Plant safety at any cost?
Don't get me wrong: it's hard to argue with current moves to streamline health and safety legislation, in line with Lord Young's 'Common Sense, Common Safety' report – especially given that chief among the aims is to reduce the bureaucratic burden on small companies. If that makes the UK a more attractive place for employers to set up plants, resulting in increased employment, more tax revenue, and a stimulated and revitalised economy, that's good news.
New trains of thought on lifting
Every so often lifting equipment fails, generating the kind of headlines that no one wants to see. These unfortunate incidents occur despite safety checks carried out by the manufacturer and further regular checks undertaken by the end user, in accordance with the respective regulations. However, a high proportion of accidents can be prevented, if the operator pays more care and attention. For this reason, issues such as load stability and operator positioning are becoming hot topics in the world of cranes, lift trucks, hoists and mobile elevating work platforms.
Regulating safety
Plant engineers and managers bear a grave responsibility when it comes to health and safety. Brian Tinham examines what's available to help them do better
Safe operation of escalators and moving walks
SAFed's guidelines for the safe operation of escalators and moving walks was published in May last year. In the first of a two-part feature, Vince Sharpe reviews key elements for owners and operators
Is your boiler house safe?
As de-manning on steam and hot water boiler plant continues to gain momentum, operators need to consider best practice and their legal duties in respect of operational safety, warns S Moore Holmes
Law in your own hands
You could be forgiven for thinking that on 6 April the eyes of the legal profession will be firmly on the Corporate Manslaughter (Corporate Homicide in Scotland) Act, as it comes into force. But you would be wrong. Why? Because for the vast majority of cases that have to do with health and safety, absolutely nothing changes.
Maintain your guard
Health and safety regulations continue to be breached, with sometimes tragic, as well as costly consequences. David Lewis reviews the legal landscape and some salutary cases
Seeds of safety
Lifting-related deaths and injuries still remain worryingly high. But adherence to statutory regulations and best practice could make a real difference, as Brian Wall reports
State of the nation
Health and safety in the workplace is not only about PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) and LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), important though both are. It's also not just about precautions around working at height, or in confined spaces (page 18), or slips, trips and falls. Clearly, working safely, particularly with plant and equipment, is paramount, but occupational health is increasingly being seen as at least as important.
Falling foul of the law
Slips, trips and falls remain a problem are across a wide range of facilities and industry types. Leigh Carter spells out the regulatory position and examines issues and solutions