It’s that time again! Every month here at First2HelpYou we bring you all you need to know about what has been happening in the world of health and safety.
So, read on for our July 2019 Monthly Safety and Security Roundup
Farm Safety Week
Farm Safety Week ran from 15th to the 19th July. This year the main focus was on how to protect the safety and wellbeing of everyone that works on farms in the United Kingdom.
Working in agriculture is one of the most dangerous occupations, the HSE reported that 32 people were killed working on farms in 2018.
Throughout the week, health and safety tips were highlighted along with ideas for improved ways of working, developments in technology and how to look after the health and wellbeing of everyone in the farming and agricultural community.
The Disability Confident Scheme
The UK Government launched a new Disability Confident Scheme. The scheme is intended to improve business behaviours, with over 12,000 groups and companies already involved.
With 7.6 million people over 16 having a disability, the scheme has been designed in order to aid businesses in employing workers and to increase the morale of employees by showing that everyone at work is treated exactly the same.
With plenty of guidance and advice for employers on recruiting good workers with a disability or health condition, it definitely looks like a worthy scheme to get involved with.
To find out more information have a look at the Disability Confident Campaign Website.
Festival Season Safety
We are smack bang in the middle of festival season, with Glastonbury and Latitude already been and gone, with plenty more on the way.
So, keeping safe at a festival, whether as a punter or as a lone worker, is paramount.
Preparation is key, as packing for a festival is not quite the same as packing for a ‘normal’ holiday!
UK weather is changeable, to say the least, so make sure you take suitable clothes for hot sunny days and grey soggy days. Oh, and keep an eye on the weather forecast of course.
It is a good idea to have a good look at the festival’s website. They should have a map so you can get a good idea of where you are camping and the location of the facilities and amenities.
Have a look on the website about how to pay at the festival, some use pre-paid top-up cards, some will only accept cash. So, make sure you know before you get there!
For more tips on keeping safe at the festival, have a look at our First2HelpYou Festival Season Safety Tips here.
Working Safely In Summer
As we have yet another record-breaking heatwave, staying safe when you are working in the summer heat is vital. Whether you are in an office or lone working outside, it is important to make sure you stay hydrated and safe.
Contrary to what you may have heard, there isn’t a high temperature that by law would mean employees should stop working.
The HSE says that the temperature in a place of work has to be “reasonable”. Obviously, this can cause employees problems when working in the heat of the summer.
One thing to consider is flexible working, allowing employees to work from home where they can regulate the temperature may be a good option.
If your business has a dress code then it may be worth considering relaxing this on hot summer days, allowing your employees to ‘dress down’ could make it more comfortable to work.
Lone workers, or anyone working outside, can find working in high temperatures even more tricky. Make sure they take regular breaks, wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
One useful website is the refill.org, they find places to refill water bottles wherever you are. With an app that can be downloaded to mobile phones. So, if a lone worker is in a location they have not visited before, they can easily find the nearest place to get water, instead of struggling in the heat and running the risk of becoming dehydrated.
In a recent blog post here, we gave some comprehensive guidance on lone working in Summer.
Companies should have policies and procedures in place on how to cope in adverse weather conditions, with risk assessments to help make sure workers are operating in a safe environment.
Suzy Lamplugh
The 28th of July is the anniversary of the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh. In 1986 the estate agent Suzy went missing after heading to an appointment with a client and was never seen again.
Her parents created The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and thanks to their tireless hard work over the last 33 years, there is now much more awareness of the perils and risks of working alone. Technological developments such as lone worker devices, lone worker monitoring centres, were created, with The Suzy Lamplugh Trust leading the way with campaigns and innovations.
We wrote about Suzy Lamplugh and her legacy in a recent post here.
Contact Us
If you would like to find out more information about personal safety, you can contact us here, or phone us on 0333 772 9401 for a chat.
Along with help and guidance, we also provide a range of devices and services for lone workers so please do get in touch!
