The HSE has published a free factsheet providing information to the food and drink industries on the causes of falls from height and how such accidents can be prevented (food information sheet 30).
Food and drink manufacturers report around 750 falls from height each year to the HSE. These account for eight per cent of all injuries in this industry.
Case study analysis has shown there are industry-specific aspects from which lessons can be learned.
The guidance outlines additional precautions that should be taken in the food and drink industries.
HSE Books
Fine for radioactive loss
In a prosecution brought by the Environment Agency and the HSE, a Manchester company — Vitafibres of Middleton — was fined for three offences relating to the loss of a radioactive source containing Americium 241 from its site at Milnrow, near Rochdale.
The source had been mislaid while a machine was being dismantled around October 1999, but the company only became aware of this in May the following year.
The source, one of three, was used on the company's production lines for the purpose of measuring the density of fibre accurately.
The company was fined a total of £35,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,898.10. Tel: 01925 629469
Construction site safety checks
Construction sites in the London Borough of Camden have been the target of an HSE safety crack-down, in a bid to cut down the unacceptable number of deaths, injuries and ill health on badly run sites. Between April and September last year, there were 10 deaths on construction sites in London.
Camden was selected because it has a lot of construction. Accident prevention can be achieved with better safety knowledge, judgement and simple long established precautions.
The HSE also plans safety checks on small and large construction sites in the Euston, Kings Cross and Tottenham Court Road areas.
Four high risk operations will be the focus of the checks; protection of the public during scaffolding work, falls from heights, lifting operations and fire risks during building refurbishment work.
Source
The Facilities Business
Postscript
David Denton runs the Safety, Health and Environment briefing published by Barbour Index.
www.barbour-index.co.uk
