Health and safety in the news

From time to time, we like to update our clients, fellow business owners and others visiting our website of other news items from the health and safety sector that may affect you and your business. Our news home page includes a link in the top right hand corner to an external news website that keeps up to date with health and safety in the media. KSH Safety Services is not responsible for any links on this page or the NewsNow page.

• 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