General guidance

 RIDDOR Changes April 2012

The reporting requirement for over three-day injuries has now changed to injuries of  over seven days.  Work-related injuries shall be reported where they have resulted in a worker becoming incapacitated for more than seven consecutive days, which do not include the day of the accident but will include  rest days and weekends. This shall be reported within 15 days of the date of the accident. Over three day injuries will still be formally recorded but there is no requirement to report.

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012

Requirements that relate to licensed work are unchanged. The main change is that employers carrying out some types of non-licensed work will be required to notify that work, ensure workers have medical examinations at least once every 3 years and to keep a record of the work done by each worker.

A transitional period (until 30 April 2015) will be implemented, and then the new requirement for workers carrying out certain types of non-licensed work to have a medical examination will be enforced.  Further guidance can be found on the HSE’s website.

Health & Safety Fees Regulations 2012

Fees for intervention will come into force 1^st October 2012.

This will allow a fee of £124 per hour to be charged by the HSE by an inspector for enforcement action, letters or notices.

The HSE have advised that they will charge these fees when there is a material breach of the health & safety law in the opinion of the inspector, and that the inspector must notify that breach in writing

The HSE to re-write the CDM regulations

The HSE have announced that they will be redrafting the CDM2007 regulations for re-issue in 2014

Further detail will be announced after the HSE board paper is presented in December.

+++ Legislation Update +++

The requirements for no-smoking signs have changed as part of the Government’s drive (Red tape challenge)

The new Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2012 (the 2012 Regulations) came into force on Monday 01-10-2012 and replace the Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2007.The new Regulations set out the minimum requirements for no-smoking signs in smoke-free premises and vehicles.

The duty to display no-smoking signs in smoke-free premises and vehicles in England is being made simpler.  At least one legible no-smoking sign must be displayed but businesses are now free to decide the size, design and location of the signs

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Useful Guidance

What is Work at Height?

Work at height is work in any place, including a place at, above or below ground level, where a person could be injured if they fell from that place. Access and egress to a place of work can also be work at height.

Confined Spaces Can Be Deadly

On average, work in confined spaces kills people every year in the UK across a wide range of industries, from those involving complex plant through to simple storage vessels. In addition, a number of people are seriously injured. Those killed include not only people working in confined spaces but those who try to rescue them without proper training and equipment.

What is a Confined Space?

It can be any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions (for instance, a lack of oxygen).

Some confined spaces are fairly easy to identify, e.g. enclosures with limited openings: Others may be less obvious, but can be equally dangerous such as an opened top enclosure.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation 2002 has been significantly updated, as from 2005

The focus has now been placed on good practice to help employers prevent their employees’ health being harmed by the chemicals used in their workplace.

For general enquiries and impartial advice please contact : chris@chriscahill.co.uk