Every month here at First2HelpYou, we bring you the highlights of the months’ safety and security news. So, without any further ado here is November’s monthly safety and security roundup.
British Safety Council Sword And Globe Of Honour Awards
Now into its thirty-ninth year, The British Safety Council Sword And Globe Awards is an annual award ceremony dedicated to health and safety excellence.
The Globe Of Honour Award is given for excellence in Health And Safety Management and the Sword Of Honour for environmental management.
This year’s ceremony was at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in the City of London on Friday 22 November.
An incredible eighty-six companies won a Sword Of Honour this year and nine companies were honoured with a Globe Of Honour.
You can see the full list of 2019 winners here.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s Safety & Security Roundup
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) have asked the UK government to provide certainty on the future of the UK’s health and safety systems and procedures after the general election on the 12th December.
The Head of Policy and Regulatory Engagement at IOSH, Richard Jones said that “With an ageing workforce, technological changes, more insecure and ‘gig’ working, higher numbers of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed – as well as increased overall employment figures – the need for better workplace health management in the UK is fast-reaching a crescendo.
“As the UK heads for a new government, it’s vital that public policy focus on health at work is properly prioritised. We need to tackle the record numbers of cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety (last year reaching 602,000 cases) and the 300,000 people with long-term mental health problems losing their jobs each year.
“Good health and safety is good for business and effective regulation helps ensure many millions of lives and livelihoods are protected each and every day.”
Health And Safety For The Offshore Wind Sector
The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub (OWIH), is an initiative by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and the Knowledge Transfer Network, formed to focus on offshore wind energy cost reduction and maximising the UK economic impact.
For the first time, OWIH is looking at the impact of Health And Safety as prioritises innovative technology needs for the offshore wind sector.
They said that “H&S is becoming an increasing focal point for the industry in its drive to minimise the time people have to spend offshore, which will enhance safety and reduce the operating costs for offshore wind farms.”
Stephen Wyatt, the Innovation Director for ORE also said “The hub’s technology innovation roadmaps are designed to clearly signpost where the industry should be focusing its innovation effort to continue to drive down costs and maximise on the business opportunities from the growth of the sector, OWIH said.
“Health and safety must continue to be at the heart of our sector and should be a key factor in the types of new innovations being embraced by the sector.
“It is fitting that with the OWIH roadmaps we now take these considerations into account when assessing the future priorities for our sector.”
British Asbestos Regulation
Another news story for the latest safety and security roundup, The Think Tank ResPublica published a report on British Asbestos Regulation as part of their ‘Airtight on Asbestos’ campaign.
The report warns that British asbestos regulation is so inadequate that a child can legally be exposed to 10 times as much of the toxic material as they would be in other European countries like Germany.
ResPublica say that “The UK government bring requirements for the management of asbestos up to the highest international standards, which it says are practiced in Germany, the Netherlands and France. The assumption is that the harm caused by asbestos is a historical issue relating to traditionally hazardous occupations and industries,”
“However, this view underestimates the dangers of chronic low-level exposure resulting from working in buildings containing asbestos. Mesothelioma can develop from exposure to only a small concentration of asbestos fibres, making secondary exposure no less a cause for concern.”
In response to this latest report, The HSE said “There were stringent legal requirements for those responsible for public buildings in Britain to protect against the risks of asbestos. “There is only a significant risk if any asbestos already within the building fabric is disturbed,”
“Great Britain led the way in 2002 to reduce these risks, when it introduced a new duty on those responsible for non-domestic buildings to locate and manage asbestos materials where it is decided it can be safely left in situ rather than removed.”
Get In Touch
If you happen to see any health and safety news over the next few weeks that you think should be included in our monthly safety and security roundup, then please let us know.
You can telephone us on 0333 7729401, email us at sales@first2helpyou.co.uk or use our online contact form here.
