternoon refreshments, a buffet lunch on each day and the appropriate Certificate of Training (Fee subject to VAT).

 

 

For more information and to book and pay on line please visit our training page.

If you have any questions about these courses or any other training or would like us to run a particular course for you, call Jon Wilkins of the Wilkins Safety Group on 01458 253682 or email him.

 

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