the wood and wood products industry
Health and Safety News
Here you will find regular HSE updates on the latest news covering all aspects of Health & Safety in the workplace. For more information please visit the Health and Safety Executive website. For specific information on Health and Safety in the Woodworking Industry TTF Members can click here.
Figures released for fatalities in Manufacturing Industries
New figures for the number of workers who were fatally injured in the manufacturing sector have today been released by HSE. They show that between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010 24 manufacturing workers were killed at work, compared to an average of 38 in the past five years, and a fall of 27 per cent on 2008/09 when 33 workers died. http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/hse-fatals0910manuf.htm
STATISTICS ON FATAL INJURIES IN THE WORKPLACE 2009/10
Provisional data for the period April 2009 - March 2010 shows a statistically significant decrease in the rate of fatal injury to workers compared to the average rate for the previous five years, and reinforces an underlying downward trend. http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/hubresults/0910.htm?ebul=stats/jun-10&cr=01
QUARTERLY RELEASE OF NON-FATAL INJURIES JANUARY - MARCH 2010
The quarterly non-fatal injury series provides an early indication of the latest trends in accidents to employees reported under RIDDOR. This release covers the period January - March 20010 and a look back over the past 5 years. http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/riddoranalysis.htm?ebul=stats/jun-10&cr=02
Falls from Height - Work at height Access equipment Information Toolkit
Do you work at height occassionally? Check out all the free advice and guidance in the HSEs new WAIT toolkit - (Work at Height Access Equipment Information Toolkit; Find it at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/wait/findoutmore.htm?ebul=slips/may-10&cr=3
Do you work on roofs?
New guidance now available http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg284.pdf?ebul=slips/may-10&cr=5
Occupational health advice - looking after your business
The Government has launched an occupational health advice line which is being piloted within England, Scotland and Wales. The pilot will run until March 2011. The advice line will provide small business owners, managers and employees with early and easy access to high quality, professional advice tailored to business needs. http://news.hse.gov.uk/lau/2010/05/28/occupational-health-advice-%e2%80%93-looking-after-your-business/?rss=
Respiratory Risk Study
The HSE Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) project aims to help employers inselecting and using RPE correctly. For further details and to view the report, go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr798.htm.
Self-Reported Work-Related Illness and workplace Injury
Published at the end of March: Detailed results from the Labour Force Survey for 2008/09 on self-reported work-related illness (SWI) and workplace injuries, summary report and PART 1: Tables containing breakdowns by government office region and country, and occupation and industry.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/0809/hubresults.htm?ebul=stats/apr-10&cr=04
Workplace Temperature Review
The HSE is reviewing measures for ensuring health and safety at work in relation to maximum workplace temperature. With this in mind, HSE wants to identify those sectors where thermal environment is an issue and to scope the full extent of the problem. For more information go to: http://news.hse.gov.uk/lau/2010/02/01/workplace-temperature-review/?rss=
Safe and sound at work - do your bit
A new HSE Worker Involvement campaign is soon to be launched. The 'do your bit' initiative will run for a year in total and is aimed at both employers and workers in non-unionised Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) amongst construction, manufacturing and transport/storage industry sectors. For more information go to: http://news.hse.gov.uk/lau/2010/02/24/safe-and-sound-at-work-do-your-bit/?rss=
Respiratory Protective Equipment - Project launch
To support dutyholders in selecting and using Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) a project will aid delivery of the Health and Safety Executives (HSE's) strategy to specifically target key health issues & and reduce respiratory disease. More info can be found at: http://news.hse.gov.uk/lau/2010/02/24/respiratory-protective-equipment-%e2%80%93-project-launch/?rss=
STEP: Slips & Trips - Footwear Report & Footwear Table
A new footwear report - RR780 'Monitoring the Slip Resistance of Emerging Workplace Footwear' is now on the HSE web site. Please click on the following link to view the report http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr780.htm?ebul+slips/feb-10&cr=3
The footwear table has also been updated on the HSE website, please click on the following link to view the table http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/research/footwear-results-december09.pdf?ebul+slips/feb-10&cr=4
Work at height Access equipment Information Toolkit (WAIT)
New for the 2010, is the WAIT toolkit. If you need to occasionally work at height, and aren't sure about which access equipment to use, HSE created WAIT to help you select the correct access equipment for the job. It gives users practical advice and guidance on the factors to consider when selecting access equipment for planned work at height. It also gives guidance on how to work at height safely, plus useful information on some of the different types of access equipment available.
Click here to access WAIT
SLIPS AND TRIPS ELEARNING PACKAGE (STEP)
STEP is a popular way HSE tool to learn about slips and trips why they happen and how to manage the risks in an innovative and engaging way. Over 59,000 people have already accessed the tool and are staying on it for an average of 17 minutes.
Start the STEP Tool now by clicking here or view the STEP FAQs by clicking here.
ASSESSMENT OF SLIPS SAFETY INFORMATION/LITERATURE PROVIDED BY FLOORING AND FOOTWEAR SUPPLIERS
According to HSE figures, nearly 11,000 workers suffered serious injury as a result of a slip or trip in 2007. A key element of HSE's work to reduce slips and trips is to raise awareness of how slip risks can be controlled through the use of suitable flooring and footwear. Click here to view this the new research report; Assessment of slips safety information/literature provided by flooring and footwear suppliers.
SHATTERED LIVES POSTERS
HSE have recently updated all of their campaign posters so they can be personalised for your workplace. View the new posters and all the campaign materials here.
THE WORK AT HEIGHT SOLUTIONS DATABASE IS NOW AVAILABLE
The solutions database contains advice and guidance for safe working at height. This useful list of common questions and answers are drawn from information given by the HSE Falls from Height Team to enquirers on understanding the Regulations, on work at height equipment selection and on equipment use. By searching the list you may find the right information for your own enquiry. Click here.
HEALTH AND SAFETY STATISTICS 2008/09
Health and safety statistics 2008/09 were published on 28 October. This release gives the latest statistics on work-related health, safety and enforcement in Great Britain. The release includes a pocket-sized booklet providing headline figures and commentary supported by a range of material on the HSE Statistics website.
Click here
MESOTHELIOMA DEATHS
Data and analysis of mesothelioma deaths 2007 which was due to be released in August now coincides with the release of Health and safety statistics.
Click here
PSYCHOSOCIAL WORKING CONDITIONS SURVEY 2009 REPORT
A report detailing the results from the latest HSE Psychosocial Working Conditions survey (2009) has been published. This is the sixth in an annual survey series which provides a snapshot of working conditions across the British workforce.
Click here
OCCUPATIONAL MORTALITY IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1991-2000
The Office for National Statistics and HSE will publish a report on occupational associations with causes of death for this time period. The report will be available from the Office for National Statistics website from 09:30 on 29 October 2009. It is the latest in the longstanding series of such analyses formerly known as Registrar General's Reports on Occupational Mortality. It has been prepared by Professor David Coggon and colleagues at the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre with the support of staff at the Health & Safety Laboratory. An ONS Statistical Bulletin summarising the findings will be published at the same time. For the first time the underlying data will be available from the ONS website in a format allowing others to undertake their own analyses of the data.
ASBESTOS HIDDEN KILLER CAMPAIGN
HSE is launching it's Hidden Killer campaign on 2 November 2009.
Every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related disease. If you carry out work on a building that was built or refurbished before the year 2000, you could have been exposed to asbestos, without even knowing it.
Asbestos is a hidden killer. So now's the time to get clued up on the facts, so that you, your workmates, your friends and family are protected.
Click here
New Local Authority Circular (LAC) - Requirements for Slip-Resistant Floor Finishes in the Workplace
This circular provides advice to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Local Authority (LA) inspectors on the application of regulations 12(1), (2) and (3) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 to the prevention of slips incidents, particularly through the installation of slip-resistant floor finishes. Click here.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding companies of the importance of adequately guarded machinery following an incident where a man lost four fingers and part of his thumb.
More information can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coise0210tex.htm
Forward look
For all forthcoming National Statistics publications and other statistical releases, you can access the online release schedule.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/books.htm?ebul=stats/sep-09&cr=04
Did you know?
The UK Statistics Authority also provides the statistics release schedule for HSE and other government departments that you may have an interest in. This can be found at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ReleaseCalendar/findreleases.asp?sortorder=
0&showhits=10/?ebul=stats/sep-09&cr=05.
