SAFE & SOUND www.nisg.org.uk [email protected]Tel: 028 9336 8928 Vol 10 Issue 7 Warning over calving heifers HEIFERS at calving time are increasingly emerging as a danger to farmers on holdings in Northern Ireland. Malcolm Downey, of the HSENI, said continental breeds were also coming to the fore in safety issues relating to livestock. He told a national seminar on health and safety in agriculture in Athy that 21 of the 90 deaths in agriculture in Northern Ireland between 1997 and 2009 were caused by livestock. On average, seven to eight people lose their lives in farm accidents in Northern Ireland each year. Irish Independent Hearing Conservation Seminar Wednesday 29th September 2010 ....... Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common, permanent and preventable occupational injury in the world ......... ........... It is both 100% permanent and 100% preventable ......... We are delighted to welcome Brad Witt (Director of Hearing Conservation at Sperian Hearing Protection in San Diego, USA) to deliver a seminar on the latest advances, research and discoveries relating to Noise Induced Hearing Loss. If you haven’t already booked a place you can do so by contacting the Secretary ([email protected])for a brochure (pdf) and application form. The seminar is hosted in association with NISG WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS Tommy Dowds Lord Young’s report to David Cameron imminent Britain's onerous health and safety laws are stifling enterprise and may have pushed up unemployment, the peer appointed to review the legislation has warned. Lord Young said that small firms were spending up to a day every month ensuring they were complying with the regulations. He said that it was a “burden that we have to eliminate”. In an interview, Lord Young said: “What we have got to do with health and safety is to reduce bureaucracy. It is all cumulative and it adds to costs.” David Cameron has repeatedly warned of the corrosive impact that health and safety laws were having on some areas of British life. He has called for more common sense and individual responsibility rather than bureaucratic regulations. The peer is expected to conclude that although the laws are vital for the protection of workers in hazardous industries, problems have emerged from the burdens they placed on those working in shops, offices and classrooms where there are relatively minimal risks. Lord Young is expected to make his recommendations to the Prime Minister next month. The Coalition is then set to repeal various parts of the health and safety legislation. The Prime Minister is expected to rewrite laws to ensure that “good Samaritans” who intervene to help those in danger will not face prosecution. HEALTH EVENT POSTPONED Next month’s event has unfortunately had to be postponed until March, however the Safety Group are delighted to have secured two sponsors for the event - see inside pages Jabez Safety Solutions
HEIFERS at calvingtime areincreasinglyemerging as adanger to farmerson holdings inNorthern Ireland.
Malcolm Downey, ofthe HSENI, saidcontinental breedswere also coming to thefore in safety issuesrelating to livestock.
He told a nationalseminar on health andsafety in agriculture in
Athy that 21 of the 90deaths in agriculturein Northern Irelandbetween 1997 and2009 were caused bylivestock.On average, seven toeight people lose theirlives in farm accidentsin Northern Irelandeach year.
Irish Independent
Hearing Conservation Seminar
Wednesday 29th September 2010
. . . . . . . N o i s e - i n d u c e d h e a r i n g l o s s i s t h e m o s tc o m m o n , p e r m a n e n t a n dp r e v e n t a b l e o c c u p a t i o n a l i n j u r y i n t h e w o r l d . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . I t i s b o t h 1 0 0 % p e r m a n e n ta n d 1 0 0 % p r e v e n t a b l e . . . . . . . . .
We are delighted to welcome Brad Witt (Director of Hearing
Conservation at Sperian Hearing Protection in San Diego,USA) to deliver a seminar on the latest advances, research
and discoveries relating to Noise Induced Hearing Loss.
If you haven’t already booked a place you can do so by
Britain's onerous healthand safety laws arestifling enterprise andmay have pushed upunemployment, the peerappointed to review thelegislation has warned.
Lord Young said thatsmall firms werespending up to a dayevery month ensuringthey were complyingwith the regulations. Hesaid that it was a“burden that we have toeliminate”.
In an interview, LordYoung said: “What wehave got to do withhealth and safety is toreduce bureaucracy. It isall cumulative and itadds to costs.”
David Cameron hasrepeatedly warned of thecorrosive impact thathealth and safety lawswere having on someareas of British life. Hehas called for morecommon sense and
individual responsibilityrather than bureaucraticregulations.
The peer is expected toconclude that althoughthe laws are vital for theprotection of workers inhazardous industries,problems have emergedfrom the burdens theyplaced on those workingin shops, offices andclassrooms where thereare relatively minimalrisks.
Lord Young is expectedto make hisrecommendations to thePrime Minister nextmonth. The Coalition isthen set to repealvarious parts of thehealth and safetylegislation.
The Prime Minister isexpected to rewrite lawsto ensure that “goodSamaritans” whointervene to help thosein danger will not faceprosecution.
HEALTH EVENT POSTPONEDNext month’s event has unfortunately had to be postponed until March, however the Safety Group are delighted to havesecured two sponsors for the event - see inside pages
Jabez SafetySolutions
Volume 10 Issue 7 Page 2 NewsletterSponsor
HSENI UPDATE/HSENI UPDATE/HSENI UPDATE
On 8 June 2010 theHSENI called theNorthern Ireland PrisonService (NIPS) toaccount over a case ofLegionnaires’ Disease atH.M.P. Magilligan whenan inmate died afterbeing exposed tolegionella bacteriawhilst a patient in itsHealthcare Unit. Theprisoner, who died inFebruary 2007, hadunderlying healthconditions.
HSENI conducted athorough and detailedinvestigation todetermine the likelysource of exposure anddiscovered high levelsof legionella bacteria inthe Unit’s hot and coldwater system. HSENIfound the ApprovedCode of Practice forcontrolling legionellabacteria in watersystems had not beenfollowed. Whilst this isa breach of Article 5 ofthe Health and Safety atWork (Northern Ireland)Order 1978 no criminalproceedings could betaken against NIPSgiven its crown
i m m u n i t y .ThereforeH S E N Iinstigated ac r o w nc e n s u r eagainst NIPS.
At the CrownC e n s u r eHearing atH S E N I ’ sHeadqua r t e r stoday NIPS
accepted the CrownCensure, thoughstressed that there weremitigating factors, after
explaining the action ithad taken to prevent arecurrence at H.M.P.Magilligan and its otherprisons.
Mr Louis Burns, Head ofHSENI’s MajorInvestigation Teamsaid, “The system formanaging health andsafety at H.M.P.Magilligan had not beeneffective in controllingthis well-known risk.The standard was farbelow what isappropriate for aPrison."
He went on to say, "Thiscase highlights the needfor those in charge ofpremises to properlymanage hot and coldwater systems so as tominimise the risk fromlegionella bacteriaparticularly wherevulnerable people maybe present.
“Where duty holders (ortheir agents) sub-contract watertreatment programmes,it remains the dutyholder’s responsibility toensure that everyorganisation providing aservice is competentand fit for purpose, notjust at the start of acontract but throughoutthe life of the contract."
Article from HSENIpress release
On Monday the 24thMay 2010 at LagansideCrown Court in Belfast,Fernwave Limited wasfined £30,000 plus£1,700 costs, afterpleading guilty to threebreaches of health andsafety legislationbrought against themby the HSENI. Mr.Conor Bradleyrepresenting FernwaveLimited had previouslypleaded guilty on behalfof the company to thecase arising from thedeath of a worker at theObel Tower site inBelfast.
The tragic incidentinvolving the death ofMr. Jonathan Friel, ageneral labourerworking on theconstruction of the ObelTower in Belfast,occurred on 11December 2008. Duringthe removal oftemporary supportingstructures under the 4thfloor, a large section ofplywood beneath anempty service void wasleft unsupported. Thearea around the voidwas not signed orfenced off. When
removing materialsfrom this area, theplywood gave way andMr Friel fell around 10metres landing on theconcrete surface of thefirst floor. He later diedin hospital from theinjuries sustained in thisfall.
The work was notproperly planned,managed, or supervisedand this accidenthighlights the wellrecognised dangers ofwork at heights.
After the hearing Mr.Louis Burns the Head ofHSENI’s MajorInvestigation Teamsaid, “We would remindeveryone who eitherworks at height or whoorganises this type ofwork, that they must bemeticulous inpreventing people fromfalling. Falls from heightare a well known killerof people onconstruction sites andin other work sectors.The steps needed toprevent this accidentwere very basic indeed”.
NORTHERN IRELAND PRISON SERVICE CENSUREDFOLLOWING DEATH OF INMATE FROM
LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE
FERNWAVE LIMITED FINED AFTER WORKER KILLEDFROM FALL AT THE OBEL TOWER SITE IN BELFAST
Motor Vehicle RepairHSENI are partneringwith HSEGB to supporta cross-Europeaninitiative to implementthe SLIC (SeniorLabour InspectorsCommittee) campaignon risks fromhazardous substancesin SMEs by applicationin the MVR (MotorVehicle Repair)industry. There are 2phases – a research
andinformationdeliveryphase takingplace duringJuly -Septemberand a jointHSENI andDistrictCouncilenforcement phasebetween October andDecember 2010.
Volume 10 Issue 7 Page 3 NewsletterSponsor
A bakeware manufacturerthat failed to store highlyflammable substancessafely must pay a £15,227penalty after a weldersuffered 60% burns when acan of thinner exploded.
Vapours from thethinner were ignitedby a spark producedwhile the workerwas cutting metal inthe workshop. Thecontainer exploded,splashing the workerwith hot liquid andleaving him withsevere burns.
The HSE looked intothe incident atFluorocarbon BakewareSystems’ plant in Beeston,Nottingham, then decidedto bring charges against thefirm under the DangerousSubstances and ExplosiveAtmospheres Regulations(DSEAR).
Inspectors discovered norisk assessment had beencarried out for activities inthe workshop or for keepingflammable substances, andthere was no safe systemfor storing dangerouschemicals in the workshop.
“HSE’s investigationshowed there was little inthe way of directsupervision of the work,”said HSE inspector SianTiernan.
“Thinner is highlyflammable and a risk
assessment should haveshown how it should havebeen stored safely. Noappropriate store wasprovided for thinners andthe designated storagearea was too close to thework area, with terribleresults.”
At Nottingham Magistrates’Court, Fluorocarbon, whichmakes baking tins and traysunder the Prestige brand,was convicted of breachingRegulations 5(1) and 6(1)of the DSEAR Regulations,for not carrying out a riskassessment for dangeroussubstances, and failing toensure the risk wasreduced so far as isreasonably practicable.
The firm was ordered topay a £10,000 fine with£5227 in prosecution costs.
Article courtesy of HSW
Firm stored flammable liquids by welding area
Miss ing l igh t cur ta in landsd i rec tors in cour t
Two former directors ofa sheet metal makingcompany have beenconvicted of breachingwork equipmentregulations after anemployee severed twofingertips in a hydraulicpress brake.
The HSE prosecuted theowners of LuptonFabrications, DennisBrunt and PeterCritchard, after itsinvestigation revealedphotoelectric detectors,which would havestopped the machine’sbrake from crushing theworker’s fingers, hadbeen deactivated at thetime of the incident inApril 2009 and wereoverridden regularly.
The firm only startedusing the light curtainsagain after the HSE
served it withProhibition Notices.
“The fact the lightcurtains were in placeand were readilyrepaired following theserving of theProhibition Noticesmeans this terribleaccident could andshould have beenprevented,” said HSEinspector AngusRobbins.
A new company(Stealsafe), set up byBrunt and Critchard andrun from the samepremises as Lupton,which alsomanufactures metalsheets, was foundguilty of breaking thesame Regulation.
Article courtesy of HSW
HEALTH EVENT
This will now take placein March 2011.
The Safety Group aredelighted to have both
as co- sponsors of theevent.
Details will follow in thecoming months.
Untrained worker leftbrain damaged by
roof fall
A six metre roof fall thatleft a workerpermanently brain-damaged has cost twobrothers a total of£25,000 in penalties.
The HSE prosecuted Ericand Robert Murray after28 year-old Alan Hind fellthrough a gap in the roofof a steel-framedindustrial building he washelping to demolish at asite in Carlisle inFebruary 2008.
He suffered 16 skullfractures, broke his jawin three places, fracturedhis wrist, damaged a
kidney and is now deaf inhis right ear and blind inhis left eye. Parts of hisbrain were so badlydamaged that they hadto be removed, leavinghim permanentlyimpaired.
Safety Group visit to the NI Water’s TerminalPumping Station in Duncrue
The Safety Group’sannual ‘out’ meetingtook place in NI Water’sTerminal PumpingStation in Duncrue on21st June.
Attendees heard BrianHenderson of NI Watergive an overview of the
project which processesexcess storm water forGreater Belfast , followedby Brian Hill, FarransSafety Advisor on sitewho gave a practicaldemonstration on theconfined spacesprocedures usedthroughout theconstruction period ofwhat at the time wasthe largest excavation inEurope .
Congratulations go to committee member Caroline Dunlopwho married Lemond Kirton during the summer.
New consultants’ register - Standardising safety - due early next year
The voluntary schemewill create a register ofconsultants accredited togive employerscompetent advice.
The scheme was agreedat a meeting of themajor health and safetybodies chaired by HSEchief executive GeoffreyPodger on 29 June.
Most details are still tobe worked out, includinghow consultants willhave to demonstratetheir fitness to adviseemployers.
Other aspects to bedecided include whetherthere will be a fast trackonto the register foradvisers who meet themembership andcontinuing professionaldevelopmentrequirements of the mainrepresentativeorganisations, such asthe IOSH, and theIIRSM.
The scheme is expectedto apply to contractorswho provide safetyadvice; those offeringsolely occupationalhealth (OH) services willnot be covered.
Accreditation has beendiscussed by the healthand safety bodies, foralmost two years —since the Work andPensions SelectCommitteerecommended aregistration system —but previously madeslow progress.
The idea of a schemehas gained newmomentum since theConservative Party, firstin opposition and now incoalition government,turned the spotlight onwhat they say is the poorimage of health andsafety management inthe UK.
At IOSH’s annualconference in March,Conservative peer LordYoung of Graffhamcomplained that anyonecould set themselves upas a safety consultantwithout qualifications.
Lord Young is preparinga report for the primeminister on the healthand safety infrastructure.The new urgency drivinga voluntary scheme mayreflect the safetymembership bodies’ wishto avoid having acompulsory schemeimposed by government.
The HSE previously saidit would not take a leadrole in accreditingadvisers but at the 29thJune meeting GeoffreyPodger agreed that theexecutive would set upthe scheme and overseeit until it is established.
Article courtesy of HSW
Alarm Northern Irelandand the IRM are holdinga joint one day seminarcovering a wide rangeof risk managementtopics, on the 23rd
September at theRamada Hotel, Belfast.This event is free toattend. For moreinformation surf to -
