Health and safety in the news

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a Safety Alert warning of a change in enforcement expectations for mild steel welding fume with immediate effect, based on new scientific research. Full details can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/mild-steel-welding-fume.htm

HSE has also reissued and updated its safety advice for anyone hiring a bouncy castle following several high profile accidents in the past few years. The advice can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/bouncy-castles-safety-advice.htm

Two firms have been fined after an employee was killed during a lifting operation in Barrow-in-Furness. Full details at https://www.hsssearch.co.uk/Poorly-planned-lift-leads-to-death

The Institute of Directors (IoD) report that 57% of directors and managers have experienced poor mental health that was in part connected to workplace pressure. Full details at https://www.iod.com/news-campaigns/mental-health

Owners of Top Shop, the Arcadia Group have been fined £450,000 after a queue barrier fell on top of a 10-year-old girl in Glasgow, causing life changing injuries. Full details at https://www.ioshmagazine.com/article/topshop-owner-fined-after-insecure-queue-barrier-fractured-girls-skull

The Door and Hardware Federation (DHF) has produced free guidance to companies buying (or operating) automated gates after numerous fatalities over recent years. Full details on their website at https://www.dhfonline.org.uk/publications/best-practice-guides/2.htm

The International Trade Union Confederation, and the UK's own Trades Union Congress (TUC) will once again be commemorating all people killed at work on 28 April 2019 during International Worker Memorial Day. Full details of events can be found at https://www.tuc.org.uk/workers-memorial-day-0

ACAS have updated their guidance on bullying and harassment in the workplace. Full details are available at www.acas.org.uk/bullying