Crack Down on Road Safety

The Home Office recently announced a major road safety crack down on motorists, with on-the-spot fines if they are caught not wearing a seatbelt or using illegal number plates. Fixed penalty notices increased from £30 to £60 at the end of last month.

Seatbelts reduce the risk of dying in a 30mph road crash by 60%. While government educational campaigns and intense publicity have made a considerable difference in behaviour, some drivers and passengers are failing to "belt up", putting their own lives and those of others at serious risk.

The increase in fixed penalty notices follows public consultation on how best to tackle this problem with a statement from Alan Campbell, the Home Office Minister, "The vast majority of motorists wear seat belts, but we need to go further to make it clear to those who do not obey the rules that they are not only risking their lives but others too. By increasing the fixed penalty, we are sending a clear message to motorists that we will crack down on them if they are caught failing to take this vital safety precaution.

This is not about taking money from motorists, it’s about doing all we can to keep the public safe on our roads."

The increase in fixed penalty notices also covers misrepresentation of vehicle registration marks. This includes failure to conform with rules on font, size and colour of number plates. The use of illegal number plates can have a significant impact on criminal investigations and crime detection.

At MBHS, we can provide an e-learning module to ensure your employees fully understand how to reduce road risk and the chance of being involved in an accident. The module looks at how to drive cars safely, with particular emphasis on: Driving attitude Motorway driving Risk assessment The cost is £20 per person and we offer a discount for multiple applicants. We also provide driver CPC training for LGV drivers. For more information, please contact us on freephone number 0800 068 0188. For more information http:/www.mb-hs.com/elearning-driving-driver-safety.htm

Rising Levels of Stress in UK

Stress among workers is costing Britain’s economy more than the crippling strikes did in the 1970’s, new research by Dr Bernard Casey of Warwick University suggests.

Rising levels of mental illness means that today’s labour force is taking more sick days and being less productive than it was over thirty years ago. The crisis is costing the economy around 13.5million working days a year – compared with 12.9 million at the peak of the ‘Winter of Discontent’ with its widespread strikes and the three day week.

Dr Casey said that stress was now having a similar effect, damaging the economy through absenteeism and people are leaving work through mental illness. ‘Four in ten people on invalidity benefit now are off work because of mental related illnesses – twice as many as 20 years ago,’ he said.

The economic costs of work related stress should not be underestimated and the national output may be reduced by as much as 1.25% in any one year as a result. It must also be recognised that the current recession is likely to increase stress at work. Uncertainty, itself, breeds stress. Many organisations trying to survive by raising productivity will be putting their employees under increasing pressure. ‘Presenteeism’ – when people turn up for work ill, for fear of stigmatism, could be having the double effect of sick days. Output is also lost as people are obliged to take lower-level jobs or leave work completely. Short term benefits of cost cutting may have longer term costs, not only for employers and for individual employees, but also for society at large.

MBHS provides an e-learning module called "Stress in Workplace and offers a DVD called "Stress Management Interactive Training". For further information, please call our freephone number on 0800 068 0188, or click on the following links: http://www.mb-hs.safetychannel.com/products/ productdetail.asp?ProductCode=SMV77 http://www.mb-hs.com/elearning-stress-management-employees.htm

MBHS Announces Further Expansion

It has always been our business philosophy to quickly respond to the needs of our clients when required to do so. We know that you prefer your advisor to be close by and to be ‘hands on’ in all aspects of health and safety matters.

With our client base expanding in the North of England, it was a natural step to recruit an advisor to service this region. We’re pleased to welcome Paul Spencer to the MBHS team. Paul lives in Merseyside and previously worked for Toyota and Magna International (Vauxhall).

With a background in mechanical and plant engineering and the NEBOSH certificate in health and safety, he will cover the North and the Midlands.

Partner Spotlight

In the current economic difficulties, MBHS is increasingly being asked to assist with Employment Law.

It appears that more and more companies are stipulating a ‘hands on’ advice approach, in the same way we deliver our health and safety advice. We would therefore, like to recommend our HR Insight service.

HR Insight offers outsourced Human Resources related services to a wide spectrum of clients and is the guide your business needs to help you through the maze of human resource management.

For further information and to visit our Partners page on our website, click on the following link: http://www.mbhs.com/partners.htm

McCormack Benson Health & Safety
MBHS, Unit 1, Hedley Ave, West Thurrock, Grays, Essex RM20 4EL | 01375 398998 | info@mb-hs.com