QUALITY V QUANTITY AS REGULATOR REPORTS 44,000 COVID-SECURE SPOT CHECKS

The UK Health and Safety Executive’s decision to use two private sector firms to carry out workplace ‘COVID security’ assessments is being scrutinised by employers and their legal advisers, amid concern that staff at the two debt collection firms involved might not be best qualified for the role. The two …
COVID TESTING EXPANDED TO MORE WORKPLACES IN ENGLAND
HOTEL FINED £500,000 FOR FATAL FIRE

A luxury hotel in Scotland and its night porter have been prosecuted following a huge fire that killed two guests. Cameron House Resort in Loch Lomond was ordered to pay £500,000 while employee Christopher O’Malley was given a community payback order to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work after he placed …
COMPANY FINED AFTER WORKERS HAND CAUGHT IN LATHE
TESCO MUST PAY £300,000 AFTER ROLL CAGE CRUSH

Supermarket giant Tesco has been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker was crushed by a roll cage. Piotr Grzela was unloading a lorry outside a Tesco Metro store in Oxford when a trolley stacked with juice cartons toppled on to him and crushed him against the pavement. He sustained two severe …
THE RISING TIDE OF MENTAL ILL HEALTH

2020 was the year the world was turned on its head and recent studies suggest work-related stress has skyrocketed. Emily Pearson considers how home working, the UK government’s furlough scheme and being on the front line have all had an impact and provides advice on how you can support your workforce. The …
BUILDING SAFETY BILL CONSTRUCTS A NEW REGIME
SCAFFOLDING COMPANY FINED AFTER SCAFFOLDING COLLAPSE

A scaffolding company has been fined for safety failings after scaffolding collapsed on to a street in Maidenhead while it was being dismantled. The collapse could have resulted in serious injury or loss of life, says the HSE. The investigation into the incident, which occurred on the 30 April 2018, …
DUST BLITZ CATCHES COVID BREACHES

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) month-long initiative inspecting respiratory risks and occupational lung disease in the construction sector has revealed some workers are confused between RPE and PPE, the regulator has confirmed. Though the inspection programme, which ran throughout October, examines respiratory risks and occupational lung disease, especially asbestos (outside of …