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Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 397

13 February 2014

Weather Warnings

As you will have seen in the news, the country is in
the middle of a severe weather event, with high
winds and flooding over much of the country.

At the time of writing, the MET office has “Red
warning of wind” for much of Wales and North
England, and “Amber warning of wind” for all the
East and South coast, as well as warnings for snow
and rain for much of the country.

Wind

The high winds are forecast to continue for the rest
of the week, so ensure that you monitor the wind on
site carefully and be prepared to stop if the wind
increases. Measure the wind speed regularly with
your anemometer’s to ensure you are within safe
limits documented in the JSA’s.

Floods

The floods have introduced many new hazards to
sites that may include hidden submerged hazards,
missing drain covers or debris. Do not walk through
standing water, either at home or at work.
MET Office National Severe Weather Warnings map for
12 February 2014
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The water is likely to be contaminated by sewerage
or chemicals, so ensure you wash your hands after any contact with standing water.

The flooding has displaced a lot of rats who have now moved to higher ground and trying to find new
homes. The increased risk of Weils disease is therefore not only in flooded areas, but also any
surrounding dry area where the rats may be seeking refuge.

Customer quotes

“Extreme weather is forecast for many parts of the country today with high winds and heavy rain. I
know this situation has been with us for months now but it’s important that ALL our contractors fully
understand our expectations ... MAKE SURE THE ABOVE MESSAGES GET TO ALL YOUR STAFF
... NO JOB IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR SAFETY.” - Martin Rackley, UK SH&E Manager –
Global Alliance