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
30 April Coronavirus – stepping up to help LRB Consulting Ltd works with many companies, large and small throughout the UK. During the recent coronavirus lockdown period, we provided our clients with up to date information regarding keeping safe and healthy during the lockdown as well as the knowledge to help them reoccupy business premises. However, one business Display by Design has not fully … Read More
16 April The effect of COVID19 on Statutory Examinations I was asked recently: ”Where do I stand concerning statutory inspections such as my LOLER inspections for the forklift trucks? At the moment, all of my forklift trucks are running and are within date. Soon, the checks and inspections will fall due for some of my FLTs. What can I do about this?” Unsurprisingly, the answer … Read More