Health and Safety | Stallard Kane

The HSE has announced that they will be carrying out inspections of manufacturing businesses that use metalworking fluids or coolants in their machining processes. Inspectors will focus on how employers are ensuring workers are protected from exposure to fluid or mist generated by computer numerical control (CNC) machines, and that regular health checks are in place.

Understanding the new Metalwork Inspections Initiative

Metalworking fluid is a hazardous substance that comes under COSHH regulations (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002). Exposure to metalworking fluids can cause harm to lungs and skin through inhalation or direct contact with unprotected skin, particularly hands, forearms and face. Breathing in the mist generated by machining can lead to lung diseases such as occupational asthma and occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Employers have a legal duty to protect their workers' lung and skin health, making it imperative to act promptly. These inspections have already begun, and will continue until March 2024.

There are three areas where manufacturing companies, particularly smaller companies, commonly fall down on compliance:

Not having Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV): to reduce exposure you need control measures in place. LEV should be fitted on CNC machines to carry away any harmful metalworking fluid mist, which is difficult to see in normal lighting.
Not completing regular fluid quality checks: fluid quality should be regularly checked, focusing on concentration, pH, bacteria and contaminants. Fluid systems can become highly contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Not providing regular health checks for lung and skin conditions: where there is exposure to fluid or mist, it is a legal requirement to carry out health surveillance even when preventative controls are in place. You will need to involve an occupational health professional and workers should be encouraged to report any health symptoms that occur.

How we can help: Ensuring Effective Control Measures

LEV Testing and Inspection

When correctly fitted and maintained, Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems should prevent employees breathing in dangerous substances by carrying away any harmful impurities in the air; this must be tested on a regular basis, along with system inspections.

Find out more by visiting our LEV page.

Face Fit Testing

To optimise protection against hazardous materials, conducting face fit testing on Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is crucial. Our experienced trainers are competent in performing accurate and reliable RPE fit tests. By ensuring a tight fit of the facepiece, we help prevent leaks and guarantee the utmost safety for workers with diverse roles and physical characteristics.

Find out more by visiting our Face Fit Testing page.

Occupational Health Assessments

Early identification of ill-health effects is vital for implementing better control measures. Our comprehensive occupational health assessments help identify potential health risks in the workplace, provide a robust way of measuring the effectiveness of existing control measures, and offer tailored strategies for improvement. Spirometry, otherwise known as Lung Function Testing, carried out on a regular basis will give you the information you require about your employees’ lung capacity. Used on an ongoing basis it will help not only to diagnose but also monitor lung conditions and the impact certain exposures may have on your employees.

Find out more by visiting our Occupational Health Assessments page.

How we can help: Ensuring Effective Knowledge

Workplace Exposure Monitoring

Compliance with regulations and protecting employees from hazardous substances, such as chemicals, fumes, dust and vapours, is essential. Our workplace exposure monitoring services assist you in mitigating risks and providing regulatory compliance. We also provide guidance on noise and vibration hazards, helping you prevent long-term health issues like noise-induced hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Find out more by visiting our Workplace Exposure Monitoring page.

Training and Education

Equipping employers and workers with the necessary knowledge and skills is paramount to controlling exposure to metalworking fluids effectively. We offer various training courses designed to raise awareness and promote best practices, including a Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) extended toolbox talk. We offer UK-wide training options that can be created bespoke for your business and delivered virtually, on site, or at one of our accredited course centres. Our expert trainers cater to the specific needs of different industries and roles.

Find out more by visiting our T raining page.

The new Metalwork Inspections initiative highlights the critical importance of controlling exposure to metalworking fluids and protecting workers' lung and skin health.

Stallard Kane is a supporter of this initiative, and we provide essential services and courses to help businesses fulfil their legal obligations and create a safe working environment. By using our LEV, face fit testing, occupational health assessments, workplace exposure monitoring and training solutions, you can protect the wellbeing of your employees and contribute to a healthier future.

Act now to protect your future and ensure the safety of your workforce.

Contact us today to learn more about our wide range of services and courses. Together, we’ll build a safer and healthier workplace environment.

To find out more information or discuss your training needs, talk to our Training Team by calling 01427 420 405 or email training@skaltd.co.uk

To find out more information or to get a no obligation quote, call our Compliance Team on 01427 420 404 or email compliance@skaltd.co.uk / risksolutions@skaltd.co.uk

When running a business and employing individuals, there is a fundamental responsibility that should never be overlooked – health and safety.

From the moment you hire someone and assign them tasks or equipment, you become legally responsible for ensuring their safety. This responsibility covers everything from conducting risk assessments to establishing a safe system of work, and it's not just a formality; it's a critical aspect of being an employer.

In this blog, we'll explore the vital elements of health and safety in the workplace, highlighting the role of leadership, the importance of documentation, and the practical steps involved in creating a culture of safety.

Health and Safety is your legal responsibility.

As soon as you employ someone and give them a task (from basic movement of goods to working at height) or equipment to use (ranging from basic tools such as a hammer to machinery or a vehicle) you, the employer, become legally responsible for ensuring that everything is risk assessed and that your safe system of work is both communicated to, and understood by, the employee.

Responsibility for Health and Safety begins with the leadership team and should be communicated from the top down; anyone in a managerial position should be aware of this, and take it seriously. Health and Safety is an integral part of their role as a manager and will be part of their job description.

Robust documentation is key.

Employees may grumble that Health and Safety documentation is a chore, but the content is only there if absolutely required (and remember, your Stallard Kane Health & Safety Advisor is always there to help).

The detail needed for each procedure is assessed and tailored according to the tasks and environment; one size does not fit all.

Our content is taken from a range of sources, including HSE guidance, ACOPs (Approved Codes of Practice) and the current legislation, which we then interpret to ensure you are meeting all your legal and recommended requirements.

Obtaining the correct documentation is crucial but not the final goal. It must then be communicated to your employees, who should be given the opportunity to review the content and ask questions. Once communicated, you need to evidence this. A signature beneath the standard statement ‘I have read, understood and will adhere to the content’ will suffice.

Moving forward, it is your responsibility to ensure that employees adhere to the content, whether it be the controls stated in the risk assessment or the safe system of work. You should do this by regular auditing and recording those audits.

Plan, Do, Check and Act

Companies can fall at various stages of the process:

No documentation in place
Documentation in place but not communicated to employees
Initial issuing of documentation but no refresher communications
No auditing of the systems against the documentation

If information has been communicated, but the content is not being adhered to, then you need to find out why. Perhaps the employees have taken it upon themselves to do things differently; this could be because they want to save time, believe they know better or are simply resistant to change.

Alternatively, it may be that the process genuinely no longer works. At this point, communication is key. Take feedback on board and investigate.

If something needs to be changed, you should risk assess prior to the change, make the necessary updates and then communicate these to your employees. However, you will only identify issues if you conduct audits of the documents against the actual performance of the task.

Alongside looking at your operatives, it is best to look at your managers; are they supportive and proactive regarding Health and Safety? Do they actively promote safe, compliant practices? If not, you need to start here. Our Training Team can deliver a wide range of courses to support your entire team. Contact training@skaltd.co.uk to discuss any training needs you may have.

Contact Us

If you require support regarding health and safety in the workplace, documentation, audits and the practical steps involved in creating a culture of safety, then contact healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk, and one of the team will be able to help you.

Occupational health is a familiar term to most, but it can be challenging to define. We look at what is involved in occupational health assessments and how it could directly benefit your business.

Occupational health assessments encompass every aspect of a person's general wellbeing, both in and out of the workplace. At its most basic, it starts with height, weight, blood pressure and any pre-existing health conditions, then moves into more specialised areas such as occupational lung disease, hearing loss or dermatitis. Assessments will also look at employees' mental health, with questions about stress, depression and anxiety forming a hugely important part of the process.

What are the requirements for Occupational Health Assessments?

The requirements for occupational health assessments are largely dependent on the workplace environment and will, in some cases, be mandatory. If your employees are exposed to certain risks within the workplace, from noise, dust and fumes to musculoskeletal strains and vibration, you have a duty to do everything possible to protect their physical and mental health.

However, while the assessments may not be mandatory in all workplaces, it is certainly beneficial, as it allows you to catch potential health issues before they cause long-term sickness or injury to workers and serious disruption to your business.

The risk of occupational ill health is ever-present; in 2020/21, a staggering 1.7 million employees suffered from work-related illnesses. Implementing occupational health assessments won’t solve all issues with ill health overnight. Still, it can give you a solid understanding of what health concerns currently affect your employees and what actions should be taken. Keeping an eye on workers' health can also help confirm if other safety measures, like using special equipment to remove dust or fumes, are working properly.

What is the process for Occupational Health Assessments?

Occupational health assessments are a straightforward process. The employer will select a day(s) for the assessments to take place and make a quiet, private room available for the occupational health technician to complete the appointments.

Each employee will have a one-on-one meeting where they can sit down and talk in a safe, confidential space about a wide range of health impacts and concerns. As part of the process, the technicians will not just look at control measures that have been put in place by the employer but also consider pathways to help and guidance that can be accessed by an employee in their own time too.

Appointment duration usually ranges from around 45 minutes to an hour or more. Everyone is individual and will have different pre-existing medical conditions, extra-curricular activities (some of which may impact areas of health), and employment history.

In addition, there are different levels of assessments; a full suite of occupational health surveillance covers all elements including lung function, audiometry, skin checks for dermatitis, and hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) assessments. However, in some situations, only one or two areas are relevant to the workplace. If you're unsure about what you need, just get in contact; we'll be able to give you more tailored advice.

After the first set of assessments is complete, the employer receives a summary document highlighting key areas for each staff member (it's important to note that this isn't the entire record of the occupational health surveillance), and a recommendation of what frequency their surveillance should have. For some people, this will be six months; for others, it might be over a year.

Occupational health assessments are just one piece of the puzzle. It goes hand in hand with workplace exposure monitoring, which is the formal process of assessing and sampling things like noise exposure, air quality and vibration levels to make the workplace safer. These compliance measures, alongside relevant training within the workplace for face fit testing, first aiders, wellbeing champions and mental health first aid, can provide a real boost to wellness, health and productivity within a workforce.

Contact Us

Are you looking for Occupational Health support? We're always only a phone call or email away, ready to give you guidance on how to make these assessments a reality in your workplace. Contact us on 01427 420 404 or email compliance@skaltd.co.uk

LOLER refers to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. These regulations apply to any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads - including attachments used for anchoring, fixing, or supporting it - and describe what you as an employer, business operator or manager may need to do to protect your employees in the workplace.

What equipment do the LOLER regulations cover?

The LOLER regulations cover a wide range of equipment, including cranes, forklift trucks, lifts, hoists, mobile elevating work platforms, and vehicle inspection platform hoists. They also include lifting accessories such as chains, slings, eyebolts etc. If you allow employees to provide their own lifting equipment, this should comply with the regulations. LOLER does not apply to escalators, which are covered more specifically by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

What are my responsibilities as an employer/manager?

You must ensure that the requirements of LOLER are met when any lifting equipment is used. This includes:

Safety Examinations

A risk assessment should be carried out before carrying out a lifting process or installing a piece of lifting equipment. Equipment should be examined before use and be sufficiently strong, stable, and suitable for the proposed use. Similarly, the load and anything attached (e.g. timber pallets, lifting points) must be appropriate.
All examination work should be performed by a competent person (someone with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience)
All lifting equipment should be examined in use at periods specified in the regulations (i.e. at least six-monthly for accessories and equipment used for lifting people and annually for all other equipment) or at intervals laid down in a plan drawn up by a competent person

Following a thorough examination or inspection of any lifting equipment, a report should be submitted by the competent person to the employer to take any appropriate action

Safety Requirements

Equipment must be used properly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
Equipment must be positioned or installed to prevent the risk of injury, e.g. from the equipment or the load falling or striking people
It should be visibly marked with any appropriate information needed for its safe use, e.g. safe working loads
Accessories should be similarly marked, e.g. slings, clamps etc.
Lifting operations must be planned, supervised, and carried out in a safe manner by people who are competent
Where equipment is used for lifting people it should be marked accordingly and safe for that purpose
Employees should wear/use the appropriate protective clothing and equipment required for that machine and not wear dangling chains, loose clothing, rings or have loose long hair that could get caught up in moving parts
Danger signs should only be removed by an authorised person who is satisfied that the equipment or process is now safe. Safeguards must never be removed, even if their presence seems to make the job more difficult
Colleagues and visitors should not distract employees who are using equipment

What are the risks?

Working with any machinery can be dangerous because moving machinery can cause injury in many ways. Lifting operations and lifting equipment can present a number of risks to operators, such as;

People can be hit and injured by moving parts of machinery, or dropped/ejected material
Parts of the body can also be drawn in or trapped between rollers, belts, chains, and pulley drives
Sharp edges can cause cuts and severing injuries, and rough surface parts can cause friction or abrasion
People can be crushed between parts moving together, or parts moving towards a fixed part of the machine, wall, or other object
Parts of the machine, materials or emissions (such as steam or water) can be hot or cold enough to cause burns or scalds, and electricity can cause electrical shock and burns
Equipment or attachments can become unreliable and develop faults due to poor maintenance, or machines may be used improperly through inexperience or lack of training

Do my employees have any responsibilities?

While your employees do not have any specific duties under LOLER, they do have general duties under the HSW Act and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (the Management Regulations). These include taking reasonable care of themselves and others and to co-operate fully with procedures in place.

Whilst this is a useful general overview of the LOLER regulations, it is important that you refer to the Regulations and Approved Code of Practice to familiarise yourself with your duties; click here to read them in full.

Contact Us

If you need any help with the above, contact your advisor or SK Health & Safety on 01427 420 402 or email healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk and #oneoftheteam will be happy to help.

Working at height is a leading cause of workplace fatalities and serious injuries, with the most common occurrences being falls from ladders and through fragile surfaces. By following some basic ladder safety rules for ladder use, these accidents can be reduced.

When using a ladder, consider the following:

Is it the right ladder for the job?

It is important to choose a ladder that is long enough and has a sufficient load capacity for the job, taking into account the weight of the user as well as the weight of any equipment, tools, and materials. The ladder should be long enough to work from without using the top 3 rungs.

Have you checked the condition of the ladder?

Before using the ladder, you should check all fastenings such as bolts, screws and hinges, look for any visible damage, check that all rungs are present and secure and make sure that the ladder has non-slip base pads. You should also check for substances such as oil, paint, water or dirt that could cause the user to lose their grip or footing. If you have any concerns at all, do not use the ladder; inform your supervisor immediately.

Have you checked the positioning of the ladder?

Make sure the ladder is stable, placed securely on a level surface and away from any electrical wiring or overhead power lines, doors that open towards you, or other hazards. The area around the ladder should be free of clutter and other equipment.

A straight ladder should be set up using the four-to-one ratio rule; this means that for every 4 feet of height to the point of support, the base should be 1 foot away from the wall or vertical surface. You can estimate this by counting rungs, which are about a foot apart.

If you are working in a high-traffic area, place a barricade around the base to prevent knocks. If you are using a stepladder, it must be fully opened before use. When climbing onto a raised surface such as a roof or platform from a ladder, the ladder must extend at least 3 feet above the roof line and be tied off at the top.

Are you using the ladder carefully and safely?

You should face the ladder, stay near the middle and hold onto the side rails with at least one hand when climbing or descending, keeping at least three points of contact on the ladder. Do not lean outside the ladder rails or stand on the top step. Any tools should be carried on a belt or hoist.

Ladder Safety: Keep Your Team Safe

Discover how our health & safety and training solutions can significantly reduce workplace accidents caused by falls from heights. Discover which training courses are suitable for your business in our latest blog. Training Courses for Safe Work at Height: Which is Right for Your Business?

Our Health & Safety team at healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk is ready to collaborate with you, offering expert guidance on Health & Safety Audits tailored to your needs. Elevate your workforce's safety skills through our range of training programs – Reach out to our training team at training@skaltd.co.uk

Don't wait until it's too late – take proactive steps to protect your team and your business.

We understand the importance of maintaining a safe and compliant environment for schools, colleges and universities. Our range of services is specifically designed to address the unique needs of educational institutions.

Risk Solutions and Compliance

Fire Risk Assessment:

Ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 through a comprehensive assessment conducted by our fully qualified Fire Risk Assessors.

Electrical Installation Condition Report:

Receive expert advice on the frequency of required tests, tailored to your specific premises, in accordance with regulations.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT):

Meet the requirements of the Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment Regulations 1998 and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 through an effective PAT testing regime.

In addition to these services, we also provide a wide range of additional solutions to support your premises safety and compliance needs:

Installation and Servicing of Fire Extinguishers
Asbestos Management Plans and Removals
Gas Safety Inspections and Servicing
Playground Equipment Inspections
An e-Logbook hosted on the Members Area, giving you easy access to and storage of all your compliance documents.

Health & Safety

Our dedicated Health & Safety Team ensures your business meets legal requirements, implements best practices, and effectively manages its systems. We would provide you with an advisor who specialises in education settings and who would offer comprehensive advice and support tailored to your needs.

From small village primary schools to large multi-academy trusts, our education specialist advisors have worked closely with various schools, colleges and universities of varying sizes and have knowledge of all commonly used compliance and reporting software.

We are aware of how different each education setting can be, and we have created a variety of different packages to suit the needs of everyone.

What to Expect from SK Health & Safety:

Arrange a face-to-face meeting with your dedicated advisor for:
A thorough Health & Safety audit, specifically designed for education that provides a detailed report on your health and safety management systems
An inspection of your premises to identify hazards and highlight good practices
Development of key health and safety policies, all specifically designed for education
Recommendations to improve health and safety practices

Following the audit, you will receive:

A detailed report summarising the findings of the H&S Audit, including a GAP analysis
An action plan with realistic time frames to enhance health and safety measures
Customised Health & Safety Policies
A tailored Health & Safety Booklet for distribution among your staff
Exclusive access to our Business Shield members’ area, where all relevant documentation will be stored securely

As a Stallard Kane client, you will also benefit from:

Unlimited telephone and email support from your dedicated advisor and our expert H&S team
Access to a wide range of specialised risk assessment templates for various scenarios
Assistance with RIDDOR and accident reporting
Annual H&S Audits conducted by your designated advisor
Regular email updates and informative articles to stay up-to-date on health and safety matters

Training

Training is crucial to effective Health & Safety and HR management systems.

At Stallard Kane, we offer a wide range of courses to assist organisations in achieving their training goals.

Tailored Training Solutions:

No matter your training requirements, we are here to help. Whether developing a training schedule or delivering bespoke courses customised to your needs, we've got you covered.

Accreditations and In-house Expertise:

Stallard Kane maintains various accreditations and boasts a team of experienced in-house trainers who deliver our courses.

Expanding Our Reach:

We have established partnerships with trusted training providers across the UK to offer an even broader selection of courses, both in terms of content and geographical availability. This enables us to provide our clients with a wider range of services at no additional cost.

Flexible Training Options:

As a Stallard Kane client you have the flexibility to spread training costs, ensuring you can access the training you need precisely when you need it. We offer both open and closed courses.

Open Courses:

These scheduled courses are available across the UK and are ideal for individuals and small businesses.

Closed Courses:

Exclusive to your organisation, these courses are tailored to your specific requirements and can be delivered at your site, one of our locations, or even through virtual classrooms.

Core Training:

Additional Training:

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Employees are an organisation’s biggest asset, so it’s important, and beneficial to all, to take care of their physical and mental health.

Which is why we have added Mental Health and Wellbeing to our Training offering, with advice, free resources, downloads, training courses and signposting to helpful organisations on our website.

By investing in your staff’s mental health, you will:

Cut sickness absence – over 70 million sick days are taken each year, due to mental health issues
Reduce presenteeism – where employees force themselves into the workplace and underperform due to mental ill health
Optimise staff performance
Improve staff morale
Retail staff/reduce turnover
Decrease the likelihood of grievances from unhappy staff
Create a healthier workplace
Ensure legal compliance – the Equality Act 2020 states that an employer has a duty not to discriminate and must make reasonable adjustments in the workplace

Our extensive experience and friendly, personal service have helped keep thousands of companies across the UK safe and compliant for over 20 years.

Stallard Kane helps you and your clients easily navigate the ever-changing Health & Safety landscape. We build relationships through clear communication, trust and collaboration and aim to positively impact every client we connect with.

Contact Us

Health and Safety

healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk

01427 420 402

HR & Employment Law

hr@skaltd.co.uk

01427 420 403

Training

training@skaltd.co.uk

01427 420 405

Risk Solutions

risksolutions@skaltd.co.uk

01427 420 404

Machine guarding is an essential element of workplace safety, helping to protect the operator and those around them from injury during the operation of equipment.

There are several potential hazards involved in operating machinery, including but not limited to:

Physical contact with live electrical components or moving parts
Hair, clothing or body parts becoming entangled in the equipment
Being struck by flying sparks or debris emitted by the machine as it works

Injuries resulting from these can be life-changing or even fatal, so mitigating risks is key.

Though it is a simple solution to a risk factor, machine guarding is an effective way to minimise the risk of an accident. The most common form of machine guarding is a fixed guard, i.e. a fixed physical barrier between the operator and the hazardous area of the machine (such as a saw blade) which prevents any direct contact from being made.

Equipment may also have adjustable guards, which can be adjusted for variation in the work being carried out (e.g. the size of materials being worked on) or which adjust automatically, or interlocked guards which prevent the equipment from starting or working unless the guard is in place.

Machine guards have the additional benefit of protecting the equipment as well as the operator. Components are covered and shielded away from reach, meaning that the operator cannot access them and potentially create a dangerous situation by altering the settings or components within the machine.

Machine guards are required by law for any part of a machine that can pose a risk whilst in operation and must meet certain Health & Safety standards for the equipment to be determined safe and usable.

This standardisation means that each machine is regularly inspected to ensure compliance; because components are protected and well-maintained they should last longer, potentially leading to reduced operating costs.

HSE Machine Guarding Regulations

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) were put in place to protect people using tools and equipment in the workplace and those around them. The regulations are wide-ranging, but the key areas concerning machine guards are as follows:

Employers are required to carry out a risk assessment of the equipment operation and take action to minimise identified risks – including, if appropriate, providing machine guards.
Guards must be fit for purpose, i.e. successfully restrict access to hazardous parts of the machine, taking into account the specific type of equipment and its operation.
Machine guards should be in good condition, properly fitted and regularly maintained, with inspection records kept.
Operators should be given adequate information and training on the safe use of the equipment and the machine guards, and the importance of using them properly.

Where machine guarding isn’t covered by these regulations (such as on machines used by the public) then the Health and Safety Act will usually cover safe use.

Article by John Pearce, Health and Safety Advisor.

If you need any help with the above, contact your advisor or SK Health & Safety on 01427 420 402 or email healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk and #oneoftheteam will be happy to help.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced their latest initiative to tackle occupational lung disease within the woodworking industry, supported by their latest Dust Kills campaign.

HSE's recent inspections have revealed that many woodworking businesses fail to implement necessary measures to prevent or control exposure to wood dust, thereby endangering the lives of their workers. To address this alarming issue, HSE inspectors across the UK will visit woodworking businesses, particularly those involved in sawmilling, composite boards, and carpentry, specifically focusing on respiratory risks associated with wood dust.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, HSE inspectors will assess whether employers have considered the appropriate control measures to reduce workers' exposure to wood dust. They will also evaluate workers' understanding of the risks and check for effective control measures to safeguard their health. In cases where necessary, enforcement action will be taken to ensure workers' protection.

Full statement from HSE

How we can help: Ensuring Effective Knowledge

Workplace Exposure Monitoring

Compliance with regulations and protecting employees from hazardous substances, such as chemicals, fumes, dust, and vapours, is essential. Our workplace exposure monitoring services assist you in mitigating risks and providing regulatory compliance. We also provide guidance on noise and vibration hazards, helping you prevent long-term health issues like noise-induced hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Find out more by visiting our Workplace Exposure Monitoring page.

Training and Education

Equipping employers and workers with the necessary knowledge and skills is paramount to controlling dust effectively. We offer various training courses designed to raise awareness and promote best practices. We offer UK-wide training options that can be created bespoke for your business and delivered virtually, on site, or at one of our accredited course centres. Our expert trainers cater to the specific needs of different industries and roles.

Find out more by visiting our T raining page.

How we can help: Ensuring Effective Control Measures

Face Fit Testing

Find out more by visiting our Face Fit Testing page.

LEV

When working correctly, LEV systems should carry away any harmful dust, mist, fumes or gas in the air. This is to prevent individuals from breathing in dangerous impurities. Correctly fitted and maintained, LEV will collect the air that contains the contaminants and make sure they are contained and removed. Our team can provide regular testing and inspections to ensure the safety of your employees and customers.

Occupational Health Assessments

Used on an ongoing basis, it will help diagnose and monitor lung conditions and the impact certain exposures may have on your employees.

Find out more by visiting our Occupational Health Assessments page.

A foreseeable risk is a situation which could result in injury or damage, and which could be predicted by a reasonable person with the necessary skills and knowledge.

Identifying a Foreseeable Risk

Risk assessments are the key to foreseeable risk and subsequent controls. The more you assess a task and engage your employees, the more likely you are to identify foreseeable risks.

There are three levels of knowledge that can be used to determine whether a risk is reasonably foreseeable - common knowledge, industry knowledge and expert knowledge. In most workplace situations, you are expected to identify and manage risks that require common knowledge and industry knowledge.

Common Knowledge: we all have a range of cleaning products under our kitchen sinks at home that are potentially hazardous to health, and take common sense precautions when using them.
Industry Knowledge: as soon as we are in a business environment and issue these products to our employees, we must have COSHH risk assessments and safe systems of work/use in place. Common sense is no longer enough; we must refer to the safety data sheets where manufacturers have listed the key risks, and put controls in place as to how the products should be safely used and stored.
Expert knowledge: beyond the common knowledge and industry knowledge, there may be times when you need to call in the services of expert knowledge, for example air sampling and occupational health.

Taking time to check in more detail can highlight previously unknown risks; for example, bleach and ammonia are commonly found in household cleaners – but when mixed together they produce chloramine gas, which is toxic to humans and animals. Were you aware of this foreseeable risk?

Abnormal situations

Abnormal situations can also present risks. If you have a compactor you will have a full suite of risk assessments and safe systems of work – but this must also include controls for abnormal situations, such as breakdowns.

There have been too many incidents where an employee has hopped into the compactor to unblock the jam; they may even have isolated the equipment, but were you aware of the harnessed power in the ram? When you release the jam even though there is no power to the equipment the ram is released under pressure from the ‘hidden’ harnessed power, with potentially catastrophic results. Take a moment to review your risk assessments and ensure they cover abnormal situations.

Long-term risks

We are all now educated about the long-term foreseeable risks of noise, HAVs and working with asbestos but many years ago these risks hadn’t been taken fully into account. Life-changing results included industrial deafness, neurological symptoms, numbness, reduced dexterity, asbestosis; all thankfully now controlled by following the legislation and guidance in place.

Lock Out Tag Out

This is another common control of a foreseeable risk. If you work on powered equipment and don’t lock it off then there is nothing to stop another employee arriving at their workstation, completely unaware that the machine is being worked on, and turning it on – again, with potentially life-changing consequences. A simple, well-managed control can stop it and prevent this foreseeable risk.

Sadly, in Health & Safety we often become aware of these foreseeable risks following an incident at someone else’s expense; it’s time we got ahead of the game. Watch the full task repeatedly, as you don’t always see the full picture the first time. Talk to your employees; start by asking, ‘What if . . ?’

Article by Julie Smith, Health and Safety Advisor

If you need any help with the above, contact your advisor or SK Health & Safety on 01427 420 402 or email healthandsafety@skaltd.co.uk and #oneoftheteam will be happy to help.

There is nothing quite like a British heatwave - but ensuring you stay safe as temperatures soar takes more than just a decent sunscreen. You have a duty of care to ensure the safety of your staff, and effective facilities management can help.

Stallard Kane shares a few tips for keeping your employees safe and well during a heatwave.

USE NATURAL AIR IN A HEATWAVE

Though air conditioning can be a fan favourite in heatwaves, natural or fresh air ventilation should be used wherever possible. Natural air ventilation can be achieved simply by opening a window or, if your air conditioning system is fitted (or can be retrofitted) with a fresh air supply, selecting fresh air rather than recirculation. This will reduce the infection rate in highly populated spaces and limit the spread of transmissible infections, including Covid-19.

ENSURE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING IS CLEAN

If you’ve got air conditioning or ducted air handling, it must be regularly cleaned and serviced to ensure it works optimally. This is true both in terms of energy efficiency and the reduction of pollen, dust and bacteria in the air.

PAT TEST YOUR FANS AND COOLING TOWERS

Desk fans and cooling towers suddenly appear across offices and public spaces as the temperature rises. But be careful if you use cooling or tower fans in your workplace – make sure they are PAT tested, avoid daisy-chaining the plugs, and check for trip hazards from trailing wires.

CHECK-IN ON YOUR TEAM WITH OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SCREENING

A robust occupational health screening programme will help you identify potential risk factors in your workforce. Some vulnerable workers might need reasonable adjustments or be more likely to require additional support in extreme heat. Occupational health screening is a proactive way of identifying risks, helping signpost your employees to pathways for extra help and reducing absenteeism.

NO TWO PEOPLE ARE THE SAME

Everyone reacts to heat differently, and your employees should be trained to recognise the symptoms of heat illness. Regular occupational health surveillance or an effective employee wellbeing programme is a great platform to help you get the message across.

ENSURE YOUR ELECTRICS HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE - AND SATISFACTORY - EICR

Overheating cables can be a risk in extreme heat; cables cannot carry their current capacity when it’s very hot and subsequently become a greater fire risk. Ensuring you have a regular EICR with correct cabling identification will inform you of any potential for overloading. For any remedial advice, please call our electrical team.

Need help in the heatwave and beyond? Our team are here to help. To find out more information on anything we have discussed in this article, contact compliance@skaltd.co.uk