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
18 May The go-to Health and Safety Consultancy The knowledge that Mike and the team have is off the charts. Couple this with their ability to apply it in a commercial manner means they should be the go-to health and safety consultancy for any business. The wide range of their skills from first aid all the way through to on-site health and safety … 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
29 April LRB Consulting Team helped us with our Health & Safety, Hygiene & HACCP procedures Michael and LRB helped us immensely with the set up of our manufacturing facility (small scale water distillation & bottling plant). Genuinely interested in the project and its outcome Michael and his team helped us with our Health & Safety, Hygiene & HACCP procedures. A genuine person and very knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommend. Peter … Read More
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
6 October Work at Height Introduction We are now several years on from the introduction of the introduction into UK law of the Work at Heights Regulations 2005. Despite that, not all organisations have come to terms with the implications of this law on their work activities. Many organisations still view the Work at Heights Regulations 2005 as construction-related legislation. The … Read More
19 June Major Supermarkets are recalling various products Four of the big-name supermarkets are pulling products from the shelves amid health and safety concerns. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons stores across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire are all withdrawing items. Most of the products are being recalled due to undeclared ingredients, which could pose allergy risks, or mix-ups (such as pieces of plastic in the product). … Read More
13 June Effective Premises Compliance Audits – 03 July, London I’m running this course down in London on 03 July, in partnership with Understanding ModernGov Effective Premises Compliance Audits – Maintain Higher Standards of Health and Safety The public sector is responsible for a large and varied property portfolio, therefore having robust procedures in place to comply with statutory building compliance responsibilities is crucial to … Read More
12 June Valero Energy UK fined £5 million after four people died in an oil explosion Valero Energy UK Ltd and B&A Contracts Ltd have been fined after an explosion killed four workers and seriously injured another at an oil refinery in Pembrokeshire in 2011. Dennis Riley, 52, Robert Broome, 48, Andrew Jenkins, 33, and Julie Jones, 54, died after a storage tank exploded at the site. Andrew Philips also sustained … Read More
11 June Failure to plan (a second article) and to do the basics – lifting operation Same start as the first article: Lifting operations must be planned. Not a difficult concept. Think about what is being lifted (the load) and what can go wrong, and make suitable arrangements. The construction firm BAM Nuttall has been fined more than £800,000 after a worker was struck by a large expanded polystyrene (EPS) block. … Read More