6 August Workplace Top Temperatures This summer has been one of the hottest, with some new records being set across the UK. The TUC is calling for a legal duty on employers to protect workers from heat-related risk after the Met Office issued its first-ever extreme heat warning in July 2021. Mika Minio-Paluello (who is the Policy Officer for Climate … Read More
5 August Workplace Transport – Death of a Driver (while he was a Pedestrian) Death of a Driver Whilst standing on open ground at the rear of the trailer of his articulated vehicle, the driver KA was struck by a wheeled shovel loader operating in the yard at their Auchinleck premises in Scotland, Ayr Sheriff Court heard. Failure to Assess the Risks and to implement Control Measures The investigation … Read More
5 August Roofer and scaffolder both sentenced following a fatal fall from height at a two-storey terraced house A roofer and a scaffolder have been sentenced following a fatal fall from height at a two-storey terraced house on Rosevine Road, Wimbledon. PD and AB were working on the house roof, which was accessed using a ladder and scaffolding that had been erected by DG. During the course of work, PD asked AB for … Read More
6 May Can you dismiss workers who refuse to attend the workplace over COVID-19 concerns? Can you dismiss workers who refuse to attend the workplace over COVID-19 concerns? I do not intend to digress too much into the world of Employment Law or HR, but a recent case (Rodgers v Leeds Laser Cutting Limited ET/1803829/2020) has proved very interesting. Over the last year (and counting), COVID-19 has created many challenges … Read More
26 August Schools, face coverings, and WHO guidelines With schools in England poised to return over the next week or so, the issue of face coverings has received much attention. The current WHO advice is that “children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a 1-metre distance from … Read More
20 August Coronavirus – spikes and lockdowns – are you COVID-19 secure? In the UK we have seen cities like Leicester placed under lockdown, and extra measures introduced in other areas (such as Manchester). Yesterday saw the news that Ireland’s coronavirus restrictions being “significantly” tightened after the number of cases increased rapidly over the past two weeks. All businesses in Ireland have been told to let employees … Read More
26 May Shops Opening from 15 June With many shops opening on 15 June, new guidelines have been provided for the retail sector Read More
18 May Don’t neglect the homeworkers in the rush back to work How are you doing? It’s a simple question, but one that can be taken for granted and so not asked! With lockdown continuing into week nine for most of us, there is little indication of when homeworkers will be returning to their offices. It is worth taking a little time to complete a mental health review. … Read More
7 May 4,500 complaints have been made to the HSE with respect to Coronavirus It is understood that more than 4,500 complaints have been made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) since the first UK case of coronavirus was confirmed. Last month the HSE issued a warning to employers that it would hand out enforcement notices to those who do not comply with the two-metre social distancing rule … Read More
7 May Process Start-up is a Dangerous Time (again) Following a problem in the process start-up, styrene gas was released at a chemical, plant in India. At least 13 people have died and nearly 1,000 have fallen sick after a cloud of toxic styrene gas leaked out of an Indian industrial plant in the small hours of Thursday morning. Distressing images on social media … Read More