In considering the issue of employing contractors 2 recent court cases have proved a point. Both cases involved a worker being engaged and then being asked to do something which was outside of their skill set which not resulted in a safety failure leading to serious injuries being sustained but a significant financial cost to… Read More
What is occupational disease? An occupational disease is any symptom or illness that evolves from an individual’s exposure to risk factors in the workplace. These illnesses can have numerous causes and symptoms, and can vary wildly in severity. The earliest recognised occupational illness was squamous-cell carcinoma of the scrotum, which was identified in chimney sweep… Read More
What is Asbestosis? It is well known that asbestos is dangerous to our health if it should be disturbed, and can cause a person to suffer with terrible illnesses later in life. One of the main concerns from working with asbestos is suffering from asbestosis. Asbestosis is a long term chronic lung disease, caused by… Read More
Who is at risk from asbestos? Asbestos as we know can be considerably detrimental to our health, and related illnesses to asbestos can take years to appear. Of these illnesses, the most common is lung cancer, which can be very serious. We must be aware that everyone can be exposed to asbestos in low doses… Read More
Respiratory points for concern on site Construction sites are dangerous places. There are hazards around every corner, so it’s vital that all contractors know how to work safely and without risk to their health. One health and safety concern on site is dust and respirable crystalline silica, which can cause breathing problems. According to HSE,… Read More
Having a fire in the workplace can be devastating for your business, and some businesses never recover. Understanding the potential fire hazards in your office is the first step in limiting the risks. Common office fire safety risks Damaged power cords Power cords are everywhere in offices. Whether powering a computer, a lamp or the… Read More
Basic factors for thermal comfort How hot or cold employees are while they go about their work can affect their health and safety. Being too warm can increase the risk of heat stroke, collapse, or worse. If the body’s temperature drops too low, there’s a risk of employees developing headaches, throat irritation, fatigue, eye irritation… Read More
At the beginning of the year, Bupa revealed the results of their study which found that less than one in three workers take a proper lunch break each day. The study of 2,000 full time workers found that less than a third take a full hour for lunch each day, and over a quarter, never… Read More
Silica is a natural material present in a range of materials including sand, sandstone and granite. When these materials are cut, drilled or otherwise disturbed within construction activity then fine airborne dust is generated which, when inhaled, is recognised as a significant cause of silicosis and other lung diseases. Silicosis is a long-term lung disease… Read More
Working is generally a great thing for people. It gives structure to your life, can provide an income to enable you to maintain a standard of living and can give a sense of pride and satisfaction. Sometimes, unfortunately, working can have a negative impact, and leave people feeling overwhelmed and unhappy – feelings which impact… Read More