The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), recently warned employers to be aware of the effect the combination of the credit crunch and the Christmas rush could have on staff stress levels.

IOSH says that worries over the credit crunch, job security, childcare and the late shopping rush could all mount up during the Festive season, and predicts that those working in shops, pubs and restaurants could find themselves under greater pressure than normal, with cut-price offers designed to boost sales figures.

There are many signs of stress, but the safety organisation says some common signs and symptoms include:

·         increased susceptibility to colds and other infections

·         headaches

·         tiredness and sleep difficulties

·         back and neck ache

·         digestive problems

·         wanting to cry

·         short temperedness

·         eating without being hungry

·         smoking and drinking excessively

·         loss of motivation and commitment.

In the UK, recent statistics indicate that work-related stress accounts for over a third of all new incidences of ill health, with 415,000 people in 2008/09 believing work-related stress was making them ill. Work-related stress, depression and anxiety led to the loss of 11.4 million work days. On average, a member of staff off work with work-related stress will be absent for around 27 days.

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The safety of employees at industrial estates across Sunderland came under the microscope as the HSE and Sunderland City Council launched a joint inspection on premises. More than 65 businesses were inspected in the crackdown resulting in 15 Improvement Notices being served and only one company received a Prohibition Notice. 

HSE Inspectors say these statistics should be taken as an encouraging sign that the health and safety message is getting through to businesses, but more still needs to be done.

HSE served the Improvement Notices demanding additional safeguards be provided within a certain time frame after inspectors identified health and safety concerns at several premises. A Prohibition Notice was issued to one company in relation to unguarded, dangerous machinery and meant work was stopped at the firm immediately and will remain so until remedial action has been taken.

Further action is also being taken in relation to landlords’ responsibilities under health and safety legislation at several of the industrial estates visited.

Keith Anderson, Principal Environmental Health Officer at Sunderland City Council, commented that

“The exercise was a complete success and reinforced the strong working relationships already developed with our counterparts in the HSE. We identified numerous new businesses on industrial estates and offered guidance and advice on health and safety as well as taking more formal action for more serious breaches of legislation.

This is an approach being taken by the HSE and councils all over the country.

Would your business stand the scrutiny of this type of inspection? Why not take a look at a range of examples of how we have helped businesses to improve their health and safety.

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A North London-based international waste management company has been fined £150,000 for health and safety breaches following a major chemical fire in Preston which closed two motorways.

This follows a fire that started in an open area of Veolia ES Cleanaway (UK) Ltd’s site at the Red Scar Industrial Estate on Longridge Road in Preston. Some 66 firefighters were called in to tackle the blaze and they reported seeing drums rocketing into the air and off the site after setting alight.

Emergency services closed the industrial estate and sections of the M6 and M55 motorways for several hours during the morning commute while they tackled the blaze, due to fears that smoke and fumes would travel if the wind changed direction. The fire was extinguished by mid-afternoon after more than 132,000 litres of chemicals were set alight.

The area where the fire started was used as a storage space for drums of chemicals and HSE inspectors believe the blaze was caused by lithium batteries igniting nearby waste materials.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service issued three enforcement notices following the incident covering breaches of fire prevention legislation. The HSE also issued an improvement notice requiring the revision and rewriting of site operating procedures.

Veolia was charged with breaching regulations 6(3) and 9(1) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 in failing to take appropriate measures to control the storage of dangerous substances, and in failing to provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training for its employees.

Veolia, which has its headquarters on Pentonville Road in North London, pleaded guilty to the two offences at Preston Crown Court on 9 December 2009. The company was ordered to pay a fine of £150,000, as well as court costs of £90,000.

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The survey undertaken by the Better Regulation Executive examined what factors help shape public perception in various areas. The study found widespread approval of regulation amongst the public; however it did identify that the benefits are often overlooked when the perception is that risks are low.

Although the findings were generally positive towards health and safety, where people felt it was over regulated those people were extremely cynical. The supervisory and junior management roles in businesses were the most critical of regulations; which might be because they are the group usually tasked with enforcing rules in the workplace.

The report did cite health and safety as one of the biggest culprits for producing wordy and unclear regulations; an issue supported by the Federation of Small Businesses who found that 27% of its membership claimed that complex regulations was a reason not to expand their business.

Are you finding understanding health and safety regulations a burden?  Why not contact MESH to see how we could help you overcome these barriers?

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