ISSUE 3 | JANUARY 2023
HEALTH & SAFETY
ADVISER ONLINE
IN-DEPTH GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FOR COMPANY OWNERS,
DIRECTORS, HEALTH & SAFETY EXPERTS AND MANAGERS
Keep Your Employees Safe While
Managing Your Energy Costs
Discover our top 5 tips for reducing energy costs plus
essential risk management controls.
SEE PAGE 6 >>
7 New Year’s Resolutions
to Drive Health and
Safety Improvements
Why not celebrate the New Year by tackling
these common workplace issues?
SEE PAGE 5 >>
Deal with the Dangers
of Complacency in
Your Workplace
We reveal how complacency can
destroy your best efforts to
keep employees safe.
SEE PAGE 8 >>
Why You Must Retain
Key Knowledge when
Staff Leave
Dear Reader,
As Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘An investment
in knowledge always pays the best interest’. The
knowledge in your organisation will be spread far and
wide but there will always be a few key individuals
who hold knowledge that nobody else does. So, what
happens when they leave?
I once worked for an organisation that decided to let
go a huge number of staff over a very short period of
time. The result – pandemonium when it was found
that those remaining were left in the dark about how to
carry out certain functions.
When you are aware that employees are going to leave
the organisation, then make sure that they pass on key
health and safety information before they depart.
Start the process early so that responsibilities can be
reallocated and key training undertaken. Where time
is short, get them to write procedures down so that
they can be referred to as needed. That way you can be
sure that any transition is literally pain free!
Inside this Issue:
7 New Year’s Resolutions to Drive
Health and Safety Improvements
SEE PAGE 5 >>
Keep Employees Safe while Managing
Energy Costs with 5 Practical Tips
SEE PAGE 6 >>
How You Can Tackle the Dangers of
Complacency in Your Workplace
SEE PAGE 8 >>
Ask the Experts: Safety Markings,
Telescopic Ladders, Dog Attacks
SEE PAGE 9 >>
3 Key Actions to Tackle Cancer in
Your Workforce
SEE PAGE 10 >>
Reduce the Risk of Fire and Explosion
from Your LPG storage
SEE PAGE 11 >>
Online Resource Centre
Yours Sincerely,
You can download and customise all of the tools found
in this issue at: www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
Access hundreds of actionable solutions by way
of legally-compliant tools, such as checklists, policies, risk
assessments and Toolbox Talks covering the core areas of health &
safety. You can download these immediately, edit and customise
these to your organisation’s needs.
Go to: www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources and enter your personal
password. Or, if you have not yet created a password, simply follow the
instructions on screen.
Ask the Experts Email Helpdesk
Editor-in-Chief: Ian Bollans CMIOSH, CMCIEH
About the Editor
Ian Bollans has over 40 years expertise in health and safety:
as an Inspector, trainer and Head of Health and Safety for
Local Government. He has authored two seminal safety
publications. Ian is a Chartered Member of IOSH and of the
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
2
Get free personal, 1:1 advice from our team of experts,
including the Health & Safety Adviser Editor-in-Chief,
Ian Bollans, Risk Assessment & Compliance Editors,
Carolyn Dukes and Linda Crossland-Mead and HR Adviser Editor,
Jackie Le Poidevin.
Just email hsadviser@agorabusiness.co.uk on any health & safety,
HR and employment law issue you are facing and you will receive an
answer within 48 hours.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
NEWS AND TRENDS
Severed Hand and Large Fine Reinforces Need
for Robust Assessments
A
fine of £115,000 was the result following an accident in which an employee’s hand was severed in a
machine. The court heard how maintenance work went horribly wrong after a failure to carry out a risk
assessment and to follow safe systems of work. Read on to discover how it happened and the essential
controls you should have in place when maintaining your equipment.
A maintenance worker was repairing a box-making machine when
his sleeve became caught in the chain drive, dragging his hand into
the machinery. The equipment was not isolated at the time of the
accident as was common practice among employees. Although his
hand was reattached, his use is severely limited and he is unable to
work.
●
The HSE investigation found that the company’s risk assessment did
not cover maintenance activities and there were no safe systems
of work or training to ensure safe isolation and access. They also
found that it was a regular occurrence to bypass a gate that was
supposed to keep workers away from dangerous moving parts of
the machine which indicated a lack of adequate supervision. His
employer, Riftward Ltd based in Wrexham, was fined £115,000.
Issues to Consider
●
Check that your risk assessments for equipment and machinery
covers the risks from maintenance and repair activities. This
is a common oversight despite such activities causing numerous
significant injuries each year. Don’t carry out a desktop exercise
but speak to the persons carrying out the work and the users of
the machine. Their actual working practices could easily differ
significantly from what you think happens. Also check that the
risk of entanglement is addressed, whether it’s clothing, long
hair or jewellery.
Develop robust ‘lock out tag out’ procedures to ensure that
equipment is effectively isolated while work is being carried out
and cannot be turned back on until all work has been completed
safely, such as a permit-to-work system. Train employees
(engineers and machine operatives) so that there can be no
misunderstanding as to what is required.
Tip
✓
Even where you rely on outside contractors to carry out your
maintenance, you still must develop procedures to keep them
safe. Ask to see their risk assessments before allowing them
to continue.
●
Where you experience continuing problems with equipment as
in this case, then expect employees to get frustrated and take
shortcuts. Take any feedback from employees on equipment
problems seriously and act on it quickly. Increase your levels
of supervision in the meantime to reassure yourself that safety
procedures are being followed.
●
A degree of supervision is always necessary, even if you think
your employees are experienced, so review the levels that you
provide. For higher-risk activities or where workers are young or
inexperienced, increase your supervision levels accordingly.
Accident Highlights Why Your Risk Assessments
May Not be Suitable and Sufficient
S
tagecoach Devon Ltd was fined £380,000 after one of its employees received life-changing injuries after
being struck by a bus at a depot in Torquay. Being struck by a moving vehicle is the second biggest cause of
fatal accidents, so why didn’t the company take the right precautions? We reveal the common oversight that
they, and many other employers, still make and what should have been done.
The employee was assisting another driver who was trying to reverse
a bus out of its parking space in a busy and cramped depot when he
was crushed between a stationary vehicle. The depot was dark and as
it was early in the morning there was a lot of vehicle and pedestrian
movements occurring. A dedicated banskman was employed but
they were always occupied at the top part of the depot where traffic
was heavier. Consequently, it become common practice for drivers
in the lower depot to assist each other – a task that had not been
trained for.
The crushing caused extensive injuries to his arm and following a
HSE investigation, Stagecoach Devon Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were
fined £380,000.
Key Takeaways
A common error that the company made was that although they
had undertaken a risk assessment, it was not site-specific. This
meant that due to the restricted nature of the site, there were more
reversing vehicles than usual, overstretching the single banksman.
Where you have multiple site operations, then check that your risk
assessments relate to the actual conditions and work practices
on site. Don’t rely on a generic assessment unless you are satisfied
that there is no possibility of variation between your operations.
Take each of your site managers through your risk assessments to
weed out possible variances and then adapt your assessments to fit
the site operations.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
3
NEWS AND TRENDS
Looking for Inspiration? 3 Best Practice Ideas
L
earning from others makes good sense. Not only can you pinch some good ideas but you can also avoid
pitfalls along the way. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has recently published its ‘Good
Practice Awards’, highlighting some excellent projects. We summarise some of the initiatives that could well
inspire you to take a closer look at your workplace.
1. Best Practice: Incorporate the
Needs of an Ageing Workforce
A large hospital department had a workforce whose average age
was 50 years. They decided to review how they took employees’
needs into consideration in different stages of their lives. They held a
number of risk management workshops designed to identify risk
factors and to encourage suggestions on suitable control measures.
From these workshops a number of initiatives were brought forward:
●
●
●
●
Healthy lifestyle classes looking at back exercises, healthy
eating and relaxation techniques.
A decision to involve employees in trialling and purchasing
new equipment and PPE.
The formation of mixed age teams to provide assistance for
older employees carrying out strenuous work.
A project group to monitor implementation and effectiveness.
Actions
1
Review how you make purchasing decisions, making sure that
employees have effective input.
2
Where
you have older workers or workers with a disability, then
review the work undertaken to determine whether it is within
their capabilities. Consider the benefits of pairing with a
younger worker. Not only will they be able to assist in more
strenuous work but the older, more experienced employee can
mentor and pass their skillset.
3
4
Where
you implement any safety improvements, look to get
input from a wide range of people as to its effectiveness.
Quite often a small amount of user feedback can make all the
difference between success and failure.
There
is much evidence to suggest that wider workplace health
interventions can reduce absenteeism in the workplace by
reducing both physical and mental illnesses. Why not look
at setting up a small project group to see what could be
achieved in your workplace? Our next example may provide
some inspiration.
2. Best Practice: Ensure Employees
are Healthy and Satisfied at Work
An insurance company recognised the benefit of employees taking
care of their health as a daily habit, both at home and in the office. A
number of initiatives were undertaken:
●
●
●
Online workshops with a health specialist. Plus engagement
of an occupational physician to analyse the type of sick
leave being undertaken and to plan interventions to reduce
staff absenteeism.
Engagement of a professional to advise and instruct employees
on achievement of good workplace ergonomics.
Workshops to build resilience against stress and burnout,
including psychological support.
Actions
1
Research
some interventions that you might want to introduce
in your workplace. It doesn’t have to be grand but focus on
something that appeals to you and your employees.
2
Use
your sickness absence records to determine whether there
are any discernible patterns, such as bad backs or stress, that
may hint at an underlying problem.
3
Involve staff in the decision-making process and ask for
their ideas as to what would appeal to them.
3. Best Practice Reducing the Strain
of Physically Demanding Work
A cleaning company had trouble retaining experienced employees
and had a relatively high sickness and absence rate. As its work was
physically demanding, it decided that in order to increase productivity
it would work towards reducing physical strain – a significant cause
of sickness. It decided to take a three-pronged approach, targeting its
interventions at individuals and its organisational and technical
arrangements. Its measures included:
●
●
Engaging an ergonomics specialist to work with employees
identifying problems and changing working methods. Together
with awareness sessions to keep reinforcing the message.
Making tools lighter and more ergonomic, task rotation and
assistance for the highest risk tasks.
Actions
1
Where you have identified a potential issue, then consider
getting a specialist to assist you. There might well be an
upfront cost but you will recoup that through time savings.
2
Continually
reinforce your health promotion messages.
Don’t rely on a single avenue as staff can become ‘immune’ to
this but use a variety of channels such as your intranet, staff
meetings and surveys.
IMPRINT HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISER
Publisher: Agora Business Publications, Ground Floor – Water Mill, The Water Mill Park, Broughton, BD23 3AG • Tel: 01756 693 180 Website: www.agorabusiness.co.uk •
Email: cs@agorabusiness.co.uk • Reg No: OC323533 • VAT No: GB 893 3184 95 • Editor-in-Chief: Ian Bollans CMIOSH, CMCIEH • Publishing Manager: Niki Haunch • ISSN 2047-7147
This publication is for general guidance only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Any legal advice is relevant at the date of publication
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This issue contains information adapted from official sources as permitted by Open Government Licence version 3.0.
We help you achieve through information you can trust.
4
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
SAFETY IN PRACTICE
Adopt these 7 New Year’s Resolutions to Drive
Health and Safety Improvements
M
aking resolutions each New Year is a bit of a tradition and tend to focus on personal elements. Why not
make some for revamping health and safety in your workplace and engage your workforce in achieving
them? In this article we suggest some resolutions you could adopt to tackle common health and safety
problems in the workplace and help ensure that your employees can celebrate a year with no injuries.
Resolution 1: Review Risk
Assessments
Many organisations fall into the common trap of carrying out risk
assessments and then never reviewing them. If this sounds vaguely
familiar, then take action this year to solve this problem. Check that
all your assessments have a sensible review date. It’s up to you
to decide the frequency of review but base it on risk, with riskier
activities such as working around vehicles or working at height being
reviewed at least annually. Set up a system to record review dates
so that you can keep track of what is due and check that they have
been done.
Tip
✓
Make risk assessment review a performance item in your
managers’ annual appraisals – it tends to concentrate the
mind!
Resolution 2: Evaluate Your Active
Monitoring
This is something I mention pretty often in Health & Safety Adviser –
only because it is so important if you are to maintain high standards.
I have always been amazed at the degree of disconnect between
management and actual work practices, so think hard at the levels of
workplace monitoring that you actually do.
Why not introduce a programme of workplace inspections and
audits, making sure that you involve your senior managers in the
process? It sends a powerful message across the organisation and
galvanises the actions of middle management. Instruct managers
to make regular tours of the workplace with copies of the risk
assessments so they can compare theory with practice!
Resolution 3: Train Your Managers
You may well ensure that shopfloor workers receive the training
they need but have you considered the level of training that you
give your managers? After all, they will be the ones responsible for
putting company policy into practice, so make sure that you give
them the right tools to do that. Run a training workshop so that
they are clear about their roles and responsibilities, fully understand
company policies and procedures and how to put them into practice.
Determine whether you wish to send managers on an IOSH course
such as ‘Managing Safely’ which can be completed online for
approximately £200.
that could be affected by these. Make sure that you have applied
the correct ‘hierarchy of controls’, for example, by removing
the need to work at height before issuing fall arrest equipment or
tackling slippery floors before issuing safety shoes. Review your risk
assessments to check that these have been considered and applied
rather than relying on PPE.
Hold toolbox talks with your employees to satisfy yourself that
they understand the risks they face and the control measures that
should be employed to ensure their safety. Make sure your managers
appreciate the need to actively monitor higher-risk work activities.
Resolution 5: Reduce Incidences of Ill
Health
Don’t neglect that ill health caused by workplace conditions could
be a bigger problem in many workplaces than accidents. Check that
your COSHH assessments are up to date and that you have actively
considered safer alternative substances or processes. Ensure that
you have considered often overlooked potential problems such as
dust and diesel fumes.
If you have not got a health surveillance system in place and your
employees are exposed to substances that could cause a health
condition such as asthma or dermatitis, then do consult with an
occupational health specialist to help you establish one. They
don’t cost much to run and give you and your employees added
reassurance that their health is being protected.
Resolution 6: Engage with Your
Employees
The most safety-efficient organisations have a process for engaging
and involving their employees in managing their own health and
safety. If your organisation is small then direct consultation with
employees may be the best option, otherwise, look to appoint safety
representatives and establish a workplace health and safety
committee. Provide training to those involved so that they can be
effective in their roles.
Resolution 7: Review the Past Year
Don’t make any resolutions until you have reviewed how the
last year went. Did you have any accidents or near misses or
employees that went off with a bad back or stress? Look at your
own performance in managing your employees’ safety and be
honest if there is any room for improvement. Use that information to
help guide your priorities for this year. Hopefully next year you can
look back and note some significant improvements.
Resolution 4: Tackle Top Accidents
Download
Help to drive down accident statistics by tackling the top culprits. For
fatal accidents, falls from height, being struck by a moving vehicle
and moving objects are the top three. For non-fatal accidents, slips
and trips, manual handling and being struck by a moving object are
the three worst. Take a deep and critical review of any work activities
Use your Action Planning Template to help plan actions for
your chosen resolutions. You can download and adapt this
template from your Online Resource Centre at:
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
⇣
5
KEY TOPIC
Keep Your Employees Safe while Managing Your
Energy Costs with 5 Practical Tips
T
he recent and future increases in the cost of energy is unprecedented and both domestic consumers
and businesses face difficult times ahead as they see massive energy bills hitting the doormat for the
foreseeable future. In this article we offer some simple and effective tips on how you could reduce your
bills, but also some of the health and safety implications that you may potentially overlook when implementing
these cost-reduction methods.
With cuts in the gas supplies to Europe and a worldwide surge for
energy, supply shortages have pushed up prices considerably. Even
with Government support, bills will be much higher this year. Faced
with such a surge in prices, many businesses are desperately trying to
find ways to cut their costs. We offer some top tips that you should
consider introducing.
5 Tips to Reduce Your Energy Costs
Although there are numerous ways that you can reduce energy
consumption, we give some suggestions ranging from short-term
no-cost measures, to longer-term investment strategies to help keep
your costs down.
Tip 1: Look to the Long Term
Download
Use your Energy Efficiency Checklist to audit the approach
you are taking to securing energy efficiency. You can download
this checklist from your Online Resource Centre at:
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
Opportunity
✓
Businesses are always looking at the ‘green credentials’
of others who they wish to do business with. Showing a
commitment to reducing your carbon footprint could open up
the door to new contracts!
A typical business will spend 40% of their energy costs heating their
building, so look as to how you can maintain efficient temperature
control avoiding overheating the workplace but still maintaining a
comfortable working temperature.
Turning down the thermostat by just 10C can save 8% on energy
costs. Think about installing SMART thermostats where you can
remotely control temperatures. Just remember that although the
Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
only require the maintenance of a ‘reasonable’ temperature in your
workplace, the HSE Approved Code of Practice states that 160C
should normally be the minimum temperature – this can be reduced
to 130C where ‘rigorous physical effort’ occurs.
If you are still working a hybrid model for homeworking, then think
about consolidating your workspace to avoid under-utilisation of
your accommodation.
Tip 2: Take Advantage of Grants and Tax Breaks
There are a variety of grants, loans and other financial assistance
available for a range of businesses who want to invest in energyefficient equipment. Talk to your local chamber of commerce, trade
association or the Federation of Small Business to find out whether
there are any particular schemes in your area. Visit the Ofgem
website at: https://bit.ly/3Bab5Hq for a link to various schemes and
detailed guidance.
✓
Talk to a tax expert who can advise on the latest position for
claiming tax allowances for energy efficiency measures – they
can be very generous!
Tip 5: Spread the Word
Employees will be conscious of the increased cost of living, so
capitalise on this and promote energy efficiency measures to
your employees. Place posters around the workplace and get your
managers to raise the issue at team meetings and seek suggestions
as to how costs can be cut. Why not run a competition to solicit
some ideas and offer a reward for the best ideas?
Quick Wins
✓
Look to develop some quick wins for energy efficiency. This will
help demonstrate the potential savings that could be made and
help directors to decide on priority investments for the future.
Tip 3: Get Expert Help
Don’t Let Health and Safety Fall by
the Wayside
There is no substitute for receiving expert advice, so look to obtain
an independent energy audit of your business to highlight where
Whatever measures you adopt in your drive towards energy
efficiency, bear in mind that there could be health and safety
6
⇣
Tip 4: Control Heating Costs
While it’s important to try and control short-term costs, look to the
future for the long-term approach you should be taking to energy
efficiency. After all, energy costs will always be a significant cost
to your business, so having a plan to keep these to a minimum
makes sound business sense. Why not look more closely at gaining
certification under BS EN 50001: 2018 ‘Energy Management
Systems’ for an internationally recognised standard for reducing
energy use and cost. If it sounds like it could be for you, then visit the
BSI website at: https://bit.ly/3cHwkac for more information.
Tax Tip
money-saving improvements can easily be made, both in the shortand long-term. There are many organisations offering their services,
so look for ones that can offer an audit that meet the requirements
of BS EN 16247 and make contact with previous customers.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
KEY TOPIC
implications in the decisions you take. We take a closer look at some
of the more common issues that you might encounter, together with
the practical controls you should be considering.
Control Your Lighting Risks
Numerous businesses are looking to achieve significant savings by
switching lighting systems to more energy-efficient system such as
LED. As savings can run to some 90%, it’s certainly tempting to look
at reconfiguring your lighting.
Keep on Top of Equipment
Replacement
Control these Risks from Lighting Upgrades
Potential Measures
●
Install timers to turn off
lights automatically.
●
Install movement
sensors in little-used
areas.
●
Install daylight sensors
that turn lights off
when there is enough
daylight.
●
Install additional
switches to help ‘zone’
your lighting.
●
Provide energy efficient
desk lamps.
●
Switch to LED lighting.
How to Control the Risks
●
Ensure all electrical
alterations are carried out by
a competent electrician
such as a member of the
NICEIC or NAPIT.
●
Where replacing bulbs look
to provide safe access such
as podium steps or a tower
scaffold. Don’t assume that
ladders will always provide
the safest means. Don’t use
desks or chairs.
●
Replacing old, inefficient equipment with modern energy-efficient
designs can be tempting but don’t forget to review the health and
safety performance of the equipment as well. Energy savings could
easily be offset by having to introduce additional control measures,
such as installing noise barriers, or having to get workers to wear
PPE. Always select equipment that has a good ergonomic fit with
the work that has to be undertaken, so involve your employees in
your purchasing decisions.
A common mistake is not to undertake post-installation checks to
ensure that safety devices are working as intended, so take care to
avoid this. Ensure that in addition to safety devices, the equipment is
supplied with operating instructions and employees are fully trained
in its safe operation.
Regularly check the operation
of movement sensors to
ensure lights activate when
needed.
Avoid Health and Safety Cutbacks
When times are difficult it’s always tempting to look everywhere for
potential savings but don’t fall into the trap of cutting back on your
budgets for health and safety. Purchasing cheap PPE, for example,
is often fraught with dangers as was clearly illustrated by the huge
amount of unusable PPE bought during the Covid pandemic! Stick
with suppliers you can trust and avoid trying to re-use disposable
PPE – it’s called disposable for a reason!
Keep on top of your regular maintenance and inspection regimes,
as not only does it help protect your workers but also keeps your
equipment running efficiently and effectively as well.
Check Your Ventilation Rates
Avoid Risks from Keeping Warm
Rather than heat large, under-utilised workspaces, you may decide
to provide localised heating sources through the use of portable
heaters. Select electrical equipment carefully and avoid heaters with
open heating elements and, instead, choose ones such as infra-red or
ceramic bar heaters with thermostatic controls and tip switches.
Place any trailing cables under cable covers and place the equipment
on your PAT testing programme. Check that you are not overloading
any electrical circuits. Be aware that some electrical heaters can draw
as much as 3kW!
If using LPG heaters, choose ones that are of a cabinet design and
fitted with flame failure devices and oxygen sensors. Avoid using
in confined spaces and keep well clear of any combustible materials.
Store cylinders in a safe well-ventilated place outdoors and ensure
staff are aware of actions to take in case of leakage.
Tip
✓
Where you have homeworkers, remember that they might
be struggling to pay their heating bills. Check in on them
occasionally to see how they are coping and are not getting
stressed about costs.
You will obviously want to retain as much heat in your building as
possible during the cooler months and will want to avoid opening
windows that will let that costly warm air escape! Be aware
that there is not only a legal requirement to maintain workplace
temperatures but also to ensure adequate ventilation.
Tip
height away from windows and draughts, ensuring that they at least
50cm away from the nearest person. Take several measurements
throughout the day, at times when the room is occupied, to represent
changes in activities, the number of people using it and ventilation
rates. Where readings are around 1000ppm, this will indicate that
ventilation rates are approximately 10 litres per second per
person which is the recommend level for most settings. If your
readings are above 1500ppm, then take this as an indication that
ventilation needs to be improved.
✓
Effective ventilation will help keep the spread of diseases
such as Covid, influenza and the common cold under control.
Reducing sickness absence also has a beneficial impact on your
business costs.
In reality, you will have to strike a balance between heating and
ventilation so look to provide CO2 monitors that can provide an
indication of when ventilation standards are falling. Use nondispersive infrared (NDIR) CO2 monitors and place these at head
Additional layers of clothing may seem like a good idea to help
keep warm but ensure that your risk assessments address the risks
of clothing or gloves becoming entangled in equipment such a
pillar drill or other rotating machinery. Where clothing requirements
are specified for safety purposes, then ensure that rules are being
followed through a process of active monitoring of the workplace.
If you have installed plastic curtain strips on doors or to partition
work areas to prevent heat loss, then check that visibility is not
reduced where vehicular traffic such as forklifts pass through these
strips. This can happen gradually over a period of time as they are
easily scratched. Look to separate pedestrian and vehicle movements
by using separate doors or clearly demarcate which side pedestrians
must use.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
7
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN PRACTICE
How You Can Effectively Tackle the Dangers of
Complacency in Your Workplace
W
hen your employees are exposed to the same risks, day in and day out, without suffering injury then
a gradual desensitisation to those risks can occur – after all, no harm has come of them! That’s when
shortcuts start to creep into your safe systems of work and errors of judgement made. We unearth the
reasons why complacency can undermine your best efforts and how to gain back the initiative.
If I had to rank the worst enemies of health and safety, complacency
would have to be sitting up near the top. Many of my accident
investigations would unearth phrases such as ‘I just wasn’t thinking’
or ‘Well, it’s never happened before’. As the famous American
General Colin Powell said ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is the slogan
of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It’s an excuse for
inaction, a call to non-arms’.
Complacency is a state where employees or management fail to
remain diligent about safety in their work environment. They often
associate safety with an absence of injury and if nobody has been
harmed then there is little or no risk. For obvious reasons, it’s not
a good situation to be in, so what can be done to keep both your
workers and management on their toes? Follow our guide below to
ensure that vigilance rules in your organisation.
Avoid Organisational Complacency
It’s not just employees that can get complacent, organisational
complacency can be fatal as well. Directors and managers take their
‘eye off the ball’ as nothing bad has happened to date and there may
be other pressing business needs that require attention. Look to the
following measures to prevent this happening:
●
●
●
Keep your directors regularly briefed on the current risks,
necessary control measures and company performance. They
should be able to state the major risks faced by the organisation
and fully understand their responsibilities for providing sufficient
resources to tackle them.
Ensure that all levels of management have clearly defined
roles and responsibilities and that they have received
training so they can achieve them in a consistent fashion across
the organisation. Ensure that there is a system to hold them
accountable for their performance. Make safety performance an
item during appraisals.
Ensure directors are regularly seen on the shop floor taking an
active interest in health and safety, talking with employees about
improving safety and working with their managers to improve
systems and performance.
Health and Safety Challenge
✓
Try and develop a culture where management actively seeks out
whether there is a problem rather than wait until one is reported.
Ask yourself ‘how do I know that there isn’t a problem
somewhere?’
Increase Risk Awareness
A proper appreciation of the risks faced by your employees is
essential if you want to avoid health and safety standards slipping.
Use our checklist (see top right) to ensure you have a comprehensive
and company-wide approach.
8
How Risk Aware are Your Employees?
To be confident about risk awareness in your
organisation, you should be able to confirm the
following points.
Do you involve employees in the risk assessment
process?
Are employees involved in devising suitable
control measures?
Yes
No
n
n
n
n
Do you involve safety representatives in accident
and near miss investigations?
n
n
Do you use examples of real-life accidents during
training to emphasise risks?
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Do you involve safety representatives in workplace
inspections and audits?
Are all employees subject to induction and
job-specific safety training?
Do managers regularly observe work practices and
provide feedback on safety performance?
Train and Inform
Training is a fundamental weapon against complacency, so review
your training provision to ensure that you have identified all training
needs and that a programme has been developed and implemented.
Ensure training is relevant and practical. Try and avoid lengthy
PowerPoint presentations and opt instead for ‘toolbox talks’
coupled with plenty of hands-on activities. For high-risk activities,
provide a degree of ‘overtraining’ so that actions become more
automated – similar to the techniques used in the Armed Forces.
Skills can be lost as well as gained, so include refresher training at
appropriate intervals – more frequently for high-risk work or where
workplace monitoring and observations reveal a slip in standards.
Think about running safety campaigns to tackle specific issues but
make sure to involve employees in the process or hand responsibility
to your safety committee! There are plenty of eye-catching posters
and leaflets that are either free or available at low cost. Change
these frequently to maintain interest.
Monitor the Workplace
You are under a legal duty to ensure that your health and safety
arrangements are being effective. So this means that you should
be taking an active approach and monitoring what is happening in
your workplace. Ensure that you have a programme of inspections
and audits scheduled and that action plans are drawn up following
these. Check that managers are undertaking active monitoring
such as checking that proper isolation procedures are being followed
when carrying out machine maintenance, checking that contractors
are following their own risk assessments and method statements and
that employees are following the training they have been given.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
ASK THE EXPERTS
Each month, we bring you three of the best questions we’ve received from our readers via the Ask the Experts service – along
with answers from your expert Editor, Ian Bollans. Do you have a question you would like to ask? If so, please contact us by email
at hsadviser@agorabusiness.co.uk and you’ll receive a response within 48 hours.
What are the New Safety Markings?
Question: We understand that safety markings on various types of
equipment and PPE has recently changed. Currently we have quite
a bit of PPE that is ‘CE’ marked and all of our workplace equipment
is similarly marked. Can we continue to use such equipment or do
we have to replace this to comply with the new safety marking
requirements?
Steve Woodfield, Director, Nottingham.
You will be pleased to hear, however, that CE marked products
manufactured and imported before that date can still be sold without
the need to re-test and remark the product, so you will still find lots
of supplies and equipment bearing the old mark for some time to
come. As regards the equipment and PPE you already have, it’s fine
to continue to use them as they are without any further action on
your part.
Answer: The Government had planned for the UK Conformity
Assessed (UKCA) mark to replace the ‘CE’ mark previously used for
safety markings from 1 January 2023. They have recently announced
that they have further extended the deadline to come into force on
1 January 2025.
As always, I would strongly recommend that that you use a reputable
supplier for any equipment and PPE purchases as, unfortunately,
there are still many sub-standard items on the market. Trial any
new purchases, involving your employees in the process before
committing to any large-scale or expensive purchases.
Should I be Concerned About Our
Telescopic Ladders?
Question: I have come across an article that suggests telescopic
ladders may be unsafe after a number of test purchases revealed
serious faults. We have a number of these which are used by our
visiting engineers and, to be frank, are extremely useful as they are
flexible and take up little space in the vans. What should I be doing
to ensure that they are safe?
Edward Deal, General Manager, Derby.
Answer: The survey you mentioned resulted in 82% of such ladders
failing to meet the required standard of EN131-6 and, in many
instances, were unsafe to use. For any future purposes, always
purchase from a reputable supplier such as a member of the Ladder
Association for reassurance. For your existing ladders, check that the
equipment bears a label that it complies with the standard – if they
do not, then don’t use them.
If you are confident you bought from a reputable supplier then they
are likely to comply. If bought online from an unknown source, you
could be in for a problem, so check over the ladders to determine
whether there is undue flexing or bending and that all locking
and release mechanisms are working as intended. Check that the
treads are securely fixed to the stiles and the ladders feel stable in
use. Make sure that the user manual is available and employees are
trained in the correct use and operation of the ladder mechanisms.
Check that when transporting ladders, nothing is stored on top of
them and issue instructions to keep them clean with a clean dry cloth.
What Can I Do to Protect Against Dog Attacks?
Question: We have a number of delivery drivers who make many
visits to commercial and residential properties. They often encounter
dogs as part of their work and there have been numerous occasions
where aggressive dogs have been encountered. It is only recently,
however, that one of our drivers was bitten. What precautions do you
think I should be taking?
Janice Long, Group Logistics Manager, Mansfield.
Answer: The RSPCA estimate that there are around 13 million dogs
in the UK and, while many are well-behaved, there is a significant
proportion that can be aggressive. While most signs of aggression
do not transpire into an actual attack, the experience can still be
unnerving to say the least.
Begin by educating your staff on how to behave around dogs
such as not making sudden movements, avoiding approaching the
dog from behind or cornering it. They should be able to recognise
warning signs such as raised fur, bared teeth or snarling. Where
your workers feel unsafe, then they should not attempt a delivery and
make alternative arrangements for collection.
Where possible, use timed deliveries as this will enable the owner
to keep the dog inside. Where persistent problems occur, then
contact the homeowner stating that they should make alternative
arrangements for their delivery such as providing a safe place for
receipt of the goods. Make sure that your vans are provided with a
travel first aid kit so that they can administer treatment until they
can be treated properly.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
9
???????????
NEWS & TRENDS
3 Key Actions to Tackle Cancer in Your Workforce
C
ancer Research UK estimate that a staggering 38% of cancers are preventable and with new cases running
at nearly 400,000 a year, that’s a lot of people who wouldn’t have to go through the worry and pain of
this disease. With World Cancer Day falling on 4 February, why not join the fight against cancer in your
workplace? Discover the practical actions you could be taking to protect your workers.
HSE research estimates that 5.3% of all cancers are attributable to
past exposure in the workplace, with some 40% of these occurring
due to work in the construction and building maintenance trades.
As with most occupational health issues, disease progression is slow
and, in the case of cancer, when diagnosis is made, it may already be
too late. To keep your workforce healthy, look to take the following
preventative actions.
Action 1: Your workplace may well contain more cancer-causing
substances than you think. Asbestos, radon, diesel fumes, wood dust,
concrete dust and benzene are frequently encountered occupational
hazards but there are dozens of more substances that are classed as
carcinogens.
Exposure to such substances should be covered by your COSHH
assessments – so check. Make sure that you have considered
the hierarchy of controls that you have adopted, checking that
you have looked at controls such as elimination or substitution
before embarking on lesser measures such as PPE. As there is often
not a second chance with cancer, it’s vital to keep on top of your
workplace monitoring and train employees to a high level so
they are fully aware of the risks and the stringent controls that they
should work to. Speak to an occupational health specialist about
relevant health surveillance techniques.
Action 2: Where you have a person suffering from cancer, always
conduct return to work interviews to ascertain what ‘reasonable
adjustments’ can be made. For more complicated cases, look to
engage an occupational health specialist who can help undertake
an individual risk assessment, making sure that you involve the
employee throughout the whole process.
Action 3: Take some positive action and look to raise awareness
of how employees can both reduce their risk of cancer and the
importance of recognising the early signs of the disease. Charities
such as Cancer Research UK can help tailor packages for your
workplace. Even just placing a few posters around your workplace
can make all the difference to an individual.
5 Ways to Check the Suitability of Your Vehicle
Movement Risk Assessments
S
egregation of vehicles and pedestrians is vital if you want to avoid one of your workers being killed or
seriously injured. You would not want to walk along the hard shoulder of a motorway but many employers
are still happy to place their workers at similar risk in their workplace! Discover the reasons why a worker
died at a Birmingham racetrack and why you need to be checking your risk assessments.
A stock car racing organisation, Incarace Ltd, was fined £50,000
plus £20,000 costs following an incident in which a sponsor was
killed on the racetrack in Bordesley Green, Birmingham. The victim
had entered the stadium in order to present awards to the winning
driver of the race, when he was struck by a large tractor which was
recovering vehicles. An investigation by Birmingham City Council
found that the risk assessment was not ‘suitable and sufficient’
and control measures for separating pedestrians and vehicles
were consequently not implemented. The victim did not hear the
approaching tractor and the driver could not see him either.
5 Tips to Check Your Assessments
1
2
10
Critically
examine your existing assessments to determine
whether you have placed segregation as your number one
control measure. You should look to achieve physical
segregation such by the use of robust barriers and separate
entrances. This is particularly important where vehicles are
reversing or manoeuvring in close proximity to pedestrians.
Ensure that all your pedestrian routes are clearly marked and
employees abide by your rules and stick to them.
Consider
in your assessments the possibility of a lack of
situational awareness by pedestrians. In this case the victim
could not hear the approaching tractor due to the noise of the
race cars. Another common distraction is the use of mobile
phones, so in higher-risk situations, consider banning their use.
3
Drivers
of vehicles also need a high degree of situational
awareness, so review how effectively they can spot pedestrian
hazards. Sit in the vehicle cab with the drivers to determine
how well you manage this. Look to improve their chances of
spotting a pedestrian by installing camera or proximity alert
systems. Lighting levels are important but don’t forget to check
that glare is not causing a problem.
4
Wherever
possible, limit the amount of vehicle reversing and
manoeuvring that takes place. Where this is unavoidable, use
trained banksmen to assist. High visibility reflective jackets are
also a must.
5
As
they say, ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ and where workers
are repeatedly exposed to a hazard without incident, then
complacency creeps in. Look to tackle this hidden danger by
reading our article on page 8.
Tip
✓
Monitor vehicle and pedestrian movements at various points
during the day to determine what actually happens. Include busy
periods such as at shift changes.
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
PRACTICAL TOOLS
Reduce the Risk of Fire and Explosion from Your
LPG storage
L
iquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders can pose a significant risk to employees and property from fire and
explosion should their contents leak. Keep your insurers happy and your employees and premises safe by
adopting a few simple safety measures. Use our checklist below to ensure that you storage meets basic
safety requirements. This checklist can be downloaded from your Online Resource Centre at:
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
Liquefied Petroleum Gas Storage Checklist
Check that your LPG storage can meet the following requirements.
Storage Arrangements
Download ⇣
Have you carried out an assessment under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations
2002 (DSEAR)?
Have you included LPG storage in your fire risk assessment?
Have you considered the risks from arson?
Are cylinders stored in a secure location such as an LPG store or cage so as to prevent unauthorised access?
Do you treat empty cylinders as if they are full?
Is access restricted to authorised personnel only?
Is the storage area well-ventilated?
Do you have adequate separation distances between your storage area and any boundary, buildings or fixed
ignition sources (1m minimum for up to 400kg storage).
Is LPG stored at least 2m distance from any openings into buildings, cellars, or pits such as gullies and drains?
Do you avoid storing cylinders below ground?
Are cylinders protected from excessive heat such as sunlight and standing water?
Is the area clear from combustible materials, including wind-blown leaves?
Is the area kept free from weeds (avoiding the use of chlorate-based weedkillers)?
Are cylinders stored at least 3m distance from other types of gas cylinders such as oxygen?
Are cylinders stored in the upright position?
Are warning notices clearly displayed including ‘LPG – Highly Flammable’ and ‘No Naked Flame’?
Have you assessed the risk of ignition sources in the vicinity, such as vehicles and lighting sources?
Do you store the minimum amount necessary inside your premises (this should be a maximum of 70kg with all
cylinders less than 20kg capacity)?
Have you undertaken a manual handling assessment for the movement of cylinders?
Have you assessed the risk from vehicle movements when receiving LPG supplies?
Yes No
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n n
n n
n n
Emergency
To reduce the risk of leakage are outlet valves closed while the cylinder is in store?
Do you inspect cylinders regularly for leakage?
Have employees been trained in the emergency procedures to follow in case of a gas leak or fire?
Is there a written procedure displayed which details emergency actions to take?
Are there suitable fire extinguishers (9kg dry powder) which are conveniently located in case of a fire?
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
11
HEALTH & SAFETY ADVISER
Health & Safety Adviser is a comprehensive specialist information service for Health &
Safety Managers, Managing Directors and anyone with responsibility for health & safety
within their organisation.
The Health & Safety Adviser service helps you provide a safe working environment for
employees, contractors and visitors. By keeping you up to date with the latest legal health
& safety changes, you can be guaranteed that you are always doing all the right
things to protect your workers’ safety & health.
You also get full access to your exclusive Online Resource Centre and unlimited support
from the Ask the Experts Email Helpdesk.
Online Resource Centre
Access hundreds of actionable solutions by
way of legally-compliant tools, such as checklists,
policies, risk assessments and Toolbox Talks
covering the core areas of health & safety. You can
download these immediately, edit and customise
these to your organisation’s needs. Go to:
www.safety-adviser.co.uk/resources and create
your own personal account.
Ask the Experts Email Helpdesk
Get free personal, 1:1 advice from our team of experts, including;
Health & Safety Adviser Editor-in-Chief, Ian Bollans.
Risk Assessment & Compliance Editors-in-Chief, Carolyn Dukes and Linda Crossland-Mead.
HR Adviser Editor-in-Chief, Jackie Le Poidevin.
Just email your query to hsadviser@agorabusiness.co.uk on any health & safety, HR and employment
law issue you are facing and you will receive an answer within 48 hours.
What’s in the Next Issue:
● 5 Golden Rules for Ensuring Safe Maintenance
Essential considerations to keep your maintenance staff safe.
● 7 Top Tips to Protect Your Mobile Workers
Discover the best way to protect employees while offsite.
● Keep Your Pallets Safe while Stored at Height
Prevent serious injuries in your warehouse with this essential guide.