PPE Regulation update expected to be approved this year

The business standards company BSI has a good post explaining how an updated version of the PPE Regulation is expected to be approved before the end of 2015.

The existing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive 89/686/EEC is now over 26 years old and clearly needs overhauling. The proposed changes have been approved in draft form by the European Commission and Parliament. All we need to happen now is for the European Council to agree it.

The key changes, as listed by BSI are as follows:

• PPE Directive will be replaced by a Regulation
• A number of types of protection will move from category II (intermediate) to category III (complex)
• There will be a requirement to supply a declaration of conformity with every item of PPE that is placed on the market
• A five year certificate of validity is being suggested bringing the Regulation in line with similar European requirements such as the Medical Devices Directive

For more information please visit the BSI website.

HSE target areas of concern with asbestos removal works

From time to time the HSE publishes information as to their key areas of concern with demolition related work, and this month they have published their concerns with asbestos related works. These are the key areas that inspectors will focus upon when they visit your sites.

Please take a few minutes to study the list as it clearly indicates the Regulations of concern and audit your systems. If you feel that you need help with audits please contact stuart@demolishdismantle.co.uk or if you would like to improve your knowledge why not consider a course, details can be obtained from margaret@demolishdismantle.co.uk

Formaction Ltd and its director breach Working at Height regulations

Formaction Ltd and its director Derek Bawn have been taken to court and prosecuted for breaching a number of Working at Height regulations, and we have a member of the public to thank for spotting the danger.

In June 2013 the company was installing a new roof on a unit at The Gulf Works, Penarth Road, Cardiff. Three people were working at up to 8 meters off the ground on a pitched roof without safety measures. The HSE was informed by a worried passer by, investigated, and found a number of safety breaches.

In court, Formaction Ltd of Glandwr Industrial Estate, Aberbeeg, Gwent, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 6(3) and 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Derek Bawn pleaded guilty to breaching the same regulations through Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £3,000 and paid costs of £1,323. Mr Brown was fined £6,000 and also paid costs of £1,323.

According to HSE Inspector Liam Osborne, this wasn't the first incident:

"Formaction Ltd and director Derek Bawn knew perfectly well that what they were doing was seriously unsafe and illegal, because of previous enforcement action by HSE and a warning of prosecution if they continued to work in this way. The workers were deliberately exposed to serious danger because of the serious neglect of safety precautions."

If the staff had been trained and the company had followed the regulations then the HSE, court, and company time could have been saved as well as the £11,646 bill. It's always better to be safe than sorry or out of pocket, so why not book a 1, 2, 3 Work at Height course by contacting us today.

Source: HSE

A detailed overview of the updated RIDDOR regulations for 2013

Information services company Barbour have spent some time reviewing the recent changed to RIDDOR, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. The update is the result of the HSE attempting to simplify the regulations based on the recommendations detailed in the Lofstedt report.

SHP has now compiled a detailed breakdown of what has changed and what is new based on Barbour's research, and I urge everyone who carries out work under these regulations to give the changes a thorough read. You can find the summary via the SHP link below.

Source: SHP