As part of National Stress Week, the HSE emphasised employers’ responsibilities to proactively manage stress. With this in mind, we are focusing this blog on managing stress during peaks, with a focus on the run up to the holidays.

What causes stress?

Work-related stress in warehousing environments can stem from increased targets, long shifts, and a lack of adequate breaks. Physical strain from repetitive movements and poor workstation ergonomics adds to mental pressure, while limited communication can leave employees feeling unsupported. Alongside work-related stress, external pressures (e.g. financial stress, family pressures, seasonal illnesses) can also build up in this period, adding to workers’ stress levels.

How can stress be managed in these peaks?

• Shift planning and fair rotas: Ensure there is adequate cover for shifts in busy periods. During periods of high activity, planning cover for absences due to illness will help alleviate additional strain due to reduced manpower
• Consider seasonal support: Consider hiring temporary workers to support the increased demand. Appropriate health and safety provision (e.g. training, inductions etc.) should be in place for all seasonal / temporary workers.
• Micro-breaks and job rotation: Short pauses help reduce physical strain and mental fatigue, improving focus and reducing errors. Even in high-pressure situations, ensure people are able to step away from their work and take time to rest between tasks
• Good leadership: Ensure clear communication on targets at the start of each shift and remember that safety comes first. Listen to any concerns from your team, and ensure steps are taken to resolve these, avoiding further stressors

Mental wellbeing

Beyond operational management, investment in wellbeing initiatives can have a positive impact during work peaks.

A proactive approach to mental health not only safeguards workers but also enhances efficiency during the busiest time of year. Reducing stressors and supporting people appropriately can help prevent bigger issues.

Ensuring your business has a provision for mental health support (e.g. management support, access to mental health support, mental health first aiders or ambassadors) can ensure that suitable support is available when stress levels rise.

Conclusion

The holidays are a busy time for many industries, but this shouldn’t come at the cost of worker wellbeing. By planning ahead, reinforcing training and providing the right support structures, companies can continue to develop a good health and safety culture.

If you would like a free Toolbox talk on stress, please contact enquiries@lrbconsulting.co.uk

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Fire door safety week 2025

Fire doors are a fundamental component of fire protection in commercial, industrial and many residential and healthcare settings. Designed to contain the spread of fire and smoke, they provide vital time for safe evacuation and emergency response by preventing the spread of fire in an emergency.

When is a fire door not a fire door?

Fire doors will only work if they are kept closed and in good condition. Research shows that whilst most people believed that propping a fire door open stops it from working, over half of those surveyed would not take action if they saw a propped fire door, or may not know who to report this to.

Two common issues are the removal of self-closing devices and propping fire doors open. Reasons for doing so are often not malicious – for example to allow better airflow, for the ease of foot traffic, or to move large items through doorways. However, these actions will render the fire door useless in an emergency.  By leaving a fire door open, it is no longer able to delay the evacuation window, and provide no protection against the damaging effects of fire and smoke inhalation.

If you have a fire door in a heavy footfall area, consideration could be given to fitting an automatically closing fire door retainer (such as a Dorgard). These hold doors open, and automatically close on the sounding of a fire alarm.

Often, people prop fire doors open without thinking about or understanding the consequences. Clear signage, proper instruction and regular fire safety training can help everyone understand and appreciate the role fire doors play in building safety.

What makes a fire door compliant?

Fire Door Safety Week is an annual campaign run in September by the British Woodworking Federation and the BWF Fire Door Alliance. As part of the campaign. A five-step fire door checklist has been shared to help people recognise and report problems with fire doors:

• Certification: The door is third-party certified to meet fire safety standards
• Gaps: Gaps around the fire door do not exceed the recommended maximum
• Seals: Intumescent seals are fitted correctly and are undamaged
• Closing: The door closes fully without sticking
• Hinges: Secure, fixed and functional with no missing or broken screws

How to maintain fire doors

There is a legal duty to maintain fire doors for all tenanted buildings. Landlords/building managers are required to ensure that fire doors are maintained. This can be done through inspection as part of a fire risk assessment and professional fire door inspection.

Routine inspections should be conducted to ensure all doors are functional and compliant. Fire door policies should be shared with and reinforced to all building users/tenants.

Adopting a ‘recognise it, report it’ approach encourages vigilance in fire door safety, not only with those in charge, but across the board.

If you need any support with fire door inspections, fire risk assessments or safety training, reach out to LRB Consulting Ltd.

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Respiratory Protective Equipment (or RPE) is used to protect wearers from exposure to a range of chemicals, solvents, dust, fibres, etc.  It is often a protective measure that is identified in the risk assessment. The RPE must be able to provide adequate protection for individual wearers (otherwise there is no point in wearing it). It makes sense that RPE cannot protect the wearer if it leaks. One of the major causes of leaks is poor fit – tight-fitting facepieces need to fit the wearer’s face to be effective. It stands to reason that if people come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, it is unlikely that one particular type or size of RPE facepiece will fit everyone.

Providing even the highest quality FFP2 or FFP3 respirators to healthcare workers and enforcing their use is only the first step. The best masks will not protect the wearer if they leak – such as with poor fit due to facial characteristics or the wrong model mask selected (as two big causes). Other necessary steps include ensuring that respirators fit along, couple to proper training and continued use.

The principle is that “fit testing” will ensure that the equipment selected is suitable for the wearer. The best time to do fit testing is at the initial selection stage when individual users can be given a choice of adequate models of RPE. You should ensure that the make, model, type and size of the facepiece that they wore when they had their successful fit test is made available for their use. If an employee wears more than one type of tight-fitting facepiece, then each type of facepiece should be fit tested.

Face Fit Testing of RPE

RPE fit testing should be carried out by a competent person. Ensure that the person who carries out the fit test is appropriately trained, qualified and experienced, and is provided with appropriate information to undertake each particular task. The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has introduced a scheme for fit testers, which may provide evidence to help you decide whether a fit tester is competent.

Many masks rely on a good seal against the face so that, when you breathe air in, the air is drawn in through the filter material where it is cleaned. If there are any gaps around the edges of the mask, the potentially contaminated air will pass through these gaps and into your lungs. It is therefore essential that you put your mask on correctly and check for a proper fit every time.

It should be noted that facial hair – stubble and beards – make it impossible to get a good seal of the mask to the face. If you are clean-shaven when wearing tight-fitting masks (i.e. those which rely on a good seal to the face), this will help prevent leakage of contaminated air around the edges of the mask and into your lungs. You will, therefore, be breathing in clean air, which will help you stay healthy.

If there are good reasons for having a beard (including religious reasons), alternative forms of RPE, which do not rely on a tight fit to the face, are available.

There are two major types of RPE:

• Tight-fitting facepieces (often referred to as masks) rely on having a good seal with the wearer’s face. These are available as both non-powered and powered respirators and BA. A face fit test should be carried out to ensure the RPE can protect the wearer.
• Loose-fitting face pieces rely on enough clean air being provided to the wearer to prevent contaminant from leaking in. This is available as powered respirators or breathing apparatus. Examples include hoods, helmets, visors, blouses and suits.

Face Fit Testing is required for the following types of masks:

• Disposable half masks
• Re-usable filter or cartridge half masks
• Powered respirators
• Full face filter or cartridge masks
• Escape set masks
• Full breathing apparatus masks

Qualitative face fit testing

Qualitative fit testing is a pass/fail test based on the wearer’s subjective assessment of any leakage from the face seal region, by sensing the introduction of a test agent. These tests are suitable for half masks. They are not ideal for full face masks. Examples of qualitative fit testing methods are:

• an approach based on bitter- or sweet-tasting aerosol
• an approach based on odour compounds

Quantitative face fit testing

Quantitative fit testing provides a numerical measure of the fit, called a fit factor. These tests give an objective measure of face fit. They require specialised equipment and are more complicated to carry out than qualitative methods. Quantitative methods are suitable for full face masks (but can also be used for half masks). Examples of quantitative fit testing methods are:

• laboratory test chamber
• portable fit test devices, such as a particle counting device

 Competence and Face Fit Testing

RPE face fit testing should be conducted by a competent person. Competence can be demonstrated by achieving accreditation under the Fit2Fit RPE Fit Test Providers’ Accreditation scheme. This scheme has been developed by the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) together with industry stakeholders and is supported by HSE.

The scheme is not compulsory, and you are free to take other action to comply with the law.

The post Face Fit Testing of RPE – Risk assessment and Prevention appeared first on LRB.

Reliance on the use of contractors has increased dramatically over recent years in most employment sectors.

Organisations are increasingly concentrating on core activities and operations and are taking on contract staff for chore activities as well as for specific (construction) projects. Many organisations, for example, make use of contract cleaning staff in place of their own cleaning operatives.  Many organisations also take advantage of the increased flexibility with respect to labour that comes from the appropriate use of contract staff.  Many seasonal activities, such as fruit picking have always relied on temporary labour.  In recent years this trend has increased, with more and more organisations taking advantage of the increased flexibility from the use of contract or agency workers.  This increased use of contract staff may present the organisation’s management with various challenges, but in most situations, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.  It is essential, however, that the health and safety implications of this increased use of contract staff are considered and appropriate controls implemented.

Although there are many reasons for using contractors, there are also some disadvantages, including unfamiliarity of the contractor with the employer’s: business, Health and Safety management systems, procedures, work processes, premises, and plant and equipment.

The principles of effective management of contract staff are effectively the same whether the organisation (referred to as the client) uses one individual or a variety of different contract organisations.  It should be remembered, however, that self-employed contractors and contractors working for small organisations may be less aware of health and safety.

A common misconception about responsibility

There is a common, but flawed, belief that appointing a contractor absolves the client from liability for the health and safety aspects of that contracted work. Managers and Directors within organisations can be heard to voice the opinion: “they are the experts in what they do; surely all of the health and safety is down to them to sort out”.

The House of Lords addressed this issue in R v Associated Octel Ltd, 1996. In this appeal case, Octel Ltd argued that section 3 did not involve liability for the actions of independent contractors. The appeal failed, and the court ruled that Octel Ltd was liable under section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act, 1974.  This case clarified that work carried out for a company, such as the work of a contractor, was still regarded as a part of their undertaking and so they retain a duty of care even when the work has been contracted out.

A better understanding of the position

Work undertaken for a client by a contractor is covered by a civil contract. It is good practice for health and safety requirements to be written into such a contract. Health and safety responsibilities, however, are defined by the criminal law and they cannot be passed on from one party to another by a contract. In a client/contractor relationship, both parties will have duties under health and safety law. Similarly, if the contractor employs sub-contractors to carry out some or all of the work, all parties will have some health and safety responsibilities. The extent of the responsibilities of each party will depend on the circumstances.

Controlling Contractors

Setting up to control the work of contractors can be broken down into five steps:

• Identification and the work to be done
• Selection of the Contractor
• Site work by the contractor
• Monitoring the activities of the contractor
• Reviewing the process

Identification of the work to be done

The client should identify all aspects of the work that they want the contractor to do. This should also include work falling within the preparation and completion phases of the project. This information should then be used to identify the hazards associated with the work, allowing the risks arising from that work to be assessed and then avoided, eliminated and reduced. If a contractor has been selected, this is a good time to start discussions with them. The client must provide the contractor with relevant information about site hazards, such as: a copy of the asbestos register, copies of site plans, location of underground services, etc.

Selection of the Contractor

The client must select a contractor who can carry out the work successfully, not only in terms of delivery but also from the point of view of health and safety. The client needs to be satisfied that the contractors are competent to do the work. This means that they have sufficient skills and knowledge to do the job safely and without risks to health. The degree of competence required will depend on the work to be done.  Typically, the client should ascertain and/or obtain:

• the contractor’s experience in the type of work to be done,
• what their health and safety policies, arrangements and practices are,
• their recent health and safety performance (e.g. number of accidents, recent and pending prosecutions or enforcement notices, etc.),
• what qualifications and skills they have
• the level and type of health and safety training and supervision they provide,
• if the contractor will use sub-contractors and, if so, what selection procedures will be used,
• a copy of the contractors(proposed) safety method statement,
• their arrangements for consulting their workforce;
• if they have any independent assessments of their competence,
• if they are members of a relevant trade or professional body,

Some client organisations routinely operate an “approved contractor” list where the answers to these questions have already been established. Some clients will accept new contractors onto this list if they have registered with a third party accreditation scheme (such as: CHAS, Safecontractor, Contractor Plus, Constructionline, Exor, etc.).

The client must ensure that the contractors know and understand what performance is expected and should explain their health and safety arrangements to the contractors. The client should familiarise the contractor with any relevant procedures and permit systems, as well as with the health and safety policy statement and should establish that the contractors understand these and will act in accordance with them.

Site work by the contractor

The client should agree with the contractor, before work starts, how site access is to be obtained and what rules are to be in place, etc.  In most cases, contractors will be required to sign in and also to sign out from the site. It is important for the contractor to have a named site contact and also for the client to have the name and contact details for the contractor’s representative (such as foreman, leading hand, etc.). The contractors should undergo some form of site induction process, to ensure that they are aware of the site rules, fire alarm and evacuation points, etc. It is also in the client’s interests for the contractor to have their own site safety rules relating to the project work being undertaken.

If a formal Permit to Work (see later) system is in operation, these should be addressed and completed before the work is started.

Monitoring the activities of the contractor

Different projects will require different levels of monitoring activities, as will different contractors (established as the relationship develops). The client should monitor the activities of the contractor to ensure that the work is proceeding safely and as planned. This can take many forms, but it should always be recorded as this forms part of the client’s due diligence defence if things do go wrong. Part of the process may involve a formal inspection of the work activity to ensure that safety standards are being maintained and that the contractors’ risk assessments and method statements are being adhered to. The client should, where appropriate, ask to see supporting documentation (such as scaffolding inspection sheets, induction training registers). The client should also establish that other control measures are in place, such as: physical barriers, appropriate use of PPE (hard hats, high vis clothing), etc. The client and contractor should investigate any accidents, incidents or concerns that arise and formulate a suitable corrective action.

The use of a Permit to Work system should also be monitored/audited. This is discussed in a separate article.

Control of Contractors: How much can failure cost?

In a UK court case from a few years ago, a major high street retailer and three of its contractors have been fined for putting people (including members of the public, staff and construction workers) at risk of exposure from asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) during the refurbishment of stores in Reading and Bournemouth. The client was fined £1 million (with costs of £600,000), while the contractors were fined £200,000, £100,000 and £50,000 and were also ordered to pay costs.

During the three month trial, the Crown Court heard that construction workers at the two stores removed ACMs that were present in the ceiling tiles and elsewhere. The court heard that the client did not allocate sufficient time and space for the removal of ACMs at the Reading store. The contractors had to work overnight in enclosures on the shop floor, with the aim of completing small areas of asbestos removal before the shop opened to the public each day. The HSE also alleged that the client failed to ensure that work at the Reading store complied with the appropriate minimum standards set out in legislation and approved codes of practice. The company had produced its own guidance on how asbestos should be removed inside its stores. The court heard, however, that this guidance was followed by contractors inappropriately during the major refurbishment. One contractor failed to minimise the spread of asbestos to the Reading shop floor. Witnesses said that areas cleaned by the company were re-contaminated by air moving through the void between the ceiling tiles and the floor above, and by poor standards of work.

The principal contractor at the Reading store admitted that it should not have permitted a method of asbestos removal which did not allow for adequate sealing of the ceiling void, which resulted in risks to contractors on site. The principal contractor at the Bournemouth store failed to plan, manage and monitor the removal of asbestos-containing materials. It did not prevent the possibility of asbestos being disturbed by its workers in areas that had not been surveyed extensively.

The fines, in this case, were large, but so also was the time investment from the various parties, including the client, to prepare for and attend the trial. Control of contractors is an important area that clients need to address. This situation may be exacerbated by the HSE Fee for Intervention scheme.

Control of Contractors: How much can failure cost (2)?

A global drinks (AD) firm has been ordered to over £277,000 in fines and costs after a contractor was killed as a result of falling six metres through a fragile skylight on a warehouse roof.

Further to this, the worker’s employer (P) must pay just over £30,000 for his failure to protect his staff.

Mr Rogers was working for P in November 2010 on a contract from AD to fix a leak in the warehouse roof and to clean gutters. The judge said the eight-metre high roof was made of corrugated asbestos panels which were fragile along with skylights. The Judge commented: “Yet neither of the brothers (who had to travel a significant distance) was given the proper crawling boards despite the dangers “being blindingly obvious as a matter of common sense”.

Mr Rogers suffered fatal injuries when he fell through one of the 80 skylights on the roof and hit the warehouse’s concrete floor. His brother Trevor, who was also employed by P, had been working alongside him on the roof.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that even though P’s employees went up on the roof as often as every month, there were no crawling boards or scaffolding, harnesses or nets.

As the warehouse owner, AD was responsible for the site and should have ensured its contractors planned and executed work safely.

P was fined £26,667 with £4000 costs after he admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act. AD pleaded guilty to a charge under Section 3(1) of the same Act, was fined £266,677 plus costs of £10,752. AD had responsibility for the site and should have ensured contractors planned their work to ensure it was done safely.

HSE inspector Guy Widdowson said:

P should have provided his workers with suitable equipment” and added “AD could not contract out its health and safety responsibilities just by contracting out a particular job. This is a tragic case in which a devoted husband and father and grandfather lost his life at work … It is sickening that such incidents happen despite the widespread industry knowledge of the risks of working at height and on fragile roofs with equally fragile skylights. His death was entirely preventable.

Need help? Contact us and discuss your problems – 01509 550023

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Construction Cancer Risk – Respirable Crystalline Silica

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As a food handler, you must let your employer know immediately if you:

• Are suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea or if you have an infected cut or sore
• If you have suffered from the above whilst abroad
• If someone in your family is suffering from any of the above

Staff must then not handle or prepare food until 48 hours after they are free from the symptoms.

At LRB Consulting, we strive to help you understand and comply with the Health & Safety, Fire Safety and Food Safety rules and regulations that may affect your business.

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Here are some cold weather forklift truck safety tips to include in your next forklift training session:

• Winter Hazards
• Operator Protection
• Forklift Protection
• Forklift Operation
• Forklift Attachments

Winter Hazards and Cold Weather Forklift truck safety

It’s imperative that your operators understand the various hazards that arise from winter use of forklift trucks, including:

• Snow
• Ice
• Wet Conditions
• Slippery Conditions
• Cold
• Limited Visibility

You can address these hazards by taking care of two things:

• The operator, and
• The forklift truck

Operator Protection

An important component of protecting your operators is making sure that they wear the proper winter gear, including:

• Windproof Clothing (such as polypropylene long underwear)
• Warm Gloves and a suitable Hat
• High visibility outer Gear
• Multiple Layers of Warm Dress

Make sure your operator takes their breaks. In the winter, they need to concentrate more than usual, creating additional mental strain. They need their breaks to rest their eyes and brain for the next operating session.

Forklift Protection

If your forklifts do not have cabs, buy forklift covers. Avoid covers of cardboard or shrink wrap. Do not use cheap vinyl covers to save money either. Choose a cover with ribs and gutters to dispel water.

Make sure you equip the forklifts with tires suitable for winter use. The right tire will help with traction and stability.

Note that pneumatic tires are better than solid tires in bad conditions.

You can use tires with chains or studs as well.

It can help to add a weight block to the forklift too.

You should also grit the yard areas and approaches.

Forklift Operation

As part of your Cold Weather Forklift truck safety, train your operators to do a few things before, during and after they operate a forklift.

Before

• Make sure the winter items (chains, cover, studs, tire check) are all in place.
• Check the outside lighting. Is it on? Is it sufficient? Do bulbs need to be changed?
• Check the weather outside. Is it cold, wet, or icy? Operators need to know the conditions before they start working so they can dress accordingly and properly outfit the forklift.
• Put on the cover or tire chains if necessary.
• Check fuel and fluid levels.
• Allow the forklift to warm up properly. This is important for the engine and especially important for the hydraulics system.

During

• Slow down. Only go as fast as conditions will safely allow.
• Ensure continuous visibility.
• Be sure to stop working if conditions start to prevent you from working safely (limited visibility, slippery surfaces, etc).

After

• Clean the machine. Proper maintenance is the first line of defense for safe operation.
• Check fluid levels and top off if necessary.
• For electric forklifts, plug in the battery.
• For propane or diesel forklifts, plug in the battery heater (if there is one).

Forklift Attachments

AS part of your Cold Weather Forklift truck safety, there are forklift attachments available to help with snow control, including:

Plow – The plow attachment lets you utilize a forklift to push and remove snow from parking, loading and working areas.

Scoop – This attachment lets you pick up and pile snow out of the way to ensure a job can continue smoothly.

Salter/Sander – This forklift attachment allows you to care for your parking, loading and working areas and improve traction and stability for forklifts and other machinery or vehicles moving in the area.

Part of any forklift safety checklist should be making sure any attachments are firmly attached and the corresponding hydraulics function smoothly before the operator takes the forklift outdoors or moves it from its parking or storage area.

Storage

Store the forklift when not in use in a secure and dry area. Make sure it is plugged in if necessary, either for the battery or battery warmer for cold climates.

Maintenance

A good service and maintenance routine is a must for both indoor and outdoor work. Make sure maintenance services, load tests and the required annual LOLER inspection occur on time, and that your operators know to report any discrepancy on their daily check sheet immediately.

Pay close attention to vital components like engines, electrical systems, batteries and the hydraulics.

Pay Attention to Fuel Needs

In extreme cases, winterized diesel is better suited to colder weather because it is enhanced by additives to keep it from gelling in the winter. Diesel engines should be plugged in overnight to keep the fuel viscous.

Use Properly Rated Oils and Lubricants

Winter weight oils have a “W” in them and the number corresponds to the lowest temperature at which the oil can pass. For instance, 5W means 5 degrees. Use a top quality hydraulic fluid, like Hydrex XV, that has a wide working range and reaches viscosity quickly.

Do not forget the mast. Ensure lubrication occurs as needed and that the operator inspects the mast daily. The cold affects fluids first, which causes damage to the machinery if not properly monitored.

By training your operators and checking your forklifts, everyone can get through winter operations safely.

Cold Weather Forklift truck safety is important for your business – be prepared, because Safety Matters.

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Key Facts

• A kitchen fitter has been fined after carrying out unsafe gas work at a residential property.
• His work was classified as immediately dangerous, posing a potential risk of explosion.
• He was fined £5,000 plus costs of £483.

The Case

An HSE investigation was launched into the health and safety practices of a Torquay based kitchen fitter.

After falsely claiming to be on the Gas Safe register, the kitchen fitter removed a hob in Sep 2014, but failed to cap the remaining gas pipe, putting residents at risk. The alarm was raised after a Gas Safe registered engineer was called to complete the job.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that the supply pipe had been left uncapped, and the kitchen fitter had simply turned off the supply at the emergency control. This meant it could be turned on by accident at any time, posing a potential gas explosion risk. The Gas Safe registered employee classified the work as ‘immediately dangerous’. He was also operating under the Gas Safe register logo, despite neither himself nor his company being registered with Gas Safe.

The case was heard at Torquay Magistrates’ court on Fri 15 May 2015 where the kitchen fitter pleaded guilty to three breaches of the gas safety regulations. He was fined £5,000 plus costs of £483.

What the law states

Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states:

‘No employer shall allow any of his employees to carry out any work in relation to a gas fitting or service pipework and no self-employed person shall carry out any such work, unless the employer or self-employed person, as the case may be, is a member of a class of persons approved for the time being by the Health and Safety Executive for the purposes of this paragraph.’

Regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states

‘No person shall falsely pretend to be a member of a class of persons required to be approved under paragraph (3) above.’

Regulation 26(1) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states:

‘No person shall install a gas appliance unless it can be used without constituting a danger to any person.’

Regulation 6(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states:

‘No person carrying out work in relation to a gas fitting shall leave the fitting unattended unless every incomplete gasway has been sealed with the appropriate fitting or the gas fitting is otherwise safe.’

What the HSE inspector had to say

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Simon Jones said:

‘Mr Heath put his customer’s life at risk by carrying out work on gas pipes which he was not legally entitled to do. He also deceived customers by claiming his company was registered with Gas Safe.

All domestic gas work must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life.’

Further information on gas safety can be found here >>

Find details of our safety training courses here 

Follow us on twitter: @safety_matters

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help you find a solution to your safety matters.

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New Guidance For Self-Employed Workers

The 2011 Löfstedt Review has led to changes in legislation for the self-employed. It recommended that self-employed people whose work does not pose a potential risk of harm to others should be exempt from health and safety law. This has since been accepted by the government.

As of 1 Oct 2015, this has come into affect and if your self-employed work poses no potential health and safety to other workers or members of the public, then health and safety law no longer applies to you. The HSE has estimated that H&S law will no longer apply to around 1.7 million self-employed workers.

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (General Duties of Self-Employed Persons) (Prescribed Undertakings) Regulations 2015 state that health and safety law will still apply to you if your work is specifically mentioned in the regulations, or if your work activity poses a risk to the health and safety of others. If you’re self-employed and employ others, the law will still apply to you.

The HSE defines ‘a risk to the health and safety of others’ as the likelihood of someone else being harmed or injured as a consequence of your work activity. This could be, for example, members of the public, clients or contractors etc.

This is a complex area, and you can find more information on the topic – including an employment status guide – from the HSE here >>

The post Simply Put – New Guidance For Self-Employed Workers appeared first on LRB.

Key Facts:

• A roofing company were prosecuted after a worker fell from a roof.
• The 37 year old employee sustained serious, life changing injuries.
• The firm were fined £7,500 plus costs of £5,725.22.

The Case:

An HSE investigation was launched into the health and safety practices of a North Wales roofing company after an employee was seriously injured in a fall.

The incident took place in December 2013, when the 37-year-old employee was working to recover the roof of a one storey outhouse. He fell from the roof, falling nearly 2.5m to the ground below. He suffered life changing injuries, breaking his hip and his left leg in six places and has since been unable to return to work.

The case was heard at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court in May 2015 where the roofing company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £7,500 plus costs of £5,725.22.

What the HSE inspector had to say:

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Chris Wilson stated

 “Chris Jones suffered major, life-changing injuries and there was a real possibility that the fall could have proved fatal.

Falls from height are the biggest cause of workplace deaths and it’s crucial that employers make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and that sufficient measures such as edge protection are put in place to control the risks of harm from falls.

Contractors must ensure that for even relatively small-scale jobs where there is a risk of a fall from height that adequate safeguards are in place. In this case this could have readily been achieved by the use of temporary scaffold edge protection around the perimeter of the roof”

What the law states:

Regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states:

It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

Find out more about safe work at height here >>

Find details of our safety training courses here 

Follow us on twitter: @safety_matters

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help you find a solution to your safety matters.

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