The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been issued with a Crown Censure by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a soldier died when he was shot in the neck on a training exercise. Fusilier Dean Griffiths, 21, whose partner was expecting their first child, received a fatal bullet wound to the neck on 14 September 2011 during a ‘live’ training exercise at Lydd Ranges military firing range in Kent. The exercise involved troops approaching a specially built ‘shoot through’ compound (not designed to capture rounds), that had been created to simulate the type of building the troops would encounter in Afghanistan. The Company were split into an assault group to enter and secure the compound and a fire support group to provide cover. The compound contained both enemy and civilian targets in order to train the troops’ judgment. The targets were made from thin plywood to allow the live bullets pullets to pass through them and avoid ricochets. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found it was usual practice on site that unused targets were laid on the floor to give the appearance of debris. However, on this instance an unused target had been stood up in the wrong place. Fusilier Griffiths was part of the assault group, and was lined up against the wall of the compound while the wall was breached with a simulated explosion. Two colleagues entered the compound, followed by a safety supervisor, and panned left and right to deal with any initial enemy combatants. HSE’s investigation found that as one of the troops entered and turned right he saw an enemy target and fired two shots at the target. Almost immediately someone shouted for the exercise to stop and all the men laid down their weapons. Fusilier Griffiths had been shot as he lined up on the other side of the compound wall. The bullet had passed through the incorrectly placed enemy target, through the compound wall and hit Fusilier Griffiths in the neck. He died at the scene. HSE investigators found the exercise was undermanned and two groups had been merged to cope with the lack of resource. HSE found the incident could have been prevented by not using targets as debris on the compound and by introducing a final walk through before each run through by the RCO (Range Conducting Officer) to ensure all targets corresponded to the target plan for the exercise. By accepting the Crown Censure, the MoD admitted breaching it’s duty under Section 2(1) and 2(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in that they exposed their employees to risks to their health, safety and welfare. Those risks manifested themselves in a lack of a Safe System of Work at and the manner in which the exercise was organised. The MoD cannot face prosecution in the same way as non-Government bodies and a Crown Censure is the maximum sanction for a government body that HSE can bring. There is no financial penalty associated with Crown Censure, but once accepted is an official record of a failing to meet the standards set out in law. Notes to Editors: The breach of law the Censure is being issued over is: Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which states: “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.” More information on Crown Censures can be found here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-enforcement.htm The Code for Crown Prosecutors sets out the principles for prosecutors to follow when they make enforcement decisions. HSE’s approach to Crown Censure is set out in its enforcement policy statement.   Source link

3 May 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal Recent initiatives to encourage larger organisations to procure more services from social enterprises and SMEs have been welcomed by the director of an FM consultancy. Julian Fris, director of Neller Davies, an independent facilities management consultancy, told FM World that to keep sectors like catering or FM healthy, there needed to be a good mix of established larger players with smaller independents in it. Fris said larger companies have grown 8.2 per cent since 2006 while there has been no overall growth of smaller firms that have less than £2 million annual turnover. In light of this, he welcomed the recent challenge laid down by Social Enterprise UK and the Cabinet Office to big businesses to spend £1 billion with social enterprises, saying: “[It] will be music to the ears of many who’ve struggled to break into contracts usually reserved for the bigger players in the FM and catering markets.”  He also welcomed the move in the government’s latest budget, which also pushed business rate exempt gains tax concessions and pending cuts in corporation tax for SMEs.  “Both initiatives will give social enterprises and SMEs much to cheer,” said Fris. He added: “The trick is for FM companies not to treat the SMEs or social enterprises like another supply chain supplier (except for the safety, vetting and other statutory issues, of course).” Source link

BSRIA warns of stove legislation changes Published:  02 May, 2016 BSRIA has warned stove manufacturers of coming changes to government legislation surrounding the testing of solid fuel-fired room heaters, such as stoves, for CE marking and DEFRA smoke tests. The standard BSEN 13240 is being replaced by BSEN 16510, under the Eco Design Directive 2009 / 1185 / 6. The new legislation will be implemented in September 2018, with the deadline for testing emissions limits being set as September 2022. Allan Wilson, senior test engineer at BSRIA, said: “This legislative change is coming down the tracks fast – anyone involved in the stoves supply chain needs to act fast in order to be ready. Old stock will, as a minimum, need to be re-tested and, in some cases, become obsolete. BSRIA appreciates that this is a heavy burden on manufacturers – especially if they choose not to comply. The limits are very stringent.” Currently, the standard stipulates 1.0% carbon monoxide present in the flue. Under the new standard this will change to 0.12%. Mr Wilson continued: “As an industry, we must get ready for the future! I can’t emphasis enough how the targets are going to be moved to far more rigorous levels. Within the full range of the regulation, emissions and appliance labelling must be stipulated. Document verification must also be more detailed.” Source link