When kitchen worker Amy slipped on water from a leaking drinks dispenser, she instinctively reached out to stop her fall, in the process she plunged her arm into boiling hot oil. Chef Ahsan was even more unlucky; he slipped on a floor still wet from mopping and in the process of falling, pulled the entire contents of a hot deep fat fryer over him. These are two examples of serious slip accidents that have happened in a professional kitchen. In 2006/07 1863 people received an injury that kept them off work for more than three days, 640 received a major injury (many resulting in broken bones). As well as the personal cost, accidents can leave you short handed and can cost you money (e.g. sick pay, compensation claims, increased insurance costs).
Everyone has a part to play when it comes to stopping slips. Chefs, managers and business owners need to set up effective systems for preventing slips and trips and then need to ensure staff are informed, trained and following those systems. Staff can make a big difference by adopting a ‘see it, sort it’ mentality.
Materials have been produced, designed to help you reduce the risk of slipping in your kitchen and help you comply with health and safety legislation. Electronic copies can be viewed by clicking on the links below;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/kitchens/goodpractice.pdf
Wednesday 26 January 2011
How many slips have happened in your kitchen?
When kitchen worker Amy slipped on water from a leaking drinks dispenser, she instinctively reached out to stop her fall, in the process she plunged her arm into boiling hot oil. Chef Ahsan was even more unlucky; he slipped on a floor still wet from mopping and in the process of falling, pulled the entire contents of a hot deep fat fryer over him. These are two examples of serious slip accidents that have happened in a professional kitchen. In 2006/07 1863 people received an injury that kept them off work for more than three days, 640 received a major injury (many resulting in broken bones). As well as the personal cost, accidents can leave you short handed and can cost you money (e.g. sick pay, compensation claims, increased insurance costs).
Everyone has a part to play when it comes to stopping slips. Chefs, managers and business owners need to set up effective systems for preventing slips and trips and then need to ensure staff are informed, trained and following those systems. Staff can make a big difference by adopting a ‘see it, sort it’ mentality.
Materials have been produced, designed to help you reduce the risk of slipping in your kitchen and help you comply with health and safety legislation. Electronic copies can be viewed by clicking on the links below;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/kitchens/goodpractice.pdf
Everyone has a part to play when it comes to stopping slips. Chefs, managers and business owners need to set up effective systems for preventing slips and trips and then need to ensure staff are informed, trained and following those systems. Staff can make a big difference by adopting a ‘see it, sort it’ mentality.
Materials have been produced, designed to help you reduce the risk of slipping in your kitchen and help you comply with health and safety legislation. Electronic copies can be viewed by clicking on the links below;
http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/kitchens/goodpractice.pdf
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Occupational Safety Consultants Register (OSCR) Q&A
What is the register designed to do?The Occupational Safety Consultants Register (OSCR) is a first step to resolving the problems identified by Lord Young in the Raising Standards section of his report. While many businesses develop in-house competence, and do not need to use health and safety consultants (because, for example, they already employ competent persons to provide the assistance required by regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999), some will need help. Those that use a consultant who is on the OSCR can have confidence that such a person has complied with the high qualification standards of a recognised professional body.
Who can sign up?The scheme is voluntary for individuals who provide commercial third party advice services on general safety management issues. To register, you must be a chartered member of IOSH, CIEH or REHIS or a fellow of IIRSM. Consultants with the highest qualifications and experience are eligible to apply to the OSCR: those who are recognised by a professional body have a commitment to continuing professional development, a degree level qualification, assessed experience, professional indemnity insurance and are bound by a code of conduct to only provide sensible and proportionate advice.
Why can't people who are not members of professional bodies sign up?The professional bodies provide the verification that those on the Register have a commitment to continuing professional development, a degree level qualification, assessed experience, professional indemnity insurance and who are bound by a code of conduct to only provide sensible and proportionate advice. Other consultants may regard themselves as well qualified and are not prevented from continuing their business. Consultants not yet affiliated to a professional body may wish to join one and once Chartered or Fellow status is achieved, they can apply to register on OSCR.
Will there be a joining fee or ongoing costs for being on the register?Yes, there will be a small fee to cover administration costs. This is not about making profits. The fee is yet to be established.
Who is involved in the scheme and what are their roles? Will HSE always be leading the work?HSE is working with the professional bodies and other stakeholders (listed below) as a facilitator in ensuring that OSCR is established by professional bodies as a not-for-profit company. The intention is that once it is up-and-running, HSE will no longer need to be directly involved. The exact structure of the company is yet to be finalised. The professional bodies and other stakeholders involved are: Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH ); Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH); International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM); Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS); British Safety Council; British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF); National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH); Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA); British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS); and Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (IEHF).
Will businesses still be able to use Trade Associations for advice?Yes, HSE recognises that many employers approach their Trade Associations and obtain competent advice from them. Trade Associations cannot register with the OSCR simply because individuals are only eligible to register and not groups.
What are the key milestones for the scheme over the next few years? For example, what is going to happen in January 2011?The scheme will go live early in 2011 and employers will be able to access the online database of safety consultants from then. An announcement will be made later in the year regarding the not-for-profit company, whose membership will comprise the professional bodies, that is intended to run the scheme and the precise mechanism for safety consultants to register. HSE will, in parallel, be considering the whole of Lord Young’s suggestions on the issue of raising standards.
Does membership of the register have to be renewed every year or few years?While the detail is yet to be agreed, a renewal requirement is anticipated and a small annual registration fee will be payable to ensure that the register is kept up to date and to cover administration costs. The fees have yet to be set.
Does being registered mean that a contractor is of proven good quality like bearers of a kite mark?Organisations using a consultant from the register can have confidence that such persons are highly qualified and experienced, and have been recognised as such by the relevant professional bodies which, through their codes of conduct, will require them to only give advice which is sensible and proportionate. It also means that consultants will have to be clear about those areas in which they are professionally competent. Employers are ultimately responsible for safety in their workplaces and have a duty in law to appoint sufficient number of competent persons to advise them. In complying with this duty, doing this, some will wish to have external safety advice. They should take the same steps to check the suitability and the value for money of the service as they would do when selecting any commercial service.
How will the scheme help prevent poor quality health and safety advice being given?It will create a single recognised national scheme for identifying safety consultants who have attained high degrees of qualifications and experience as recognised by the participating professional bodies.
Why is the register being set up as a not for profit company?It is simply a mechanism to administer the scheme. The details are not yet decided, but the professional bodies will be members of the company and decide together how it will be run. HSE will not be a member.
How will HSE and local authority inspectors use the register?If they encounter an organisation which has a clear need for external safety advice on general safety management issues, they can refer them to the OSCR. If they need specialist advice (for example, on managing a health surveillance programme) they will be referred to a relevant professional body.
Who can sign up?The scheme is voluntary for individuals who provide commercial third party advice services on general safety management issues. To register, you must be a chartered member of IOSH, CIEH or REHIS or a fellow of IIRSM. Consultants with the highest qualifications and experience are eligible to apply to the OSCR: those who are recognised by a professional body have a commitment to continuing professional development, a degree level qualification, assessed experience, professional indemnity insurance and are bound by a code of conduct to only provide sensible and proportionate advice.
Why can't people who are not members of professional bodies sign up?The professional bodies provide the verification that those on the Register have a commitment to continuing professional development, a degree level qualification, assessed experience, professional indemnity insurance and who are bound by a code of conduct to only provide sensible and proportionate advice. Other consultants may regard themselves as well qualified and are not prevented from continuing their business. Consultants not yet affiliated to a professional body may wish to join one and once Chartered or Fellow status is achieved, they can apply to register on OSCR.
Will there be a joining fee or ongoing costs for being on the register?Yes, there will be a small fee to cover administration costs. This is not about making profits. The fee is yet to be established.
Who is involved in the scheme and what are their roles? Will HSE always be leading the work?HSE is working with the professional bodies and other stakeholders (listed below) as a facilitator in ensuring that OSCR is established by professional bodies as a not-for-profit company. The intention is that once it is up-and-running, HSE will no longer need to be directly involved. The exact structure of the company is yet to be finalised. The professional bodies and other stakeholders involved are: Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH ); Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH); International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM); Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS); British Safety Council; British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF); National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH); Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA); British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS); and Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (IEHF).
Will businesses still be able to use Trade Associations for advice?Yes, HSE recognises that many employers approach their Trade Associations and obtain competent advice from them. Trade Associations cannot register with the OSCR simply because individuals are only eligible to register and not groups.
What are the key milestones for the scheme over the next few years? For example, what is going to happen in January 2011?The scheme will go live early in 2011 and employers will be able to access the online database of safety consultants from then. An announcement will be made later in the year regarding the not-for-profit company, whose membership will comprise the professional bodies, that is intended to run the scheme and the precise mechanism for safety consultants to register. HSE will, in parallel, be considering the whole of Lord Young’s suggestions on the issue of raising standards.
Does membership of the register have to be renewed every year or few years?While the detail is yet to be agreed, a renewal requirement is anticipated and a small annual registration fee will be payable to ensure that the register is kept up to date and to cover administration costs. The fees have yet to be set.
Does being registered mean that a contractor is of proven good quality like bearers of a kite mark?Organisations using a consultant from the register can have confidence that such persons are highly qualified and experienced, and have been recognised as such by the relevant professional bodies which, through their codes of conduct, will require them to only give advice which is sensible and proportionate. It also means that consultants will have to be clear about those areas in which they are professionally competent. Employers are ultimately responsible for safety in their workplaces and have a duty in law to appoint sufficient number of competent persons to advise them. In complying with this duty, doing this, some will wish to have external safety advice. They should take the same steps to check the suitability and the value for money of the service as they would do when selecting any commercial service.
How will the scheme help prevent poor quality health and safety advice being given?It will create a single recognised national scheme for identifying safety consultants who have attained high degrees of qualifications and experience as recognised by the participating professional bodies.
Why is the register being set up as a not for profit company?It is simply a mechanism to administer the scheme. The details are not yet decided, but the professional bodies will be members of the company and decide together how it will be run. HSE will not be a member.
How will HSE and local authority inspectors use the register?If they encounter an organisation which has a clear need for external safety advice on general safety management issues, they can refer them to the OSCR. If they need specialist advice (for example, on managing a health surveillance programme) they will be referred to a relevant professional body.
Monday 10 January 2011
New Services
We are delighted to continue to offer the following services that some of you may not be aware of:
Fire Extinguisher Provision and Servicing (build in with Health and Safety visits to save at least 10%)
CDM-Coordinator Services for your Building Project - helping with CDM compliance
Assessment of competence of your contractors or associates
High Level Fire Safety Consultancy "RHSS Fire" web site and blog will launch in March 2011 as well as advanced services in Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Auditing, Fire Training and related Fire Services
RHSS Signs providing standard and bespoke signage of all kinds www.rhss-signs.co.uk
RHSS Limited are in the final stages of gaining ISO9001 Quality Management System to ensure that our systems reach the highest standards to benefit our customers
Our First Aid Training Courses go from strength to strength throughout 2011
Refer a client scheme - we work with a variety of clients and we try to introduce them to each other if we see a business link or opportunity - do the same for us and if successful in line with our criteria we will knock upto 20% off your next bill!
Fire Extinguisher Provision and Servicing (build in with Health and Safety visits to save at least 10%)
CDM-Coordinator Services for your Building Project - helping with CDM compliance
Assessment of competence of your contractors or associates
High Level Fire Safety Consultancy "RHSS Fire" web site and blog will launch in March 2011 as well as advanced services in Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Auditing, Fire Training and related Fire Services
RHSS Signs providing standard and bespoke signage of all kinds www.rhss-signs.co.uk
RHSS Limited are in the final stages of gaining ISO9001 Quality Management System to ensure that our systems reach the highest standards to benefit our customers
Our First Aid Training Courses go from strength to strength throughout 2011
Refer a client scheme - we work with a variety of clients and we try to introduce them to each other if we see a business link or opportunity - do the same for us and if successful in line with our criteria we will knock upto 20% off your next bill!
Sunday 2 January 2011
Gas Safe Register
Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be Gas Safe registered and competent in that area of gas work. By using a Gas Safe registered engineer, and by checking the back of their ID card to see if they are qualified to do the type of gas work you want, you can be sure that any work completed by them will be done competently and safely.
HSE advises that you should arrange for regular maintenance and an annual safety check to be carried out on your gas appliances and installation by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that this is carried out.
Unsafe gas work can lead to a gas leak, fire, explosion and exposure to carbon monoxide, which could result in you, your family or friends being seriously injured or killed.
Better Gas Safe than sorry. Always check the card.
Go to the Gas Safe Register [1] or phone 0800 408 5500 to find out more about how to make sure your engineer is Gas Safe registered and how to protect yourself and your family from unsafe gas work.
HSE advises that you should arrange for regular maintenance and an annual safety check to be carried out on your gas appliances and installation by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Landlords have a legal duty to ensure that this is carried out.
Unsafe gas work can lead to a gas leak, fire, explosion and exposure to carbon monoxide, which could result in you, your family or friends being seriously injured or killed.
Better Gas Safe than sorry. Always check the card.
Go to the Gas Safe Register [1] or phone 0800 408 5500 to find out more about how to make sure your engineer is Gas Safe registered and how to protect yourself and your family from unsafe gas work.
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