News

HSE Falls & Enforcement Roundup

A roundup of the latest news from the HSE about falls from height

Sub-contractor disputed control

Sub-contractor disputed level of control over roof plunge

Surprise HSE visits find unsafe work

A construction company has been fined £10,000 for failing to protect its workers from falls from height, following a surprise HSE inspection.

Architects and construction at fault

Architects and construction firm both at error in fatal fall.

Recent Enforcement Activity by the HSE

A summary of recent enforcement activity by the HSE

Workers had to balance on roof

An incident in which a worker was critically injured in an eight-metre fall from a barn roof resulted in fines for three men involved in the project.

Evaluation of LOLER

Evaluation of the simplified lifting operations and lifting equipment leaflet (LOLER)

Dynamic Risk Assessments

Dynamic Risk Assessments Guidance Could Affect Fire Fighters

Comet Group plc fined £75000 for fall

Major electrical retailer Comet Group plc has been fined £75,000 following the death of a contractor who fell through a roof light at its Wrexham store.

Fewer workers killed in past year

HSE news of fewer construction workers killed in past year and the latest 2009/2010 accident statistics

Premier League club fined after fall

Premier League football club Aston Villa has been fined after a worker was badly injured by a fall through a roof during the redevelopment of its training ground.

Cameron fulfils health & safety pledge

Lord Young of Graffham has been officially appointed as advisor to the prime minister on health and safety law and practice.

Roofers fined £200 each

Roofers fined £200 each for working dangerously at height

Fishing boat firm fined

A Fishing boat firm is fined following electrician's fall

HSE - Find out more

A very useful page from the HSE with links to many working at height resources including the shattered lives campaign, rooftop advice, useful pdf downloads, videos and more

Water Company Fined

A water services company and its sub-contractor have been fined after a technician fell through the roof of a pumping station in Cambridgeshire, fracturing a vertebra in his back.

Free info - Work at height safely

The nine organisations comprising the Access Industry Forum (AIF) have issued a new publication encouraging the safe and proper use of work-at-height equipment.

TV documentary helps convict firm

TV documentary helps convict firm for fatality

HSE publishes work related fatalities

HSE recently published the latest names and details of work related fatalities

Guard-rail failure leads to fall

Guard-rail failure leads to near fatal fall for worker

Locker Limited Batch Recall

Singing Rock (LANEX a.s) issued a limited batch recall notice affecting some Locker Fall arrest Rope grabs and some SITE work positioning lanyards that contain the Locker Rope Grab

Builder fined after lives at risk

Merseyside builder fined after putting lives at risk

Worker buried after trench collapse

Workers at a construction site used an excavator to rescue one of their colleagues who was buried under falling debris after a trench collapsed

Work at height: Collective bargain

Gary Gallagher considers the role of collective protection in relation to the hierarchy of risk management contained in the Work at Height Regulations

Work at height: Confronting competency

Peter Bennett looks at two key issues in relation to working at height – training and competence – and unravels what they mean in practice for workers, supervisors and managers.

Corporate manslaughter guidelines

Definitive guidelines have been published to help courts deal with organisations that cause death through a gross breach of care, or where a health and safety offence is a significant cause of a death

Prosecution follows worker injuries

A Sheffield painting company has been fined £2,000 after a worker's seven-metre fall caused life-changing injuries.

Shattered Lives Campaign Phase 3

Shattered Lives Phase 3 - STEP and WAIT - will launch on Monday 1st February 2010, for a 5-week campaign period, finishing on the 5th March.

Aircraft refurb incident

Aircraft-refurb incident was "waiting to happen”. An aviation company has been criticised for failing to put in place fall-protection equipment, after a worker fell five metres.

Worker killed in four metre mine fall

A mining company has been fined €100,000 over the death of a worker inside a lead and zinc mine in Ireland.

Untrained worker overturns telehandler

Untrained contractor fall

An Untrained contractor falls through rooflight at a freight forwarding company.

Would you use a ladder like this?

Missing rungs and bent sides - these are just a small selection of the 'dodgy' ladders that have been surrendered so far under this year's 'ladder exchange' from the HSE.

HSE inspector found in contempt

HSE inspector found in contempt of court in fairground fall case

New Self Breaking Descender Launched

Petzl launch a new self breaking descender

Falls from Vehicles

Fatal accident highlights the importance of safe access to and from vehicles.

Revision of PPE Standards

Revision of LAC 66/8 - Standards for Personal Protective Equipment

November Newsletter from IRATA

Download the November Newsletter from IRATA

EU-OSHA - Risks in cleaning industry

EU-OSHA targets health risks in cleaning industry for European Week 2009

Untrained teenager injured in fall

Untrained teenage worker injured in fall at power station

£10,000 fine for no barrier installed

A worker was seriously injured after falling 10ft from a storage unit, which didn’t have edge protection.

HSE Fragile roofing warning

Fragile roofing warning after firm fined for Newcastle worker’s seven-metre fall

Rope safety event a big hit

Rope safety group IRATA recently held its annual technical event and conference, which was attended by 135 delegates from across the world.

Teenage worker fell through rooflight

Teenage worker fell through a rooflight that was unguarded

Railok Trolley Recall

Capital Safety in undertaking a voluntary safety recall of the trolley component of the DBI-SALA Railok Vertical Rail Safety System.

The Ladder Association LadderBook

The Ladder Association has released a free book aiming to dispel many of the myths and misconceptions surrounding the use of ladders and stepladders.

HSE Calls for Safe Working at Height

The HSE Calls for Safe Working at Height after a number of recent incidents.

House of Lords to Examine WAHR

The House of Lords is to examine the Work at Height Regulations

IRATA requirements for certification

IRATA Launches General requirements for certification of personnel engaged in industrial rope access methods 2009

BSI Draft Anchor Devices Standard

BSI issue latest draft for public comment on Anchor Devices Standard

Untrained worker falls through roof

Untrained worker falls through fragile roof

Firm given £733k penalty

Firm given £733k penalty after second double fatality .

HSE Reducing Risks from Tail Lifts

Reducing the risk of falls from tail-lifts - Health and Safety Executive/Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee (HELA) Latest Local Authority Circular issued

HSE Warning after 10m Fall

HSE warns of the dangers of working at height after man suffers serious injuries from 10-metre fall.

Worker paralysed and another seriously

In seperate incidents a worker is paralysed and another seriously injured after falls.

Latest HSE Accident Statistics

Four sets of accident statistics from the HSE

Caretaker fell through roof of school

A school in Essex did not report an incident where a caretaker sustained four fractured ribs and a gashed head after falling more than three metres.

2009 HSE Report on Suspension Trauma

A new report from the HSE giving authoritative guidance on Syspension Trauma

HSE Recent Enforcement Activity

Work at Height remains the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury.

Heat exhaustion kills worker in silo

Worker untrained in confined space access and egress, nor provided with adequate equipment died in feed silo.

2008 IRATA Work and Safety Statistics

Total Access are delighted to have supported the excellent 2008 IRATA Work and Safety Statistics

Company director "wholly culpable"

Company director "wholly culpable" for bricklayer's death after fall down an exhaust shaft"

Big Ben's 150th Birthday

Big Ben Celebrates its 150th Birthday - Cleaned by Total Access

Welder Falls During Roof Construction

A workman suffered serious injuries after falling 3.5 metres from a roof during the construction of an acoustic booth.

HSE New Design First Aid Website

The HSE Launches its newly designed First-Aid website

Crane Fall

Crane fall leaves worker fighting for life

Total Access Supports IRATA Launch

IRATA Launches significant new International Rope Access Technical event

ITEC 09

There is a significant new event that, for this year at least, replaces the Lyon Symposium.

Falls from Vehicles

New Case Studies

Firm fined 8k for Crane Fall

Wolverhampton firm MES Environmental has been fined £8,000 after an employee fell 6m from an overhead crane onto a concrete floor in June 2008.

HSE WAIT - Online E-Learning Tool

WAIT (Work at height, Access equipment, Information, Tool) e-Learning tool

HSE-48 construction deaths in 9 months

and also full In-year work-related deaths reported to HSE for 2008-2009

One Way Locking Rescue Hauler

New ISC One-Way Locking Hauler - Available from Total Access

Employer Fined after Fall

Employer fined £6000 + £5000 costs after worker was injured in fall

HSE Quarterly Fatal Injury Statistics

the quarterly fatal injury figures for the period Apr-Dec 2008

AAIAC Rope Course Guide

Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee releases 2009 UK rope course guide.

HSE Warning to Principle Contractors

Building contractors are being warned to ensure they carry out regular safety inspections after the HSE prosecuted a firm over a worker's fall.

Approved code of practice

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will publish guidance on working in confined spaces on 17 February 2009.

Fall Victim Lucky to Escape with Life

Two construction companies have been fined more than £100,000 after a worker fell through an unmarked hole in a roof.

Company & Director Found Guilty

HSE - East Sussex Company and Director found guilty of manslaughter

HSE Shattered Lives Campaign

The HSE has released its latest eLearning tools for its Shattered Lives Campaign.

Slips, trips and falls are no joke

61 people died and more than 14,000 suffered serious injury as a result of a slip, trip or fall from height in British workplaces last year.

Men injured in cherrypicker collision

Two men were critically injured after being thrown from a cherry-picker when a truck crashed into the platform.

£250k fine after teenager plummets...

..from rollercoaster

Fatal fall at Welsh Assembly costs...

..firm £200k

RR668: Evaluation of current rigging..

... and dismantling practices used in arboriculture

Total Access welcomes IRATAs latest...

Newsletter...Singapore Technical Day first of its kind

Man killed at Swan Hunter shipyard

A worker has been killed in Tyne and Wear after he was thrown from a boom lift at the Swan Hunter shipyard.

Falls from vehicles campaign...

...evaluation

Worker plunged 95 metres to his...

..death inside nuclear-plant chimney

HSE warning on dangers of construction

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning individuals and companies of the dangers of working in construction...

Two firms fined £130k after worker...

...dies in fall

Scissor lift was used as edge...

protection

Inadequate training compromises...

...fire-fighters’ safety

Number of fatal injuries...

...as notified to HSE and local authorities

HSE warns of working at height...

following Essex prosecution

Total Access… Branching Out!

Pending launch for TA's budding new venture

HSE Fears - Offshore safety

The HSE has expressed concern over a rise in the number of "dangerous occurrences" on offshore platforms in 2007/08

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration...

..and Production Association

Unplanned, unsupervised lifting..

...operation ends in disaster

Exchange your dodgy ladder

Don't let a dodgy ladder shatter your life - Exchange it!

Carillion to pay £94K after young...

...employee fell to his death

Construction managers warned to...

risks of working at height after worker falls from an unprotected wall

Free - Arboriculture Safety & Health..

... Awareness Day - Tuesday 2nd September 2008, Myerscough College, Bilsborrow, Preston.

Government slammed by Committee chair

and unions over ‘complacent’ safety stance

Teenager “not at work”...

when he fell from employer’s roof during lunchtime

HSE staff start industrial action

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union working for the HSE have begun industrial action over the closure of its London headquarters.

IOSH hits out at the ‘elf n safety’...

... excuse. IOSH president Ray Hurst has hit out at the continuing use of health and safety as an ‘easy excuse’.

Total Access' MD congratulates...

IRATA on their latest statistics report

Window cleaner's miracle plunge

Manufacturer fined after driver dies

falling from his vehicle

Jail for roofing boss

after teenager falls to his death

Construction company fined...

£18k after worker injured in unsafe excavation

HSE warns of robust action after...

...prosecution of Everest Ltd

Live issues - H&S in entertainment...

...Industry

Near Miss and Fatality news

Leicester company fined £5000

...after one of its employees fell from a stepladder

Occupational Health and Safety Update

March 2008

The new Corporate Manslaughter and...

...Corporate Homicide Act 2007 becomes law on 6 April 2008. News

CEN,ISO & BS Standards Update

Status of CEN, ISO and BS standards and draft standards for personal fall protection

IRATA-Warning damage to nylon products

After a fatal incident in the French Alps, it was reported that formic acid from ants was the cause of a sling failing

Revised guidance helps offshore...

...workers play their part

IRATA issue New Warning on Equipment-

- Ultra Violet degradation and abrasion

HighStep's Revolution Revealed

...Total Access are pleased to bring this massively innovative climbing system to the industry

BWEA Statement on Lifts in turbines

The BWEA recognises the hierarchical approach in Great Britain Work at Height legislation for determining safe access up turbine towers and in principle supports the use of lifts...

ActSafe Exclusive!

UKs first demonstration of the new Act Safe Power Ascender.

Window cleaner falls 47 storeys

- and survives

Total Access to guest speak at BWEA

Health & Safety Seminar on January 29th

IRATA 20 years old

IRATA at 20!

IRATA at Work-at-Height Exhibition 08

IRATA at the Work-at-Height Exhibition - April 2008

IRATA at the Safety and Health Expo 08

IRATA at the Safety and Health Expo - May 2009

Herefordshire employee is injured

HSE warns of the dangers of working at height after Herefordshire employee is injured

BWEA H+S seminar 29th Jan 08

Total Access to Exhibit at the BWEA H+S Seminar in January

NEW Petzl head lamp colour range

New Compact Work & Rescue headlamp colours

Lift plunge man has lucky escape

Probe launched into dangling cradle

Probe launched into cradle left dangling in high winds on Birmingham city centre office block

HSE warns employers to comply

HSE warns employers to ensure they comply with HSE enforcement notices following prosecution of company director

HSE warns employers after worker dies

HSE warns employers to undertake risk assessments after worker dies falling from a lorry

Sharp Rise in Construction Deaths

UK construction deaths have shot up by nearly 30% to 77% in 2006-07, bringing an abrupt...

BSi Release new Revison of BS 7883 :05

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE DESIGN, SELECTION, INSTALLATION, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF ANCHOR DEVICES CONFORMING TO BS EN 795

Total Access, Innovation Winners!!

“Total Access Scoop Second Prestigious Award In Six Months”

Safety warning: HACA...

fixed rail vertical fall arrest system type 0529.7102

CONSTRUCTION FORUM - September 2007

Falling from a height continues to be the most common kind (type) of accident, accounting for 19% of fatal injuries to workers in 2006/07

British Wind Energy Association ALERT-

The British Wind Energy Association Health & Safety ALERT - "Personnel Fall Arrest Systems"

Total Access hit the BIG TIME!

“Total Access provided a highly professional service from start to finish for what was a very delicate task in order to clean and inspect the glazing to the clock face” . Mike McCann

241 lives lost is unacceptable

Launching the latest work related fatal injury statistics today Health and Safety Commission (HSC) Chair Sir Bill Callaghan said the loss of 241 lives is unacceptable and issued a fresh challenge to industry to place safety at the top of its priorities and do more to protect the work force.

RIDDOR Data - Falls from Vehicles

RoSPA Supports Change...

Revising the law of manslaughter: Why it's needed, what's proposed and the likely impact

Falls & trips in construction...

... are no laughing matter.

Glass & Glazing Federation's New Code

The Glass and Glazing Federation have produced a code of practice for work at height in the domestic and replacement window industry

HSE warns construction industry

HSE warns construction industry – ‘don’t fall for bad practice’

Falls from vehicles campaign

Approximately 2000 workers are seriously injured every year as a result of falling from a vehicle with an average of 5 workers dying.

Crane Collapse

Four workers narrowly escape death in a crane collapse in Croydon.

Ladder Exchange

Ladder Exchange is aimed at ladder users and those who manage the work. The HSE want to get sensible messages to them about using a ladder safely.

IRATA at the AIF Conference

IRATA at the Access Industry Forum Conference - Bill Callaghan - Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, Ian Grenwood - Head of the Falls Team at the HSE, and Justine Lee - who heads the Construction Inspection Team of the HSE, were all guest speakers at the above event and were followed by five speakers from member associations of the AIF.

Rescue Genie™ Scoops BSIF Award

Total Access (UK) Limited beat off over 40 entrants to be awarded the Product Innovation Award sponsored by the British Safety Industry Federation at the Safety & Health Expo 2007 held recently at the Birmingham NEC.

HSE Accident Statistics 05-06

The latest HSE Accident Statistics for 2005 - 2006

HSE - New Tower Cranes Regulations

Notification of Conventional Tower Cranes Regulations which come into force on 6 April 2010.

Premier league football club fined

Aston Villa Football Club has been fined £1350 after a drainage worker fell through a roof during the redevelopment of its training ground.

Industry news