Slips, trips and falls
Health insurance firm Norwich Union has warned that 38% of all major workplace accidents involve slips, trips and falls, amounting to nearly 11,000 serious injuries each year. It has launched a new online guide, at www.nurs.co.uk, advising trades on how to reduce slips, trips and falls in the workplace.
Truck driver prosecution
A forklift truck driver, Gerald Wyatt, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive after a colleague was seriously injured. Wyatt was working at Eardisley Sawmills in Herefordshire when the accident happened in January last year. He pleaded guilty and was fined £1,750.
Noise regulations in force
New Control of Noise at Work regulations came into force last month, putting the level at which employers must ensure hearing protection is worn at 85 decibels daily or weekly and an 80 decibel limit above which employers must offer information and training. Click here for full details.
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Safety training warning
The Health and Safety Executive has warned businesses to make sure staff and contractors are properly trained after two companies were fined in April after a worker lost the tips of two fingers at a paper recycling plant in Greenwich. RCP Macpress of Telford and SCA Recycling of Aylesford were fined £30,000 between them and ordered to pay more than £5,500 costs over the incident in 2004.
