The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) said ministers would risk weakening public health and the national economy if they implemented all recommendations made in a recent Government-commissioned review of health and safety.

Lord Young of Graffham’s review findings – ‘Common Sense, Common Safety’ – were published in October after Prime Minister David Cameron ordered a fresh look at health and safety and the perceived compensation culture.

IOSH welcomed the report as a “long overdue attempt to restore the reputation” of the profession. But in ‘Getting the Balance Right’ – its response document published – the Institution says there are problems with proposals made by Lord Young, and that the review has “missed opportunities”.

In his report on health and safety, Lord Young recommended that RIDDOR be amended ‘by extending to seven days the period before an injury or accident needs to be reported’. In line with commitments made in the Government’s formal response to the report – HSE opens a three month consultation in January 2011.

Under current rules, when an employee is absent from work for more than three days following an incident or injury at work, employers are required to report the incident to the relevant enforcing authority – either HSE or the local council. The proposed amendment increases this ‘over three day’ period to over seven consecutive days. This change would align the incident reporting threshold with that for obtaining a ‘fit note’ from a GP for sickness absence, and would ensure that someone who has suffered a reportable injury has had a professional medical assessment.

The HSE has commented that whilst there will be some obvious advantages in reducing the reporting requirements on business, there will be other factors which need to be taken into account. The HSE hopes that interested parties will use the consultation exercise to provide the range of perspectives to consider in order to advise the Government appropriately.

The debate at the end of November 2010 had most of the speakers welcoming elements of the report; particularly the cracking down on “no win no fee” lawyers and claims management firms.

However there was also dissent over some of the report proposals; most scathing was from the ROSPA president, Lord Jordan who said the report was rushed and seemed more about pleasing the tabloids than a well-researched and sober assessment of the changing nature of threats to life and limb in the workplace. He continued that there was too much reliance on hearsay evidence and anecdotes and a lack of understanding of risk; evidence by the crude division of low and high risk workplaces.

Fire safety investigators found a number of contraventions including corridors that were partially blocked by plastic crates and a fire exit that was locked by four padlocks. At the other side of the fire exit was a security door which was also locked.

Appearing at Isleworth Crown Court, Greggs pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These were under article nine, for shortcomings found in its fire risk assessment, and article 14, which concerned emergency routes and exits.

A notice sent to the company in January 2009 highlighted the need for a review of its fire risk assessment, an emergency plan and appropriate staff training.

Neither company had carried out suitable risk assessments before allowing workers to handle potentially hazardous materials, such as aerosols, and both had failed to train or monitor staff in their disposal, the court heard.

The HSE prosecuted Deeside Metal Company Ltd, of Saltney, Chester, and Jeyes UK Ltd, of Bromfield Industrial Estate, Mold, for failing to have proper controls in place to manage the extremely flammable materials which led to the fatal burn injuries.

Deeside Metal Company Ltd pleaded guilty and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000. Jeyes UK Ltd pleaded guilty and was fined £330,000 with £50,000 costs.

He was taken to hospital for treatment but had already suffered irreparable damage and has been left permanently blind in one eye.

A safety alert has been issued by the HSE to warn service and maintenance engineers and those in the construction industry who use, or lease out, JLG 500RTS and 400 RTS scissor lifts, to ensure that safety critical components are working correctly.

Though this safety alert is primarily to warn those who own and use these specific models of scissor lift, and those with similar interlock systems, it should serve as a reminder to all users of mobile elevating work platforms that there is a need to regularly maintain, inspect and test the equipment. This isn’t just recommended by manufacturers but is also required by law.

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