What is a permit to work and how should it be implemented?

A permit to work system ensures that all necessary actions are taken, before, during and after particularly hazardous operations. They are formal documents specifying the work to be undertaken and what precautions are required. Work can not commence until safe procedures have been defined. The permit provides a written record identifying foreseeable hazards, required actions and control measures. It must be signed by a responsible officer in evidence of this and must also be in the possession of the person in charge of the operation before work can commence. Permits to work are normally used in relation to maintenance work which can only be carried out if normal safe working practices are not practical. Read More

How can I meet my legal responsibilities regarding staff stress and improve staff efficiency?

When employers’ health and safety obligations extends to the state of the minds of staff, it is perhaps understandable that even those managers less cynical about health & safety compliance find themselves reaching towards heaven in what is likely to be a futile gesture begging divine intervention. In reality however, effective management of stress at work not only meets legal requirements but also represents an opportunity to review people-management skills such as staff motivation, job fulfilment, management support and reduction of time lost due to ill health. Read More

How can I effectively manage and control the safety of pedestrians in the workplace?

Hazards faced by people walking around the workplace can be divided into two groups:

1. Slips, trips and falls, on the same level, changing levels or from height
Hazards on the same level include wet or greasy floors due to spillages, shiny or slippery surface, poorly positioned, low level stacks or merchandise, trailing cables, uneven or loose surfaces, damaged surfaces, poor housekeeping and adverse weather conditions.
Hazards due to changing levels include using chairs instead of ladders, steps of unequal height, poorly designed or inadequate handrails and ladders slipping.
Falls from height is a major problem requiring specific assessment and control measures

2. Collisions; striking or being struck by a moving or stationery object
Collisions with moving vehicles may result from the pedestrian not expecting vehicles in a workplace environment. Vehicles may move across areas usually reserved for pedestrians and vision may be generally restricted. Read More

Who is likely to be susceptible to Dermatitis and what can I do to prevent it?

Dermatitis is the most common occupational health disease in the UK. In fact it is one of the major causes of occupational ill health. Statistics show that occupational dermatitis makes up almost two thirds of compensation claims under the social security scheme for prescribed industrial disease.

Skin anywhere on the body may be affected by work-related dermatitis, but it most commonly affects the hands, as these are the parts of the body that come into contact with chemicals most frequently. Some cases of facial dermatitis have been associated with low humidity and also with the use of visual display units (VDUs) as discovered by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) in a report on the hazards of ionising and non-ionising radiation in VDU users, although the cases are rare and the causes have not been proven. Read More

What are my obligations regarding employees who work from home?

The benefits to both employers and employees of working at home are clear, so it is not surprising that this is an increasing trend. However employers’ duties under the Health & Safety at Work Act (and regulations such as the Management of Health & Safety at Work) apply as fully to home workers as they do to any other member of staff.

Similarly, home workers must ensure that their actions do not adversely affect their own health & safety or that of others. Conversely risk may also be compounded by virtue of the fact that work often takes place alone. Read More