Workers who take part in organisational restructuring, regardless of whether they lose or hold on to their jobs, are 2.5 per cent more likely to become ill than other workers, according to public sector union Unison. The union is urging employers to carry out risk assessments when restructuring, in the wake of a new report supported by the EU Commission, which shows that reorganisation can seriously harm workers’ health.
According to the report, Health in Restructuring, an increase in absence, injuries, accidents, depression and stress-related illnesses caused by restructuring also affects an organisation’s efficiency.
Greg Thomson, Unison’s national development manager, said: “Restructuring is common during a recession and workers need to be treated as fairly as possible. Restructuring can also have an impact on the family and friends of those affected, as it may involve relocation as the only option to retaining a post. This can be expensive, lonely, and disruptive for the family as a whole.”
The union is calling on employers to follow its five-point action plan to prevent ill health. The plan says:
* Employers must be open about any proposed restructuring and consult properly;
* Workers should have access to counselling;
* All workers should be treated fairly; the process should be transparent; and workers who lose their jobs should be properly compensated;
* Restructuring should take into account all the possible negative
side-effects;
* Lifelong learning should be made available to help workers find other jobs more easily.
For more information on the report, click here.
Source.
Copyright 2004 UBM Information
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
Disney train driver dies in crash
A driver has died after two monorail trains collided at the Disney resort in Florida.
The fatal crash happened on a section of track in the Magic Kingdom theme park, Disney official Zoraya Suarez said.
Tourists were leaving Walt Disney World at the time following a fireworks show to mark US Independence Day.
The driver had to be cut out of the wreckage and was pronounced dead at the scene at the Orlando resort, according to CFNews13.com in Florida.
The driver of the second train was taken to hospital but was not injured, the Reedy Creek Fire Department said.
Two other Disney employees - known within the company as cast members - and five visitors who were on board at the time also escaped serious injury.
The monorail has been taken out of service while its safety is investigated, said Mike Griffin, Disney World's vice president of public affairs.
He said: "Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member.
"Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker.
"The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority.
"The monorail is out of service as we continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next steps."
The incident is believed to be the first fatal accident in the 38-year history of Disney World's monorail.
Source.
© Sky News 2009
The fatal crash happened on a section of track in the Magic Kingdom theme park, Disney official Zoraya Suarez said.
Tourists were leaving Walt Disney World at the time following a fireworks show to mark US Independence Day.
The driver had to be cut out of the wreckage and was pronounced dead at the scene at the Orlando resort, according to CFNews13.com in Florida.
The driver of the second train was taken to hospital but was not injured, the Reedy Creek Fire Department said.
Two other Disney employees - known within the company as cast members - and five visitors who were on board at the time also escaped serious injury.
The monorail has been taken out of service while its safety is investigated, said Mike Griffin, Disney World's vice president of public affairs.
He said: "Today, we mourn the loss of our fellow cast member.
"Our hearts go out to his family and to those who have lost a friend and co-worker.
"The safety of our guests and cast members is always our top priority.
"The monorail is out of service as we continue to work closely with law enforcement to determine what happened and the appropriate next steps."
The incident is believed to be the first fatal accident in the 38-year history of Disney World's monorail.
Source.
© Sky News 2009
Myth: Health and safety is a threat to village fetes
The reality
If you believe everything you read, health and safety is to blame for lots of fun events being cancelled. Plastic duck races, village fetes and even morris dancing have all allegedly fallen victim to excessive health and safety regulations.
People often assume that the rules are so complex they make it too much effort to organise an event. But when managed sensibly, health and safety shouldn’t (and doesn’t) stop things happening.
As part of a well-run event, good planning and practical actions help to make sure that things go smoothly. The important thing is to make sure that health and safety is fit for purpose and acted upon. It certainly isn’t about cancelling events – we’re here to save lives, not stop them.
Source.
People urged to remain calm after swine flu deaths
People were urged not to panic on Tuesday as two children and a man died after contracting swine flu, although all had pre-existing health conditions.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have tragically passed away. This is an incredibly sad time as families come to terms with their loss," MP Shahid Malik told the Press Association.
"It is also important to stress that for most people swine flu has been a mild illness that has passed in a few days and there is absolutely no need to panic," he added.
The deaths of a man and a child from West Yorkshire and a nine-year-old child from London on Monday took the death toll from the virus in the country to seven.
All had "underlying health issues", health officials said, without giving details of their conditions.
England's chief medical officer has said people with breathing problems and obese people are at high risk.
Health officials said they could not confirm whether swine flu or the pre-existing condition was the cause of death in either case in West Yorkshire.
Speaking about the child, a spokesman said: "At this stage, we have no confirmation whether or not swine flu was the cause of death."
In London, the National Health Service (NHS) said the nine-year-old child, whose gender was not identified, also had "serious underlying health problems".
"Once again, we wish to take this opportunity to remind the public that for most people this is a minor illness and that they should start to feel better after a few days without needing to go to their GP or A&E, a NHS spokesman said.
"However, some people may be more susceptible to the virus. If you have flu-like symptoms, it's important that you talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, very young, over-65 or have long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes," he added.
The government warned last week that Britain could soon face more than 100,000 daily cases of swine flu if the current rate of infection is maintained.
Authorities have abandoned efforts to contain the virus, given the high number of cases, and have switched to focusing on treating infected people who fall into a high-risk group.
People who present the symptoms of swine flu are now given antiviral drugs without laboratory testing to confirm the presence of the virus.
Britain already has Europe's highest number of reported cases with nearly 7,500.
Latest figures released on Monday by the World Health Organization showed that swine flu had now affected almost 95,000 people in more than 130 countries and territories.
Source.
Copyright © Yahoo! All rights reserved.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those who have tragically passed away. This is an incredibly sad time as families come to terms with their loss," MP Shahid Malik told the Press Association.
"It is also important to stress that for most people swine flu has been a mild illness that has passed in a few days and there is absolutely no need to panic," he added.
The deaths of a man and a child from West Yorkshire and a nine-year-old child from London on Monday took the death toll from the virus in the country to seven.
All had "underlying health issues", health officials said, without giving details of their conditions.
England's chief medical officer has said people with breathing problems and obese people are at high risk.
Health officials said they could not confirm whether swine flu or the pre-existing condition was the cause of death in either case in West Yorkshire.
Speaking about the child, a spokesman said: "At this stage, we have no confirmation whether or not swine flu was the cause of death."
In London, the National Health Service (NHS) said the nine-year-old child, whose gender was not identified, also had "serious underlying health problems".
"Once again, we wish to take this opportunity to remind the public that for most people this is a minor illness and that they should start to feel better after a few days without needing to go to their GP or A&E, a NHS spokesman said.
"However, some people may be more susceptible to the virus. If you have flu-like symptoms, it's important that you talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, very young, over-65 or have long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes," he added.
The government warned last week that Britain could soon face more than 100,000 daily cases of swine flu if the current rate of infection is maintained.
Authorities have abandoned efforts to contain the virus, given the high number of cases, and have switched to focusing on treating infected people who fall into a high-risk group.
People who present the symptoms of swine flu are now given antiviral drugs without laboratory testing to confirm the presence of the virus.
Britain already has Europe's highest number of reported cases with nearly 7,500.
Latest figures released on Monday by the World Health Organization showed that swine flu had now affected almost 95,000 people in more than 130 countries and territories.
Source.
Copyright © Yahoo! All rights reserved.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Greater Manchester firms fined £200,000 after man is crushed by a forklift truck
Warrington-based MB Plastics Ltd has been fined £150,000 after one of its employees was crushed to death by a forklift truck.
The incident happened at the Davyhulme Waste Water Treatment Works in Trafford on September 18, 2003 when the man became trapped between the descending arm and the side of his truck. Another firm, Birse Water Ltd now trading as Birse Integrated Solutions Ltd, of Cheadle Hulme, was also fined £50,000 over the death.
Both companies appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday where MB Plastics pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its employees and Birse pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure the safety of people not in its employment.
The court heard the vehicle’s off-side cab window normally acted as a guard, but had been damaged during a lifting operation five weeks earlier and not replaced.
HSE Inspector Warren Pennington said: "MB Plastics Ltd did not have a system in place for formal regular inspections of the plant. As a result, the company failed to maintain the cab window which could have saved this man’s life.
“Birse, the principal contractor on the site, also had a duty to supervise its subcontractors properly. The company had a comprehensive management system but it was not implemented and, as a result, something as simple as a missing window was not spotted.”
MB Plastics and Birse were ordered to pay costs of £24,323 and £41,073 respectively.
Source.
© 2009 Crain Communications Inc.
The incident happened at the Davyhulme Waste Water Treatment Works in Trafford on September 18, 2003 when the man became trapped between the descending arm and the side of his truck. Another firm, Birse Water Ltd now trading as Birse Integrated Solutions Ltd, of Cheadle Hulme, was also fined £50,000 over the death.
Both companies appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday where MB Plastics pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of its employees and Birse pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure the safety of people not in its employment.
The court heard the vehicle’s off-side cab window normally acted as a guard, but had been damaged during a lifting operation five weeks earlier and not replaced.
HSE Inspector Warren Pennington said: "MB Plastics Ltd did not have a system in place for formal regular inspections of the plant. As a result, the company failed to maintain the cab window which could have saved this man’s life.
“Birse, the principal contractor on the site, also had a duty to supervise its subcontractors properly. The company had a comprehensive management system but it was not implemented and, as a result, something as simple as a missing window was not spotted.”
MB Plastics and Birse were ordered to pay costs of £24,323 and £41,073 respectively.
Source.
© 2009 Crain Communications Inc.
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Foot amputated following sawmill accident
A man has had his foot amputated after an horrific accident at a Cumbrian sawmill.
Matthew Allison, 24, underwent major surgery after trapping his foot in a wood processing machine near Penrith.
The amateur footballer is being treated at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary, where surgeons performed the operation.
Mr Allison was working at AW Jenkinson Forestry Products’ plant at Clifton when the accident happened during the early hours of Thursday.
Colleagues working with him at the time are said to be shocked by what happened. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident and Mr Allison, of Shap, will be questioned later.
AW Jenkinson company secretary Nicholas Fleming said: “The only person who knows exactly what happened is Matthew himself, and he’s not in a position to be asked questions.
“But as far as we can gather, he somehow got his foot trapped in a piece of machinery, and it has now been amputated between the knee and the ankle.
“We have never had anything like this happen before, and obviously we are all a bit shocked, particularly the people who work with him in the yard.”
The company, which employs about 450 people including 60 at its Clifton headquarters, operates round the clock, which is why Mr Allison, a goalkeeper for Shap FC’s second team, was working so late.
The incident was reported to the ambulance service at around 12.10am and he was taken to Carlisle.
Mr Fleming added: “The Health and Safety Executive are doing their investigations, and we will be carrying out our own.
“It has already started, but we will get a fuller picture of what happened once we are able to talk to Mr Allison.”
Source.
Images of the AW Jenkinson Forestry Products' Clifton Depot:
Matthew Allison, 24, underwent major surgery after trapping his foot in a wood processing machine near Penrith.
The amateur footballer is being treated at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary, where surgeons performed the operation.
Mr Allison was working at AW Jenkinson Forestry Products’ plant at Clifton when the accident happened during the early hours of Thursday.
Colleagues working with him at the time are said to be shocked by what happened. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident and Mr Allison, of Shap, will be questioned later.
AW Jenkinson company secretary Nicholas Fleming said: “The only person who knows exactly what happened is Matthew himself, and he’s not in a position to be asked questions.
“But as far as we can gather, he somehow got his foot trapped in a piece of machinery, and it has now been amputated between the knee and the ankle.
“We have never had anything like this happen before, and obviously we are all a bit shocked, particularly the people who work with him in the yard.”
The company, which employs about 450 people including 60 at its Clifton headquarters, operates round the clock, which is why Mr Allison, a goalkeeper for Shap FC’s second team, was working so late.
The incident was reported to the ambulance service at around 12.10am and he was taken to Carlisle.
Mr Fleming added: “The Health and Safety Executive are doing their investigations, and we will be carrying out our own.
“It has already started, but we will get a fuller picture of what happened once we are able to talk to Mr Allison.”
Source.
Images of the AW Jenkinson Forestry Products' Clifton Depot:
Monday, 29 June 2009
Two fall out of school bus window
A health and safety investigation has been launched after two pupils fell through the window of a school bus.
The boys, aged 14 and 15, were travelling from Dayncourt School in Radcliffe on Trent to Cotgrave last Friday when the accident happened.
The bus - operated by Premiere Travel - took a left-hand turn around a corner in Stragglethorpe. The boys fell through a window near the back seat.
The 15-year-old was taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.
'Extremely rare'
Premiere Travel said the bus driver had told pupils not to move around on the back seat of the single-decker bus during the journey.
A spokesman said: "Something like this is extremely rare. A lot of school buses can be rowdy but other ones are fine and we have no problems.
"Windows don't fall out of buses when we're taking commuters home...but they do fall out when there's seven or eight kids all putting pressure against a window that's held into a bus body with rubber."
Nottinghamshire Police said the bus was examined and the case has been passed to the Health and Safety Executive. No-one has been charged in relation to the incident.
Source.
© BBC News
Image Source: Premiere Travel
Two workers killed in phone tower collapse
Two workers were killed on the spot and another was seriously injured when they fell down from a 30-foot-high cellphone tower, which was being erected at Sripuranthan Village near here today.
Police said a group of workers from West Bengal were engaged in the erection of cellphone tower for BSNL network. All of a sudden, three persons fell down as a portion of the tower collapsed.
The deceased were identified as Ibrahim (28) and Hussain (28) of West Bengal.
Bobby (30), who was seriously injured, was initially admitted to the Government Hospital Jayankondam. From there, he was referred to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, Thanjavur, where his condition was said to be critical, police added.
Source.
Copyright 2000-2009 Suni Systems (P) Ltd.
Police said a group of workers from West Bengal were engaged in the erection of cellphone tower for BSNL network. All of a sudden, three persons fell down as a portion of the tower collapsed.
The deceased were identified as Ibrahim (28) and Hussain (28) of West Bengal.
Bobby (30), who was seriously injured, was initially admitted to the Government Hospital Jayankondam. From there, he was referred to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, Thanjavur, where his condition was said to be critical, police added.
Source.
Copyright 2000-2009 Suni Systems (P) Ltd.
Man injured in 10m fall
A construction worker was fighting for his life in hospital last night after falling 10 metres into an empty water tank in Co Down.
The accident happened at the Ashley Park water pumping station in Bangor at about 8.30am yesterday.
The 47-year-old is a sub-contractor for Graham Construction, which had been employed by Northern Ireland Water to carry out building work at the site.
A specialist rope rescue team from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service had to be called in to pull the man to safety. It took the crews about 90 minutes to rescue him.
He was then rushed the Royal Victoria Hospital where a spokesman described his condition last night as “critically ill”. The Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland said it had launched an investigation into the incident.
A spokeswoman from Graham Construction said the company would be working with all relevant authorities to determine what caused the accident as well as carrying out its own investigation.
“We are co-operating with the relevant authorities as they, and we, investigate the cause of this accident,” she said.
“Our thoughts are with the injured man and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
In a statement NI Water said that while the incident occurred at one of its sites, the health and safety of workers was the responsibility of Graham Construction.
“Although this is a NI Water site, the day to day management of Health & Safety is the responsibility of the contractor,” the statement said.
“NI Water will assist the Health and Safety Executive in their inquiries and will also carry out an independent investigation into the incident.
“NI Water would like to express our deepest concern for the individual involved and wish him a speedy recovery.”
A PSNI spokesman confirmed they had attended the incident.
Source.
© belfasttelegraph.co.uk
The accident happened at the Ashley Park water pumping station in Bangor at about 8.30am yesterday.
The 47-year-old is a sub-contractor for Graham Construction, which had been employed by Northern Ireland Water to carry out building work at the site.
A specialist rope rescue team from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service had to be called in to pull the man to safety. It took the crews about 90 minutes to rescue him.
He was then rushed the Royal Victoria Hospital where a spokesman described his condition last night as “critically ill”. The Health and Safety Executive of Northern Ireland said it had launched an investigation into the incident.
A spokeswoman from Graham Construction said the company would be working with all relevant authorities to determine what caused the accident as well as carrying out its own investigation.
“We are co-operating with the relevant authorities as they, and we, investigate the cause of this accident,” she said.
“Our thoughts are with the injured man and his family and we wish him a speedy recovery.”
In a statement NI Water said that while the incident occurred at one of its sites, the health and safety of workers was the responsibility of Graham Construction.
“Although this is a NI Water site, the day to day management of Health & Safety is the responsibility of the contractor,” the statement said.
“NI Water will assist the Health and Safety Executive in their inquiries and will also carry out an independent investigation into the incident.
“NI Water would like to express our deepest concern for the individual involved and wish him a speedy recovery.”
A PSNI spokesman confirmed they had attended the incident.
Source.
© belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Friday, 26 June 2009
Understanding COSHH
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) is a subject often approached with caution with many businesses failing to appreciate why the Regulations were founded in the first place. But COSHH isn't just a bunch of rules that must be followed for their own sake, but a legislative effort to stop chemical exposures having a prolonged and serious affect on people doing their job, says Eric Ball
Of these chemical exposures, skin contact is a classic example of a lack of understanding and appreciation causing long lasting ill health. With the number of skin related diseases reaching 20,000 in 2007/8 it is clear that there is a lot further to go.
21 years on from their implementation and the effects of the COSHH Regulations are becoming evident. Occupational asthma and contact dermatitis cases have been dropping for the last ten years and numbers of occupational ill health cases are on the decline; evidence which indicates that 'Substances Hazardous to Health' are under 'Control'. This being so, the UK is still looking at falling short of the 20% decrease set out in the HSE's Revitalising Health and Safety strategy statement.
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