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Comply to Win
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Gordon Ramsay puts the F word into
Health &
Safety
Gordon Ramsay is a household name for both his Michelin
starred cooking and his TV programmes such as The F- word. The
Training College for his employees offers a number of courses
to gain a more in depth knowledge and appreciation of their
jobs. One of the courses offered is on Health & Safety –
so it’s a shame Gordon hasn’t been on it himself recently!
Just a month after receiving two Michelin stars for his New
York restaurant, Gordon is reported to have fallen foul of the
New York department of health with 21 health violations
against the premises from the last survey last year.
Apparently there were a number of issues, ranging from the
plumbing to equipment not being properly drained. The
restaurant did pass a follow-up inspection a week later and
still has a three-month waiting list for
reservations.
According to a spokesperson, Gordon sees the
health regulations as a bit of a hiccup and is incredibly
proud of the success of his latest venture.
Health & Safety gets undeserved bad press
Health & Safety is increasingly used as the scapegoat
for a bizarre variety of things from threatening school egg
and spoon races to preventing vicars from being able to change
church light bulbs! The latest spate of scaremongering
articles blames Health & Safety rules for Christmas
blackouts in many towns across the country.
Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses,
said: “The festive period is looking darker and bleaker year
on year – Britain is facing a Christmas blackout this year.
The sense of pride a good festive display can instill on a
town centre is immeasurable. Spiralling costs and exhaustive
safety concerns are ruining the festive spirit.”
Bodmin in Cornwall is one town that may be dark this
Christmas after the council has been ordered to use a pressure
gauge to test all 150 bolts, which hold lights or cables
around the town.
Apparently this must be carried out by two workmen in a
cherry picker – which will cost the authority £1,200 in
training fees, plus their wages and the cost of the equipment.
To test the bolts the town centre roads have to be closed for
a day and then closed again while the lights are put up.
The lights cost £7,000 last year but the chamber of
commerce has ruled that the increased cash cannot be found.
Kim Roscoe, council spokesman, said: “Health and safety
requirements have greatly increased the costs. Bodmin will not
be the same without its Christmas lights, and it is
particularly galling as last year was the best ever."
In truth, it is likely that this proposed additional cost
is excessive. Yes, a risk assessment should be carried out
before any work at height is undertaken. But the outcome
should be to manage that risk rather than look to eliminate
it! That’s what McCormack Benson is all about. Unfortunately,
we live in a culture where fear of potential lawsuits can
drive service procurers to adopt the ‘play safe’ belt and
braces approach.
In truth, it is how the Health & Safety legislation is
interpreted, not the legislation itself, that causes most of
these problems. | |
Employment Law partnership |
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“The
HR Insight team works with you, as an integral part of your
management team, helping you achieve your business objectives
through the correct management of your people.”
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At McCormack Benson, we pride ourselves on working with our
clients as a partner to manage your Health & Safety risk.
So it’s only natural that we like to partner with other SME
suppliers who think and act the same way as we do. That’s why
we’re proud to announce that we have formed a partnership with
human resources’ specialist, HR Insight. Like McCormack
Benson, HR Insight, led by Managing Director Heather Matheson,
is a hands-on resource that acts for the business owner as an
extension to your management team.
Heather has operated as an HR practitioner and business
owner for nearly 20 years and has first-hand knowledge of both
the employment and the commercial issues being faced by
organizations today. She is committed to ensuring that HR
Insight continues to deliver practical solutions that meet the
requirements of businesses.
HR Insight's response services range from a simple
telephone call to drafting letters and investigating
grievances, from on-site consultancy services to the overall
management of a complete redundancy programme.
For example, if you have a problem with an employee, such
as poor performance, time keeping or frequent absences from
work, HR Insight can be with you throughout the disciplinary
procedure, protecting your interests. Failure to follow a
proper disciplinary procedure can leave you very vulnerable to
claims from your employees. HR Insight consultants will take
you through the right procedures step-by-step from drafting
the first letter, through coordinating disciplinary meetings,
to hearing the appeal should one arise. HR Insight has its own
legal department that specializes in employment law and is
therefore able to offer a professional and comprehensive
tribunal representation service.
If you would like to find out more about how HR Insight can
help your business, please either fill in our enquiry form at
http://www.mb-hs.com/contact.htm
or contact HR Insight direct. Please be sure to let HR Insight
know that you found out about them from McCormack Benson to
benefit from our special partner rates.
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Online one-stop shop for Health & Safety
requirements |
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McCormack Benson has recently launched our online store to
provide all your Health & Safety signage and requirements
under one roof. Please log on and take a look:
http://www.mb-hs.safetychannel.com/
With shorter daylight hours in winter, don’t risk not being
seen with this modern, bomber style, high visibility (EN471
Class 3) waterproof PU jacket. It includes front bellowed
pockets with flap and side access.
Internal features
include mobile phone pocket, inner zipped pockets and pen
holders.100% quilted lining provides warmth and wearer comfort
when working outdoors.
Buy now:http://www.mbhs.safetychannel.com/products/
productDetail.asp?productcode=HVB6Y
Don’t let your company car drivers or service engineers be
caught out:
The Vehicle Emergency safety Kit
contains:
1x 0.8kg BC Power Extinguisher
1x Warning
Triangle
1x Glass Hammer
1x First Aid Kit
Buy now: http://www.mbhs.safetychannel.com/products/productdetail.asp
?ProductCode=BFA224
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New Health & Safety legislation October
2007 |
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Two pieces of Health & Safety legislation made it
onto the statute in October:
Coal Mines (Control of Inhalable Dust)
Regulations
The Regulations are being
introduced to control dust in coal mines. They will
replace the Coal Mines (Respirable Dust Regulations)
1975 and will also implement requirements of the
Chemical Agents Directive in relation to coal mine
dust.
These regulations appeared in a previous statement,
as they were due to come into force in October 2006.
However, due to a delay in the approval and subsequent
manufacture of sampling equipment that is essential to
meet the requirements of the regulations, the
coming-into-force date was deferred.
Indicative Occupational Exposure Limit Values
(IOELVs) -
Implementation of 2nd IOELV
Directive
Implementation of the 2nd list of Indicative
Occupational Exposure Limit Values (European Directive
2006/15/EC). This Directive contains a list of 33
substances with IOELVs. Member States are required to
establish domestic occupational exposure limits for
these substances. The Health and Safety Commission has
approved the new and revised WELs, which came into force
on 1 October 2007.
Go here to download HSE list of approved Workplace
Exposure Limits http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/sectiona.htm
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HSE Falls from Vehicles campaign |
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This month sees the launch of the HSE Falls from
Vehicles campaign. Recent HSE statistics show that falls
from vehicles at work are a significant problem in
workplace transport. Each year an average of 5 people
are killed and more than 800 suffer major injuries due
to falls from vehicles. On this basis, the annual
economic and human cost is about £36.7 million. All
industry sectors are exposed to the risks presented by
workplace transport, but land transport, cargo/storage,
construction and wholesale are the sectors with the
highest number of incidents involving falls from
vehicles.
Go here to see more details of the campaign http://www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles/index.htm
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Leadership in Health & Safety – information for
directors |
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The HSE has launched a new website this month
offering leadership guidance for all directors,
governors, trustees, officers and their equivalents in
the private, public and third sectors. Its aim is to
help you find the best ways for your organization to
lead and promote health and safety and to meet you and
your organization's legal obligations.
Go here to download a leaflet on Leadership in Health
& Safety compiled by the HSE & IOD http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg417.pdf
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Single HQ for HSE in Bootle |
“The merits of a
single HQ are clear in their own right and will help us
play our part making workplaces in 21st century Britain
healthier and safer.”
Judith Hackitt, HSC Chair |
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Earlier in November the Health and Safety Commission
(HSC) endorsed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Board’s proposal to create a single HQ for HSE based in
its Redgrave Court building in Bootle, Merseyside.
For the first time in over thirty years, HSE’s
Executive leadership and the majority of its teams
covering strategy, policy, operational planning and
management and corporate support, will be housed under
one roof with an aim to improve communication and
efficiency. Overall, gross savings of £55m - £67m over
ten years will apparently be realised.
There are no plans to move operational staff in the
London Region’s Field Operations Division, the majority
of posts that are due to move out of London will be
policy related.
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MBHS
Company Registered name: McCormack Benson Health and
Safety Limited;
Company Reg No. 4571646; Registered
address: Unit 1, Hedley Ave, Grays, Essex RM20
4EL | | | |
