New publications this month:
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE (HSE)
Safety Bulletin: Use of Barrier Glands in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres to meet IEC 60079:14 2013 (Edition 5)
The HSE has published an updated safety notice on the use of Ex certified barrier glands.
EUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY (ECHA)
Apply for approval of active substances used for treating articles by 1 September 2016
Companies need to apply for approval of a biocidal active substance used for treating articles if the substance is not yet part of the approval process.
Online chemicals guide
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launched an online tool that offers "plain English" information about the hazard profiles of up to 120,000 chemicals. Information is structured in three layers:
This will make chemicals information much more accessible for consumers and pressure groups.
Company fined for failure to comply with improvement notices
William Fry Fabrications Limited has been fined for failure to examine their cranes at least every 12 months despite an absolute legal duty to do so.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how William Fry Fabrications Limited failed to thoroughly examine two cranes used by the company, despite receiving both Improvement and Prohibition Notices from the HSE on this issue for its cranes in 2011.
Breach and penalty
William Fry Fabrications Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(3)(a) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, and was fined £13,333 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,527.
Regulation 9(3)(a) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 states that every employer shall ensure that lifting equipment which is liable to result in dangerous situations is thoroughly examined.
Firm fined after fatality at waste recycling site
Walter Heselwood Limited has been fined for safety failings.
Tony Johnson, aged 55, was working at the Walter Heselwood recycling site on 16 June 2009 when a pressurised gas cylinder was put through a shearing machine causing it to explode. A large section of the cylinder hit Mr Johnson in the head causing fatal injuries.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found a number of safety failings. These include:
Having no effective health and safety management system in place
Failure to adequately assess the risks involved with processing different types of scrap material
Failure to put in place a range of measures to reduce the risks, for example by providing a blast wall.
Walter Heselwood Limited of Stevenson Road, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £120,000 with £40,000 costs.
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states that it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
Section 3(1) states it shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.
Worker’s legs crushed by concrete table tennis tables
An employee of Bendcrete Leisure Ltd legs were crushed when four one-ton concrete tables toppled over. worker was attempting, using an overhead crane, to move a concrete table tennis table towards a stack of four other tables which were balanced on two half-empty resin barrels. The barrels collapsed causing the tables to slide off.
The worker became trapped between the tables and the crane stanchion.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the work had not been planned, supervised or carried out safely.
Bendcrete Leisure Ltd was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,495 costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
