Page 934 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive
P. 934
Health, Safety & Environmental Bulletin No 344
21 February 2013
Counterfeit Safety Helmets
Please see enclosed self-explanatory bulletin that was shared with us by Aecom.
All safety helmets (and other PPE) provided by Xmo are supplied from reputable UK suppliers and
have auditable traceability in line with section 12.1 of our Health and Safety Manual. However if for
any unforeseen reason you are in possession of a non-Xmo issued safety helmet, please check it is
genuine and in good condition. If you need any new or replacement PPE contact your FSM.
The HSE have implemented a new Fee for Intervention (FFI) Scheme, whereby they charge for their
time. Under this scheme the HSE will charge the company for any intervention, site visits, phone calls,
letters or assistance they provide.
The construction sector is seen as a high risk area and as such has received significant attention.
In the two months the scheme has been in effect over £700,000 has been billed to companies and
individuals as a result of 900 inspections and 1,491 recorded FFI receipts. This provides an even
greater incentive to ensure zero health and safety problems on site, as even very minor issues can lead
to charges. Of the fines issued so far, 70% of them have been for less than £500 and a further 20% have
been between £500 and £1,000.
Prior to the FFI scheme starting, it was predicted that it would bring in £37 million of revenue in the
first year and based on the first two months, the revenue forecast is circa £4.3 million, so it is widely
anticipated that HSE activity on the sector in which we work will increase to ensure that the department
is self-funding.
Our concern is for your safety and welfare and in making all our sites safe places to work/visit as a site
patron, but the activity and fines highlighted make it even more important to keep up the high levels of
awareness and focus that we and our employees have achieved so far.
The routine decisions we make on a daily basis are often more as a force of habit than something we spend time
thinking about – looking before we cross the road, moving out of the way of falling objects etc. But what about
decisions that are just as important as these that we may think about, but choose to ignore – like seeing
someone doing something unsafe, or not eliminating a simple hazard when we spot it? These decisions are just
as important, and we want these to become just as instinctive as crossing the road. Please visit YouTube and
type ‘Xmo Strata reverse thinking’ into the search box – let’s make each decision count this year!
