7 April Face Fit Testing of RPE – Risk assessment and Prevention Face Fit Testing of RPE (Respiratory Protective Equipment) 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 … Read More
29 May Death of a worker – using floor adhesive A supplier and a flooring company have both been sentenced following the death of a floor layer in London. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that on 4 September 2015, 30-year-old PT was found dead on the bathroom floor by the owner of the house in Mitcham. The adhesive used to fix the flooring contained a large … Read More
17 December Silica dust exposure leads to fine Here is a report of yet another silica dust exposure fine being handed out by the courts after workers are exposed to hazardous silica dust. The London based contractor MY Construction & Carpentry Limited (MY) has been fined £40,000 after workers were exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that the company was undertaking … Read More
16 September Radon Gas – a cause of lung cancer in the UK Radon Gas: A prime cause of lung cancer across the UK Properteco.co.uk has created an infographic describing the major causes of this radon gas and essential tips on how to avoid getting affected by this gas. It also guides you to buy a special test kit which is inexpensive and easily available online. There are no symptoms of radon exposure, … Read More
29 August Confined space triple fatality Reporting on fatality is sad; reporting on a Confined space triple fatality is even. Although this tragedy occurred in America, it could so easily be a report about a UK incident. This confined space tragedy happened in South Florida and claimed the lives of three workers – two of them were “would-be rescuers”. Two companies were taken … Read More
17 March RCS and Construction Cancer Risk Construction Cancer Risk – Respirable Crystalline Silica Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a serious problem in some industries, particularly the construction industry. The cancer burden study of the number of deaths from lung cancer associated with exposure to RCS shows there are about 600 deaths per year, with about 500 of these deaths occurring from exposure … Read More
13 February Construction Cancer Risks Construction Cancer Risks – according to the HSE, the construction industry has the largest burden of occupational cancer amongst the industrial sectors. It accounts for over 40% of occupational cancer deaths and cancer registrations. It is estimated that past exposures in the construction sector annually cause over 5,000 occupational cancer cases and approximately 3,700 deaths. … Read More
28 January COSHH for small business COSHH Risk Assessment can be daunting for smaller businesses. Most of the businesses in the UK are small or medium-sized enterprises. The same health and safety laws apply to small businesses as apply to big ones, with a few exemptions on written risk assessments and policy documentation for very small companies. Note: these size-based exemptions … Read More
20 January HSE Inspections 2017 (respiratory sensitisers and/or carcinogens) According to the HSE website, here is some information about HSE inspections 2017:From January 2017 inspectors will be targeting sites that carry out metal fabrication looking at the control of exposure to welding fume and metalworking fluids. Information on controlling the risks from these hazardous substances can be found through the inspection programme link above. … Read More
5 January COSHH extrinsic allergic alveolitis leads to £800,000 fine Metalworking fluid – COSHH extrinsic allergic alveolitis – an Uxbridge manufacturer of ejector seats has been fined £800,000 after three workers developed debilitating lung conditions. Three skilled CNC machine operators developed extrinsic allergic alveolitis after many years of years of exposure to the mist of working metal fluid. The lung condition, also known as hypersensitivity … Read More