Hull based construction firm, Hobson & Porter has achieved international certification through the British Standards Institute (BSI) for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), which underscores the company’s dedication to creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and stakeholders. The company has secured the ISO 45001
A YouGov survey commissioned by British Safety Council among 4018 UK employers and employees, and published yesterday, reveals that both employers and employees are optimistic about the impact new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will have on their workplace – even though decision
After months of seemingly constant rain, it’s no surprise that contractors nationwide are taking advantage of the warmer weather and longer days to put in overtime on site this summer. But for those working at height, it’s vital that they consider extra precautions and prioritise health and safety as the
Commenting on the latest Health and Safety Executive data, showing a rise in work-related deaths in Great Britain for the second consecutive year, Dr Julie Riggs, Director of Education and Membership, British Safety Council, said: “The rise in work-related fatalities, as reported by the Health and Safety Executive, serves as a
Hull based construction firm, Hobson & Porter has achieved international certification through the British Standards Institute (BSI) for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS), which underscores the company’s dedication to creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and stakeholders. The company has secured the ISO 45001 standard, which is the world’s first international standard for managing OH&S risks and achieving the certification is a testament to Hobson & Porter’s unwavering commitment to health and safety. The accreditation process involved a comprehensive review of the company’s occupational health and safety policies, procedures and practices. This rigorous evaluation ensures that Hobson & Porter meets the highest standards of risk management, regulatory compliance and proactive health and safety measures. This is the third certification that Hobson & Porter has secured directly from BSI. In recent years the company has also achieved the world’s most recognised environmental management system, ISO 14001, as well as ISO 9001, which is the internationally recognised Quality Management System standard. David Blades, safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) director from Hobson & Porter, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the ISO 45001 accreditation. This achievement reflects our continuous efforts to prioritise the well-being of our employees, clients and partners. By adhering to the highest standards of occupational health and safety, we aim to foster a culture of safety that permeates every aspect of our business. “Our entire SHEQ team worked hard to secure this accreditation and our commitment to excellence, attention to detail and persistent pursuit of safety have been instrumental in this accomplishment. “Crucially, when we combine ISO 45001 with our existing ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 accreditations, which have all been achieved directly through BSI’s own very demanding and robust audit process, it gives us full and proper integration, to a common assessment standard, across all management systems within our SHEQ team. “All this brings significant benefits to clients and partners, demonstrating our commitment to minimising workplace risks and continuously improving our health and safety performance. Clients can therefore be confident that Hobson & Porter’s projects are executed with the utmost regard for safety, quality and efficiency. It also goes way above what the law requires in many areas, meaning it’s something that we are all take great pride in.” Hobson & Porter, which employs a 120-strong team and is headquartered in Hull, is currently working on a wide range of projects across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire spanning the education, healthcare, housing, industrial and renewable energy sectors. This latest accreditation follows Hobson & Porter being presented with The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) President’s Award, after the company scooped gold awards for 11 consecutive years for its health and safety performance. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A YouGov survey commissioned by British Safety Council among 4018 UK employers and employees, and published yesterday, reveals that both employers and employees are optimistic about the impact new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will have on their workplace – even though decision makers feel more optimistic than staff. When asked about AI, 63% of 2006 employers said they are optimistic about the impact that this new technology will have on their workforce, compared with 41% of 2012 employees, when asked about its impact on their workplace. However, just over a quarter (26%) of both employers and employees said that AI would make their workplace ‘less safe’. This compared with the same number of employers (26%) who thought it would make it ‘more safe’ and just 13% of employees. When asked how likely or unlikely they think it is that their job will be replaced or superseded by AI in the next 10 years, 68% of employees thought it unlikely and just 23% said it was likely. Among the employers, 20% thought less than 10% of their workforce would be replaced by 2034, while 6% of employers did think that over 50% of their workforce could go. Levels of optimism about the impact of AR and VR were somewhat lower, with 48% and 51% respectively of employers expressing optimism about the impact of both technologies, and just 33% and 31% of employees. Both employers and employees were also more equivocal about how far these would impact people’s safety in the workplace, with around half seeing ‘no change’. Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, said: “We commissioned this survey with YouGov to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act and consider what lies ahead for health, safety and wellbeing in the coming half century. The findings show there is clearly more to be done to ensure that both employers and employees not just reap the benefits but are also given reassurance and support on some of the risks. “While no one can predict the future entirely, change is inevitable. This is why we’re calling on the Government to incentivise companies who invest in new and developing technologies – like AR, VR, and AI – for the purposes of improving workplace health, safety and wellbeing. Alongside this, we want to see more support for training to keep people safe, healthy and well in work. “Our founder, James Tye, was instrumental in agitating the government of the time to set up a royal commission, which ultimately led to the Robens Report that led to the Health and Safety at Work Act. If you fast-forward 50 years, in recent years we’ve been calling for wellbeing to be at the heart of health and safety. Recently, we’ve called on Sir Keir Starmer in his new Government to put a Minister for Wellbeing in the Cabinet.” A summary of the YouGov survey findings is attached. British Safety Council’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing manifesto can be downloaded here. Roundtable discussion on the Future of Work The survey findings come on the back of a roundtable discussion about the Future of Work, hosted by British Safety Council on Monday 8 July and chaired by Nathan Baker, CEO of the Institute of Occupational Medicine. A short video of this event can be seen here. Baker steered an in-depth discussion with six workplace health and safety experts from training, legal, technology, auditing and trade union backgrounds. These were David Sharp, Founder and MD of International Workplace, Dee Arp, Chief Operating Officer of NEBOSH, Sean Elson, Partner at Pinsent Masons, Janet Newsham, Chair of the Hazards Campaign at Greater Manchester Hazards Centre, Peter McGettrick, Chairman of British Safety Council, and Phil Pinnington, Head of Audit & Consultancy at British Safety Council. Setting out the context of the legacy of the Health and Safety at Work Act, Nathan Baker said: “If you look at where we were, in 1974, against where we now are, the world is a safer place. From 1974 to 2015, fatalities in the workplace fell by 85 per cent, a huge drop. Non-fatal injuries are down by 77 per cent in the same period. However, asbestos deaths are up tenfold, and we still lose 35 million days a year due to ill health and injury, costing the economy £20.7 billion.” Dee Arp said the Health and Safety at Work Act had provided a “great framework” but there is still a great deal to do. “I always think whenever we mention statistics that for every one of those numbers, there’s a person, there’s a family and there are friends,” said Dee. “In addition to that, there are all the mental health issues that we know are not significantly reported.” Janet Newsham said: “The Health and Safety at Work Act is fantastic and it’s done some really good things, but there are still more than 50,000 people dying each year because of work-related exposures to hazardous and toxic substances, and the ever-increasing mental health crisis that we’ve got. We don’t know the true numbers of people who die from work-related suicide but, as an estimate, we say it’s probably 10 per cent of suicides in the country. It’s never reported – it’s not reportable – and it’s not investigated, so there’s a long way to go to keep people safe.” New and emerging issues Reflecting on a “realignment of health and safety away from safety, safety, safety”, and a move towards health, Phil Pinnington said: “That’s continuing with wellbeing, mental health, stress management and I think things are moving in multiple directions, in a way that those who wrote the 1974 Act would never have thought about when they wrote it.” From a legal perspective, Sean Elson said that there has been a significant rise in recent years in the amount of work his law firm has taken on in relation to mental and occupational health issues. “Something we’re now doing regularly, that 10 years ago was unthinkable,
After months of seemingly constant rain, it’s no surprise that contractors nationwide are taking advantage of the warmer weather and longer days to put in overtime on site this summer. But for those working at height, it’s vital that they consider extra precautions and prioritise health and safety as the mercury soars. That’s why Werner, a leading ladder and access solutions provider, has put together a series of safety tips to ensure building professionals don’t end up with a summer to remember for all the wrong reasons. Mark Robson, Product Manager at Werner, explains: “With the warmer weather finally here, there’s never been a better time for tradespeople to familiarise with the behaviours essential for maintaining optimum health and safety when working at height in the sun. “By putting together this guide for tradespeople, we’re hoping to help take advantage of the better weather – without risking their health or livelihood in the process.” Werner’s key considerations include: Creating a solid foundation with equipment: Ensuring ladders have the correct classification is important, as poorly made imports are a leading cause of injuries when working at height. This would be EN131 Professional for trade, heavy duty and industrial usages, purchasing a ladder that is to the EN131 standard means that users can have peace of mind it’s been manufactured and tested to ensure maximum safety. Undertaking risk assessments: As a manufacturer, Werner is keen to encourage the importance of working at height safely in all conditions and has a wealth of guides on its website to advise users of ladder and access equipment best practices. When it comes to ladders the user must check the following for suitability and damage: Should a user find any signs of wear and tear, loosening, bending or lack of stability they must inform their employer straight away and they should not attempt to use the equipment under any circumstances. Staying safe in the heat: When focusing on getting the job done, it’s all too easy to forget to hydrate, which can cause dehydration and severe heatstroke. Alone, this is a huge risk to health. However, for those working at height a lack of hydration can mean danger is increased, due to the risk of falls if feeling drowsy, dizzy, or weak. Drinking water at regular intervals helps to cool the body’s temperature and replaces the fluid that may be lost through sweating, reducing the risk of heat exhaustion, so it’s important to have fresh water readily available for all working on site. Additionally, it is suggested that all workers to get a CPR certificate to be prepared for possible emergencies during working hours. Wear sunscreen: For those working outside and at height, sunscreen should be worn all year round. Even on cool or overcast days, harmful UV rays still penetrate cloud – and prolonged exposure to them can increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. The Health and Safety Executive found that construction workers are among the most ‘at risk’ of developing this form of cancer, so layering up with sunscreen is essential. Wear suitable clothing: Using the PPE required to undertake a specific job is essential, so while it may be hot it is important not to make choices that will put safety at risk. However, there are types of clothing that can be worn to ensure maximum comfort when working at height in the heat. Clothing made from natural fibres, like cotton and linen, are made from compounds that allow the skin to breathe. Darker colours like navy and black absorb more heat. In contrast, whites and beiges deflect the sun’s wavelengths making them the most suitable choice in extreme temperatures. For broader information on ladder safety, which includes guides on how to choose the correct ladder for the task at hand, how to correctly inspect equipment and for general working from height guidance, visit: https://www.wernerco.com/uk/ladder-safety. For further information about Werner’s range of ladders, access solutions and training visit: www.wernerco.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commenting on the latest Health and Safety Executive data, showing a rise in work-related deaths in Great Britain for the second consecutive year, Dr Julie Riggs, Director of Education and Membership, British Safety Council, said: “The rise in work-related fatalities, as reported by the Health and Safety Executive, serves as a stark reminder that we cannot become complacent about the health and safety of workers. Put simply, the consequences of poor health and safety are too great a price to pay. “For 50 years, the general direction of travel has seen safer workplaces with falling numbers of workplace deaths and non-fatal injuries; that for a second year this trend has reversed is cause for concern. It sends a message that we need to prioritise worker health and safety, understand the causes of rising fatalities, and take targeted action to return to falling figures and safer workplaces for all.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
