Manufacturing
General Risk Assessment Template
Use this risk assessment template to establish a general framework for identifying, mitigating and potentially eliminating risks within your organisation. Customise to fit your specific business needs.
Download the Risk Assessment template here: Risk Assessment Template
HSE Construction Site Inspections to Focus on ‘Slow Killers’
Beginning 1st October 2018, the HSE will be conducting its latest inspection initiative, focused on the construction sector.
Employers can expect HSE surprise inspections to place an emphasis on ensuring workers are protected from long-term health complications, such as occupational lung disease, that typically result from asbestos, silica, wood or other dust exposure.
These harmful substances are known as slow killers and are the focus of the HSE’s #DustBuster campaign to protect construction workers’ lungs. In a recent news bulletin, the HSE explained that although the impact is not as immediately evident as that of safety flaws, a failure to prioritise workers’ health and guard against slow killers could lead to serious complications later in life. Indeed, the HSE estimates that there are 8,000 work-related cancer deaths each year, with 3,500 of those fatalities stemming from the construction industry. What’s more, asbestos and dust exposure are the primary causes of these deaths.
This News Alert summarises what employers can expect HSE inspectors to focus on as part of these inspections.
Read More: News Brief – Surprise HSE Inspections to Focus on Slow Killers
Robison & Co. Insurance Brokers offer bespoke insurance solutions for the construction industry. If you’re interested in learning more about Construction Insurance and how we can protect your business, please give us a call on 01730 265500 or email one of our Construction Insurance specialists.
Government Releases Guidance for Possible ‘No Deal’ Brexit
As Brexit approaches on 29 March 2019, only months remain for the UK government and the EU to sign a withdrawal agreement, ratified by both the UK Parliament and European Parliament.
Without a concrete agreement established under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, Brexit would result in a no-deal scenario, forcing the UK to leave the EU and become a third country without the proper framework in place for a future relationship between the separated entities.
Although the government remains confident that a deal will take place, it recently announced that the shrinking time frame calls for proper preparation for a no-deal scenario, publishing a series of articles and 25 technical notices containing industry-specific guidance. The publications highlighted several broad areas in which significant changes could result from a no-deal scenario, including credit card crisis, medicinal hurdles, produce problems, business barriers and issues with ongoing scientific research.
This News Brief briefly summarises each of these areas of potential change.
Read more: Government Releases Guidance for Possible No Deal Brexit
Risk Topic: Forklift Trucks in the Workplace
Materials handling is something that a wide range of business sectors experience, with organisations often using mechanical handling solutions to meet their own individual requirements.
In many cases, organisations turn to the utilisation of “powered” work equipment, which often increases productivity but also reduces the potential for staff to be exposed to manual handling operations in the workplace.
However like many risk control mechanisms, the removal or reduction of one risk can often increase the overall risk potential by the introduction of another, perhaps more significant workplace risk. In this case, the interaction between people and moving vehicles.
Over recent years we have seen an ever increasing number of workplace incidents involving vehicles in the workplace, and perhaps more specifically incidents involving the use of forklift trucks.
This risk insight provides guidance on how best to reduce your risk of workplace incidents involving forklift trucks, and discusses technological changes which will help you to assist the operator in carrying out their duties in a safe and consistent manner.
