Congratulations to UPP, the University Partnerships Programme, who have recently gained certification to ISO 9001:2008. UPP manage residential facilities at several universities, including Exeter and Lancaster.
See about our certification successes.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Don't get us confused with Strategic Safety Services
Strategic Safety Systems Ltd., have been confused for many years with Strategic Safety Services.
According to Companies House, Strategic Safety Services are in liquidation.
But we would like to say that, we at Strategic Safety Systems Ltd., are still going strong, as ever!
Go to SSS.
According to Companies House, Strategic Safety Services are in liquidation.
But we would like to say that, we at Strategic Safety Systems Ltd., are still going strong, as ever!
Go to SSS.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Beware Free Granted Funded ISO Certification
Just received leaflet on Free Granted Funded ISO Certification.
The problems with what is being offered are:
See how to get 14001 or 9001
The problems with what is being offered are:
- The certification body is not UKAS accredited. Without this, the certificate has the same value as Monopoly money.
- The organisation developing the system cannot be the same as the certification body.
See how to get 14001 or 9001
Friday, 3 June 2011
Where are we with "white asbestos"?
An article has just been published entitled "White asbestos definitely a top-level carcinogen, says expert". The opening paragraph states that the Government’s chief scientific advisor has no valid reason to demote crysotile (white) asbestos to a less-serious category than a Class 1 carcinogenic substance.
Basically, the article then goes on to say that unlike the amphibole forms of asbestos (brown and blue) where there is a lot of data there is much less data on pure crysotile, so it's being assumed as being a concern. This is the safe and arguably sensible stance to take, but hardly a "definite" conclusion.
See article
Basically, the article then goes on to say that unlike the amphibole forms of asbestos (brown and blue) where there is a lot of data there is much less data on pure crysotile, so it's being assumed as being a concern. This is the safe and arguably sensible stance to take, but hardly a "definite" conclusion.
See article
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Business Continuity Management always a good idea
As part of our Business Continuity Management (BCM) services, we have helped one of our clients set up a BCM programme. This highlighted exposure in having only one sub-contractor approved by one of their (aerospace) clients for a particular anodising process.
On the Monday, they made their customer aware of this situation. With perfect timing, on the Tuesday, this sub-contractor had a fire which will put them out of operation for 3 months. Had they started the BCM process earlier, they would have had an alternate sub-contractor already approved. Instead, they had to initiate a hurried approval process; it could have been worse.
See about our BCM programmes.
On the Monday, they made their customer aware of this situation. With perfect timing, on the Tuesday, this sub-contractor had a fire which will put them out of operation for 3 months. Had they started the BCM process earlier, they would have had an alternate sub-contractor already approved. Instead, they had to initiate a hurried approval process; it could have been worse.
See about our BCM programmes.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Health and safety consultants national register launched
28 March 2011
A national register to help businesses find qualified health and safety consultants has been launched with the backing of the government.
More than 1,600 consultants have signed up to the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR), which has been created to increase employers’ confidence that they are receiving “good quality, proportionate health and safety advice”.
In order to be eligible, each consultant must belong to a professional body, have a degree-level qualification, at least two years’ experience and have demonstrated a commitment to continuing their professional development.
Launching the register, employment minister Chris Grayling said:
“We have launched an official Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register for those health and safety practitioners who are properly accredited to one of the professional bodies in the industry. Those who do not have the requisite expertise and experience will be excluded from the register, making it easier for employers to access reliable, reputable advice.”
In response to various calls for a single national register specifically for fire risk assessors, various organisations are working to establish an agreed unified competency standard, although progress has been slower than expected. At present, however, there are only separate registers of fire risk assessors run by individual bodies.
OSHCR has been established by a number of professional bodies representing general safety and occupational health consultants, with support from the Health and Safety Executive, in response to the government-commissioned Common Sense Common Safety report into Britain’s health and safety system, which called for improved competence in health and safety advice.
Monday, 28 March 2011
Huge fine for vehicle manufacturer for forklift fatality
An automotive-parts manufacturer has been fined £400,000 after an employee was killed during what was supposed to be his last day with the company.
Darren Small, 35, was working as a distribution clerk at Calsonic Kansei UK Ltd’s factory in Llanelli, Wales, when the incident took place, on 17 March 2008, which was meant to be his last day at the company before he took voluntary redundancy. He had gone on to the factory floor to give an instruction to the driver of a reach truck. When the conversation ended the truck driver reversed and accidently struck Mr Small, knocking him to the ground. He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital three days later.
HSE inspector Stephen Jones told SHP the incident could have been avoided if the firm had procedures in place to separate pedestrians from traffic inside the factory. He explained that Mr Small would not have needed to approach the driver if vehicles had been fitted with two-way radios, or if a safe zone had been created where the driver could have met him to receive instructions. He said: “It's fairly routine for forklift trucks to operate within the same area as pedestrians in this industry. However, working procedures and systems need to be in place to prevent vehicles colliding with people. ”This tragic incident could have been avoided had all contractors and employees been aware of the risks, and had the safety procedures been taken to avoid such risks.”
Inspector Jones also revealed that the company had reported a similar incident in 2006, when a forklift truck ran over a worker’s ankle. Following that incident, the HSE wrote to Calsonic Kansei UK, urging it to review its safe system of work for moving vehicles at the site.
Swansea Crown Court heard that the truck drivers at the factory were employed by David European Transport, trading as FT Logistics, which is based in Calcea, Italy. The company went into liquidation shortly after the incident and the HSE didn’t think it was worthwhile pursuing charges against it.
Calsonic Kansei UK Ltd appeared at Swansea Crown Court on 18 March and pleaded guilty to breaching s2(1) of the HSWA 1974 and was fined £334,000. It also pleaded guilty to breaching s3(1) of the same Act, for putting FT Logisitcs staff at risk, and was fined £66,000. The company was also ordered to pay £44,790 in costs.
In mitigation, Calsonic said it has implemented a number of changes following Mr Small’s death, which include creating a new policy to prohibit workers from being within one metre of a moving vehicle. It has also invested a lot of money in replacing many of the reach trucks with tow tugs, which are automated guidance vehicles with sensors that isolate the tug if people approach while it is moving.
Source: SHP
Darren Small, 35, was working as a distribution clerk at Calsonic Kansei UK Ltd’s factory in Llanelli, Wales, when the incident took place, on 17 March 2008, which was meant to be his last day at the company before he took voluntary redundancy. He had gone on to the factory floor to give an instruction to the driver of a reach truck. When the conversation ended the truck driver reversed and accidently struck Mr Small, knocking him to the ground. He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital three days later.
HSE inspector Stephen Jones told SHP the incident could have been avoided if the firm had procedures in place to separate pedestrians from traffic inside the factory. He explained that Mr Small would not have needed to approach the driver if vehicles had been fitted with two-way radios, or if a safe zone had been created where the driver could have met him to receive instructions. He said: “It's fairly routine for forklift trucks to operate within the same area as pedestrians in this industry. However, working procedures and systems need to be in place to prevent vehicles colliding with people. ”This tragic incident could have been avoided had all contractors and employees been aware of the risks, and had the safety procedures been taken to avoid such risks.”
Inspector Jones also revealed that the company had reported a similar incident in 2006, when a forklift truck ran over a worker’s ankle. Following that incident, the HSE wrote to Calsonic Kansei UK, urging it to review its safe system of work for moving vehicles at the site.
Swansea Crown Court heard that the truck drivers at the factory were employed by David European Transport, trading as FT Logistics, which is based in Calcea, Italy. The company went into liquidation shortly after the incident and the HSE didn’t think it was worthwhile pursuing charges against it.
Calsonic Kansei UK Ltd appeared at Swansea Crown Court on 18 March and pleaded guilty to breaching s2(1) of the HSWA 1974 and was fined £334,000. It also pleaded guilty to breaching s3(1) of the same Act, for putting FT Logisitcs staff at risk, and was fined £66,000. The company was also ordered to pay £44,790 in costs.
In mitigation, Calsonic said it has implemented a number of changes following Mr Small’s death, which include creating a new policy to prohibit workers from being within one metre of a moving vehicle. It has also invested a lot of money in replacing many of the reach trucks with tow tugs, which are automated guidance vehicles with sensors that isolate the tug if people approach while it is moving.
Source: SHP
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