News

This month’s news

Legionnaires advice

Advice on the prevention of Legionnaires disease has been gathered by the
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. The disease is commonly
transmitted by bacteria in the water systems of large buildings.  [email protected]

GM regulations

Health and safety regulations covering genetically modified organisms came
into force last month. They cover research and development and industrial
production of some pharmaceuticals and enzymes as well as greenhouse cultivation
of genetically modified plants.  www.hsebooks.co.uk

Video on handling

The Construction Industry Training Board has released its first ever video
on good practice in manual handling. Called It’s Your Choice, it is aimed at
all crafts and operatives and demonstrates how poor handling causes injury.  01485 577800

First aid charges

The Health & Safety Executive is to charge training providers for
approving their First-Aid at Work training schemes. It has announced details of
its tariffs, which are £870 for original approval, and £60 for renewal.  www.hse.gov.uk

Pesticide complaints

There has been a 70 per cent rise in the number of complaints concerning the
use of pesticides, official figures show. In the year to 31 March 2000, the HSE
investigated 254 complaints, compared with 150 the previous year.  www.hse.gov.uk

Advice on chemicals

The UK Chemical Industries Association has published new advice on supplying
and handling chemical products. Aimed largely at smaller and medium-sized
companies, it is aimed at providing a single source of information on the
subject. The service is known as Product Stewardship Guidance Online (PSGO).  www.cia.org.uk

Tips for caterers

The HSE has issued two new sets of guidance for caterers. One applies to the
signage that employers must use, and the other advises on emptying and cleaning
fryers safely. Exposure to hot or harmful substances is a common type of accident
in catering.  www.hse.gov.uk

Ergonomics guide

The Ergonomics Society has produced a guide to registered ergonomic
consultancies. It gives details on more than 50 registered practices that have
met the society’s registration criteria.  www.ergonomics.org.uk

Textile industry fires

New advice on preventing fire in the textiles business has been produced by
the Health & Safety Commission. Under new regulations, employers have
responsibility for assessing means of escape from the premises.  www.hsebooks.co.uk

Explosive decision

Safety officers have altered quarrying regulations to permit the carriage of
certain explosives and other dangerous goods on an "on-site mixing
vehicle", but only with additional safety measures. The exemption was
agreed after discussions between the HSE and the industry.  www.hse.gov.uk

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Railway puzzle

Rail incidents, including signals passed at danger, are more common two to
four hours into a shift than at other times, but there is no simple
explanation, says a study by Amey Vectra and Birmingham University.  www.hsebooks.co.uk