Fire safety experts have called for immediate action from employers in charge of properties to prevent more loss of life. The fire safety guidance for residential care premises has now been updated by the National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services (NASHiCS) and the Chief Fire Officers Association. Many of the points in the new guide are applicable to all employers in charge of properties. The news comes after a series of fires in residential homes caused serious accidents in the UK. The…
After Harrison Ford broke his leg on set, the latest stage for a Star Wars follow up will be a high court room, with a Disney subsidiary facing charges for four safety breaches. What can businesses learn from this spaceship slip up? “May the 4th be with you” … or in this case, 8 days after the 4th when a high profile 'Star Wars’ Health & Safety court case will take place. Towards the end of 2015, movie fans from all over the UK were…
As businesses return to work and look forward to what the New Year will bring, it is also a good time to start the year on the right footing with your Health & Safety Management Programme. So, how do you establish where you are at with your own business and your Health & Safety programme? A simple Health & Safety Audit with Moorepay can give you the support that you need, as a subscribed and valued customer, you may already have the Audits available to…
January 2016 saw a takeaway shop getting fined £2,000, with costs of £2,360, for failure to produce an ELCI (Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance) certificate. Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court heard how local fire protection services notified the HSE that the business did not have ELCI. After numerous letters to the Takeaway business they failed to provide a copy of their insurance. The Company was prosecuted and found guilty of an offence under Section 4(2)(b) of the Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969. What is employers’ liability insurance?…
Effective management of Health & Safety can save up to 50% of your insurance costs, according to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). A recent case study from the HSE showed how a relatively small construction site managed to reduce its insurance costs by around 50%. This was achieved by creating a positive Health & Safety culture and ensuring employee engagement. All too often a Health & Safety policy is seen as a bit of paper on the staff notice board and the management of…
The biggest change to Health & Safety Legislation since the 70s will come into force in February 2016, which will see offences such as corporate manslaughter, Health & Safety, food safety and hygiene punished more severely. The introduction of the guidelines will mean that, in some cases, offenders will receive higher penalties for serious offences, particularly for larger companies, whilst reserving prison sentences for very serious offences. We could see an increase in fines across the board and many more directors, managers and junior employees…
Many employers are unaware that some of the substances they use could result in their employees suffering adverse health effects. One of the most common failings identified our team of Health & Safety professionals relates to the management of Substances Hazardous to Health. The information gathered by employers on this topic is often out dated, which means that their Health & Safety assessments could no longer be suitable or sufficient if the supplier’s information, ingredients or exposure levels have changed. So how can you make…
More and more Directors and Senior Managers are being prosecuted alongside the companies they own or manage for Health & Safety breaches. Figures published indicate a 400% increase in this type of prosecution from 2000 to 2011 and they continue to feature heavily in the news. In a recent example, a skip company was fined £65,000, ordered to pay costs of £25,000 and the Director went to prison after an employee fell to his death in an excavator accident. The company was found to have…
Dressing up and decorating the office at Halloween can be fun. However, there are a few things to consider to make sure the day doesn’t end up with a trip to casualty. Decorations Make sure suitable step ladders are used for putting up any decorations. Don’t use office chairs, desks, filing cabinets or domestic grade steps. Pumpkins with candles can be effective but do you need to introduce a naked flame into the workplace. Consider using battery powered tea lights or small torches in place…
Businesses can more easily be brought to justice when people die as a result of their actions. Under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which came into force on the 6th April 2008, it is now easier to bring a company to justice following fatalities resulting from their undertakings. When a company is prosecuted it faces the prospect of being found guilty if they are judged to have caused death due to their gross corporate health and safety failings. Under previous legislation a company…
