Tanfield Metal Spinners Limited, of Parsons Industrial Estate, Washington, was also ordered to pay costs of £1,056 at Sunderland Magistrates’ Court on Friday (26 February) after pleading guilty to breaching the Power and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The court heard that on 10 September 2008, a worker was resetting the gear cog on the drive machinery of a metal spinning machine. The company had known for some time that the gears had been slipping out of place on regular basis.

The guard, which had been provided to prevent access to the dangerous parts of machinery, had been removed. The worker’s gloved hand was drawn into the gears which resulted in amputation of one of his fingers and serious injury to another.

After the case, HSE Inspector Dr Dave Shallow, said:

“This company put its workers at risk by expecting them to operate a defective piece of equipment.

“This incident that should never have happened. The company knew there had been problems with the machine’s gears and should have taken proper measures to ensure it was maintained.

“They should also have ensure that a guard was in place at all times to prevent access to dangerous parts of the machine.”

Source – www.hse.gov.uk

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) handed out 69 enforcement notices in Merseyside in the first ten months of 2009 covering unsafe work at height, compared to 30 during the same period in 2008.

Falls from height are the biggest single cause of workplace deaths in the UK. During 2008/9, 112 workers in Merseyside suffered major injuries from a fall and another 174 had to take at least three days off to recover.

More than 400 roofers across Merseyside are now being contacted and asked to attend a safety awareness event in Wallasey on 23 February, or risk an unannounced visit from an inspector.

HSE has also released photos showing some of the unsafe work spotted by inspectors. One photo shows a man balancing on a sloping house roof in Neston while he hoses it down. Another shows a worker crouched on the roof of a semi-detached house in Woolton, about to lift up a stack of tiles.

Neil Jamieson, a Principal Inspector for HSE in the North West, said:

“We’re worried that some roofing companies in Merseyside are trying to cut down on costs and undercut each other by not using scaffolding and other safety equipment.

“Falls from height kill dozens of workers every year and seriously injure hundreds more. But the number of deaths will carry on rising if firms don’t accept they’re putting their workers in danger.

“We will continue to take action against companies that do not take the safety of their workers seriously, and will prosecute those that fail to provide the necessary scaffolding.

“It simply isn’t worth companies trying to cut costs if lives are going to be put at risk. And it will cost them time and money in the long run if we decide to take legal action.”

More information on preventing slips, trips and falls is available at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives^[3].

Notes to editors

1. During the first ten months of 2009, HSE issued 8 enforcement notices in Knowsley covering breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, 29 in Liverpool, 13 in Sefton, 10 in St Helens and 9 in Wirral. During the same period in 2008, it issued 2 in Knowsley, 15 in Liverpool, 6 in Sefton, 5 in St Helens and 2 in Wirral. More details are available at www.hse.gov.uk/notices^[4].
2. HSE issues enforcement notices when it finds serious breaches of health and safety regulations. There are two types of notices – improvement and prohibition – which require changes to be made within a set timescale or stop work from taking place until improvements have been made.
3. The following table lists the number of serious injuries involving falls from height in each local authority area in Merseyside during 2008/9. Three-day injuries refer to injuries which required workers to take at least three days off work.

Source – www.hse.gov.uk

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today (8 February) successfully prosecuted Charles Painting (UK) Ltd of Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, over the incident on the 20 June 2007.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching 9 (2) the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Sheffield Magistrates Court and as well as the £2,000 fine, was ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

The court heard that employee John Henderson, suffered multiple fractures to his legs and arm when he fell through a fragile roof surface which has seriously changed his life. The fall happened while Mr Henderson was preparing to clean roof lights at Beeley Fabrications, Claywheels Lane, in Sheffield. He was pulling water pipes across the roof in preparation to clean, when he fell seven metres through a roof light onto the workshop floor.

The HSE investigation found that there were no working platforms, guardrails, scaffold or sufficient means of protection provided on the roof or underneath to prevent the fall.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Alison Crank said: “There were no precautions in place at the time to prevent a fall through the fragile roof or from the roof edge and as a result Mr Henderson sustained long-term serious injury.

“Figures show that falls from height are a major cause of deaths at work in the UK, with more than 4,000 employees suffering a major injury as a result of a fall from height in 2008/09. HSE is determined to raise as much awareness as possible to the hazards and risks of working at height so that employers can take sufficient steps to minimise the serious consequences of a fall.

Source – www.hse.gov.uk

Every year 15 to 20 people die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the UK and 234 suffered major injuries last year alone. The Health and Safety Executive is launching a new campaign in the South West to make parents, landlords and students aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Plymouth-based HSE Inspector, Helena Allum, said: “Carbon monoxide is a silent, odourless but deadly killer and the simple processing of fitting an audible alarm could save lives.

“We want students to make sure they’re safe when living in digs by ensuring alarms are fitted.

“If you are living in rented accommodation your landlord has a duty to have any gas appliance that they own regularly serviced by a Gas Safe Register engineer and issue you with a copy of the gas safety certificate following the annual safety check. Contact HSE if your landlord does not, on request, provide you with a copy of the certificate.”

Dave Worswick, whose 15-year-old daughter, Mary Ann, died of CO poisoning while visiting a friend’s house, is also backing the campaign.

“If parents do care for the welfare of their children when they move into rented accommodation they should make sure they or their children see a copy of the property’s gas safety certificate and make sure there is an alarm. It is a small price to pay for peace of mind which could save a life.”

In addition to a hard-hitting poster and leaflet campaign on Devon and Cornwall’s main campus sites, the HSE are also working with university accommodation offices, landlord organisations and student unions to make sure students pick-up the CO message.

Helena Allum added: “The six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness and these could easily be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness.

“If you feel these symptoms you should seek medical advice from your GP or a hospital accident and emergency department straightaway.

“Landlords should provide an annual Gas Safety Record for all appliances and you should ensure your landlord uses a Gas Safe Registered engineer to do any gas work in your home.”

Marian Hayes, University of Plymouth Student Accommodation Manager, said: “The University of Plymouth is pleased to be supporting this campaign. All private landlords on the university registered lists have to produce annual Gas Safety Certificates and we would encourage all our students living in private accommodation to be aware of how to safeguard themselves and their housemates.”

The HSE also advises:

- Never use a gas appliance if you think it is not working properly. Danger signs include a flickering yellow or orange flame, sooting around your fire or boiler or the pilot light keeps going out.

- Do not be tempted to use the cooker to supplement your heating. Cookers are not designed for that purpose and several tragic accidents have arisen from such misuse.

Peter Eldridge, chief executive of Gas Safe Register, who supports the campaign, said: “Students often don’t know if the gas appliances in their accommodation are safe to use or not, and this makes them particularly vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Legally, landlords must make sure gas appliances in rental properties are safe, and give their student renters a copy of the gas safety certificate to prove it. As an added measure, it’s good practice to fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm too. But, if students know this, and the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide to look out for, it could save their lives.”

As part of the campaign, British Gas are giving away 200 CO detectors free-of-charge to students through the HSE.

Notes to editors

What is carbon monoxide – why is it a problem?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels, including gas, oil, wood and coal. Carbon-based fuels are safe to use. It is only when the fuel does not burn properly that excess CO is produced, which is poisonous.When CO enters the body, it prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues, and organs.

You can’t see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly without warning. According to the HSE statistics around 20 people die from CO poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated. Levels that do not kill can cause serious harm to health if breathed in over a long period. In extreme cases paralysis and brain damage can be caused as a result of prolonged exposure to CO. Increasing public understanding of the risks of CO poisoning and taking sensible precautions could dramatically reduce this risk.

What preventative measures can I take against carbon monoxide exposure?

• Ensure that any work carried out in relation to gas appliances in domestic or commercial premises is to be undertaken by a Gas Safe Registered engineer, competent in that area of work.
• HSE strongly advises that gas appliances and/or flues are installed and serviced regularly for safety by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. If you live in tenanted accommodation, your landlord has a legal duty to carry out an annual gas safety check and maintain gas appliances. They must provide you with a copy of the completed gas safety check certificate.
• Always make sure there is enough fresh air in the room containing your gas appliance. If you have a chimney or a flue, ensure it is not blocked up and also ensure that vents are not covered.
• If you plan to install a gas fire in a bedroom, use a Gas Safe Registered engineer; do not use unflued appliances like paraffin heaters and cabinet heaters.
• Get your chimney swept from top to bottom at least once a year by a qualified sweep.
• If you have appliances that use other fossil fuels, make sure they are serviced and maintained by a competent person. For information on competent persons’ schemes, visit the Communities and Local Government website.

Does HSE recommend the use of carbon monoxide alarms?

HSE strongly recommends the use of audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarms as a useful back-up precaution but they must not be regarded as a substitute for proper installation and maintenance of gas appliances by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Before purchasing a CO alarm, always ensure it complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European approval mark, such as a Kitemark. CO alarms should be installed, checked and serviced in line with the manufacturer’s instructions.

You can be particularly at risk from CO poisoning when you are asleep, because you may not be aware of early CO symptoms until it is too late. Having an audible CO alarm could wake you and save your life.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Early symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with food poisoning, viral infections, flu or simple tiredness. Symptoms to look out for include:

• tiredness
• drowsiness
• headaches
• giddiness
• nausea
• vomiting
• pains in the chest
• breathlessness
• stomach pains
• erratic behavior
• visual problems

For more information visit NHS direct ^[8] or telephone 0845 4647.

If you or your family experience any of the above symptoms and you believe CO may be involved, you must seek urgent medical advice from either your GP or an accident and emergency department. You should ask for a blood or breath test to confirm the presence of CO. Be aware, CO quickly leaves the blood and tests may be inaccurate if taken more than four hours after exposure has ceased.

How do I know if I am at risk from carbon monoxide?

Although carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas, signs that indicate incomplete combustion is occurring, resulting in the production of CO, include:

• Yellow or orange rather than blue flames (apart from fuel effect fires or flueless appliances which display this colour flame)
• Soot or yellow/brown staining around or on appliances
• Pilot lights that frequently blow out
• Increased condensation inside windows

What should I do if I think my appliance is spilling carbon monoxide?

• Switch off the appliance and do not reuse until remedial action has been taken
• Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you know where it is). If gas continues to escape call National Grid on the Gas Emergency Freephone Number 0800 111 999
• Open all doors and windows to ventilate the room – do not sleep in it
• Visit your GP urgently and tell him/her that you believe your symptoms may be related to carbon monoxide poisoning and request either a blood and/or breath sample
• Contact a Gas Safe Registered engineer

Source – www.hse.gov.uk

Priority Safety Systems Ltd is currently working with Safety Point (uk) Ltd to provide cost affective, quality high visibility garments required by Probation services around the country to ensure high visibility of thier projects.

Prices include high quality vests that meet European standards that are marked with the appropriate logo and text, delivery to individual units and a selection of various sizes.

PSS Ltd are working to increase orders from additional Probation Services to push down the price of the printed units.  Any interested parties can discuss thire requirements by emailing gary.eastham@prioritysafety.co.uk or sales@safety-point.co.uk

Printed vests are currently £3.10 per unit printed and delivered.  We aim to bring this cost down to around £2.50 per unit through ordering large quantities on behalf of the Probation Service.

Many other high visibility clothing garments are available at www.safety-point.co.uk

An eagle-eyed safety inspector was lied to after he stopped to investigate unsafe scaffolding he was driving past, a court heard.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Steve Woods was driving past the Coach & Horses Inn in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, on 11 June 2008 when he saw three employees of Bracknell Roofing Co Ltd using an unsafe tower scaffold to repair a flat roof.

The roof and tower scaffold had no edge protection, inadequate boarding which was not properly attached and it was propped up on bricks and blocks. A manager had visited the site and allowed work to continue only 45 minutes before Mr Woods arrived and found dangerous safety defects.

Bracknell Roofing Co Ltd, of Suffolk Way, Sevenoaks, Kent, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2572.80 by Skegness Magistrates today (25 November) after pleading guilty to breaching Regulations 4(1) and 8b(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Steve Woods said: “This inadequate tower scaffold was owned by Bracknell Roofing and had been taken out of their depot just for this job. The three men on site refused to give me the name of the company and also gave false names and contact details.

“Falls from height remain the most common kind of workplace fatality. The men were at risk of serious injury either from falling off the roof or the tower scaffold. The case shows the need for companies to ensure that work at height is properly planned and supervised and that equipment provided is suitable and maintained in good condition.

“In this case the equipment that should have been used was easily available and could have been provided by the company if adequate planning of the work had been undertaken. The unsafe working practice should have been stopped by the company manager when he visited site.”

Source- HSE – http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coiem9509.htm

The HSE’s human factors and ergonomics website has been redesigned and new document and articles added.  The HSE recognises the importance that human factors can play in helping avoid accidents and ill-health at work. In the new designed website we have taken a topic-focused approach to human factors.

Source – www.hse.gov.uk

Priority Safety Systems are curently working alongside Purpose Media (uk) Ltd to develop an online DSE Assessment application.  The facility will be available for all businesses, large and small and aims to provide an effective and user friendly online tool to assit you to meet your DSE assessment needs.

Features will include a training package to ensure that your staff are aware of the ergonomic risks assocaited with using display screen equipment together with an assessment tool to evaluate your staff and inform you about potential risks to staff and ultimately your organisation.

For more information or to discuss your DSE needs please email gary.eastham@prioritysafety.co.uk or admin@prioritysafety.co.uk

Also look out for “DSE Bod” a child focused training program for schools and colleges.  This training application aims to teach children about the risks associated with poor posture and exessive DSE use and could be a key tool used it schools in the future.

Priority Safety Systems Ltd are working closely with Safety Point (uk) Ltd to provide cost effective personal Protective Equipment solutions for its customers.

A variety of Personal Protective equipment is available at www.safety-point.co.uk and all Priority Safety Systems Clients can benefit from a 10% discount when making an order online.