Scaffolding safety warning - June 17, 2008

Aberdeen city council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are to hold a seminar for businesses based across the north-east aimed at highlighting the importance of risk assessments concerning scaffolding.

Taking place on Thursday June 19th, companies and local authorities [read more...]

Industry aims to cut work-related deaths - June 13, 2008

The building sector is looking to reduce the number of work-related deaths by up to ten per cent each year, it has been announced.

Under the joint industry-government Strategy for Sustainable Construction, the sector is hoping to cut the number of [read more...]

HSE "dismayed" after inspection findings - June 13, 2008

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector has revealed she was dismayed at the results of an intensive inspection initiative in Sefton.

The organisation carried out unannounced assessments on construction sites in the Bootle, Crosby and Southport areas and issued seven [read more...]

Device to protect workers against Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome - June 12, 2008

Reactec, an Edinburgh-based noise and vibration expert, is to launch an electronic monitoring and protection device to protect against hand arm vibration (HAV) syndrome, which could aid the health and safety of millions of employees.

The company is to launch the [read more...]

Unite praises HSE announcement - May 22, 2008

Unite the union has welcomed the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) announcement that it has recruited 40 additional inspectors.

However, it believes the HSE needs to do more to ensure the safety of staff in the workplace.

Of the 40 new recruits, [read more...]

Derbyshire companies to receive spot checks - May 21, 2008

Businesses in Derbyshire are being warned that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to begin carrying out spot checks in a bid to combat poor welfare standards.

Firms in Derbyshire, Glossop and Chesterfield will be subject to surprise visits from [read more...]

HSE warns firms about vehicle safety - May 20, 2008

Plant hire companies are being warned to check the safety of vehicles after a Treharris company was prosecuted for hiring out an excavator without sufficient rollover protection.

Astra Plant, of Heol Fawr, were convicted in Aberdare court of breaching Sections 6(1)(a) [read more...]

Call for safety passports to reduce accidents - May 19, 2008

The boss of a Warwickshire construction firm has claimed that the industry needs to introduce safety passports in order to reduce the number of accidents happening on sites.

Ray Gibbs, from Safety Pass Alliance, claims that the building industry should introduce [read more...]

Carillion and Lancaster University work to reduce injuries - April 30, 2008

Construction firm Carillion is working with researchers at Lancaster University in a bid to reduce the number of workers who suffer from hand/arm vibration syndrome.

The affliction, known as HAVS, is the result of employees being overexposed to heavily vibrating equipment [read more...]

Manual handling a major cause of injuries - April 30, 2008

Official statistics have found that manual handling is the cause of almost two-thirds of back injuries in the construction industry.

Independent research conducted by Speedy Hire also revealed that 70 per cent of site workers were unaware of any legislation concerning [read more...]