Straight-Talking, Sensible Advice for Occupational Health & Safety Professionals
When the HSE Turns Up - Are You Ready?
A warehouse operative fell 2.5 metres from a forklift at the end of a shift - triggering a RIDDOR report and an HSE site visit. For this Wiltshire company, it became proof that their H&S systems were doing exactly what they should.
The HSE found no grounds for enforcement action, because the documentation, risk assessments and safe working procedures were all in order. It was a human deviation from procedure, not a system failure - and they could prove it.
Read how Safewell supported them from RIDDOR guidance through to attending the HSE meeting:
11,000 Volts. No Risk Assessment One Devastating Outcome
A tree surgeon working at night not far from our Wiltshire location moved a mobile lighting tower, coming into contact with an 11,000-volt overhead power line. CCTV shows the moment he suffered a powerful electric shock. He later discovered burns through to the bone - and may never return to the job he loved.
The HSE investigation told a familiar, frustrating story. No proper risk assessment, no barriers, no safe system of work, no adequate training. The result was a £60,000 fine and an outcome described as entirely preventable.
If your teams work outdoors, near infrastructure, or in changing environments, are you confident your controls are adequate?
Control of Lead at Work Regulations: HSE Consultation Closes 24th May
Another HSE consultation to remind you about this month, this time focusing on proposed changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. The consultation looks at lowering blood lead exposure limits, updating the Approved Code of Practice and guidance, and gathering further evidence around lead-in-air monitoring.
It may be particularly relevant to anyone working with clients in industries where lead exposure remains a risk, so it could be worth taking a look and sharing your views before the consultation closes on 24th May.
You can read more and submit comments in the link:
Updated HSE Guidance Makes Managing Biological Risks Easier
The HSE has launched improved guidance on managing infections risks and biological hazards at work, making it easier for employers to identify hazards, assess risk, and understand what the law requires in practice.
The updated content has been streamlined to remove outdated and non-workplace material, with a clearer site structure that helps you find relevant advice based on your workplace and risk profile, alongside stronger links to related HSE resources and trusted clinical bodies such as the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency.
