Health & safety bulletins
24th November 2005
Weather warning
In the months of December and January, there are an inevitable increased number of call outs relating to wind damaged Signware (canopies in particular). It is essential to consider weather conditions in relation to the job at hand.
24th October 2005
Safe Isolation
In order to ensure equipment being worked on is turned off, and that it cannot be turned back on until the work is finished, there is a standard Isolation Procedure that must be adopted.
1st August 2005
Hazardous waste
The first part of the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 came into force on 16th April 2005. This part states "Where hazardous waste is produced at or removed from, any premises other than exempt premises, the premises must be notified to the Environment Agency".
31st May 2005
Waste skips & associated fire hazards
An incident occurred at a filling station in 2005 involving schoolchildren setting alight dumped refuse sacks that had been placed into a waste skip. The fire brigade was called and the small fire was quickly extinguished. Xmo Strata has carried out an investigation into the incident and set the following recommendations for any future incidents of this kind:
29th April 2005
Electrical work
Electrical work is dangerous, around 1000 electrical accidents at work are reported to HSE each year and about 30 people die of their injuries. Engineers should never work on any electrical equipment unless it is turned off. Live working is illegal except in very specific circumstances that would never apply to the sign industry.
25th May 2005
Hiab / crane lorry ground bearing requirements
It has been reported that on occasion, mobile cranes fitted with outrigger / stabilizers have had bearing plates sink into the ground when lifting loads, dependent on the rate of settlement, it may result in a dangerous occurrence. Contractors should consider the potential bearing capacity problems with the Hiab crane lorry unit.
6th May 2005
Safety footwear
At a recent Health & Safety Review Day there were a few minor concerns raised as to the lack of ankle protection offered by Rigger Boots. This issue was raised at Xmo Strata’s monthly Health & Safety Review Meeting in order to discuss the concerns and possible risks of limited protection.
29th March 2005
Safe access & egress of a tower scaffold
An incident occurred recently when a worker climbed a scaffold tower, assuming his co-worker was directly behind him he courteously left the trap door open for him, however his colleague did not climb the tower. Shortly afterwards, the worker (forgetting he had left the trap door open) unknowingly stepped into the opening himself.
7th February 2005
Lifting scaffolding poles
A recent incident occurred on a client’s site where 35 scaffold poles 21ft long dropped 16m to the ground. This was the result of the load being incorrectly slung with lifting chains by an unqualified person working under the direction of a banksman.
24th January 2005
Barrier creams
About four million working days are lost in the United Kingdom each year because of skin disease. Many substances commonly encountered in the workplace are either skin irritants, or else they can decrease or otherwise attack the skin's natural defences. This can then lead to the two most common forms of occupational skin disease encountered - irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.