On Safe Lines QHSE Software

Friday 4 November 2011

Gas appliances - Get them checked, Keep them safe

This is a useful document (INDG 238) by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Every year about 14 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues which have not been properly installed or maintained. Many others also suffer ill health. When gas does not burn properly, as with other fuels such as coal, wood or oil, excess carbon monoxide is produced, which is poisonous.

You can’t see it. You can’t taste it. You can’t even smell it. But carbon monoxide can kill without warning in just a matter of hours.

You are particularly at risk when you are asleep because you cannot recognise the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. These include tiredness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, pains in the chest and stomach pains. These symptoms can mimic many common ailments and may easily be confused with flu or simple tiredness.

Click here > Gas appliances

Source HSE

Free to try QHSE Software Solutions for Businesses

Risk Assessment Software
Accident Managenent Software
Document Issuing and Management System
Staff Sickness and Absenteeism Management and Trend Finding Software

Preventing contact dermatitis at Work

This is a useful document (INDG 233) by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

What is contact dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis is inflammation of the skin caused by contact with a range of materials. These include detergents, toiletries, chemicals and even natural products like foods and water (if contact is prolonged or frequent). It can affect all parts of the body, but it is most common to see the hands affected.

There are three main types of contact dermatitis:

> irritant contact dermatitis
> allergic contact dermatitis
> contact urticaria

Click here > Preventing contact dermatitis at Work

Thursday 3 November 2011

First aid at work - Your questions answered

This is a useful document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

This leaflet answers some basic questions about first-aid provision at work.

It is aimed at employers in small and medium-sized workplaces, but may be useful to all employers, managers and others involved in first aid at work.

Click here > First aid at work - Your questions answered

Workplace transport safety

This is a useful document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Every year, a significant number of people are killed by accidents involving vehicles in the workplace, and many more people are injured. A lot of damage is also done to property and profit. Better planning, training and awareness, and the appropriate use of vehicles, can avoid most of these accidents.

Click here > Workplace transport safety

A step-by-step guide to using tractors safely

This is a useful document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

This step-by-step guide to tractor safety is for everyone who uses a tractor, or tractor-operated machinery. It applies to those working in farming, forestry, horticulture, amenity horticulture and the sports turf industry.

Click here > Tractor Safely

HSG 150 Health and Safety in Construction

This is a useful Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Outlining the essentials for achieving recognisably healthy and safe on-site conditions – from general building to specific refurbishment, repair, maintenance or civil engineering works – the guide especially focuses on hazards and managing risks.

With a practical breakdown on how to plan, organise, control, monitor and review end-to-end health and safety issues throughout a project, this is an invaluable reference for all industry professionals, whether clients, designers, contractors or individual workers.

Click here > HSG 150 Health and Safety in Construction

Health risks from working in the sun

This is a useful document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

A sunny day makes most of us feel good, but too much sunlight can be hard on the skin. It is not simply sudden exposure while on holiday that is harmful. Even a tan that has been built up gradually can be harmful to health. A tan is a sign that the skin has been damaged.

Click here > Health risks from working in the sun

HSG 129 - Health and Safety in Engineering Workshops

Health and Safety Law - What you need to know

This is a useful Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Click here > Health and safety law (pocket card)

All workers have a right to work in places where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Health and safety is about stopping you getting hurt at work or ill through work. Your employer is responsible for health and safety, but you must help

Sourse HSE

Free to try QHSE Software Solutions for Businesses

Risk Assessment Software
Accident Managenent Software
Document Issuing and Management System
Staff Sickness and Absenteeism Management and Trend Finding Software

Saturday 29 October 2011

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Toolkit

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Sample Question:

What is the toolkit?

Answer: The Toolkit is a collection of tools that have been developed by HSE to help employers/employees to
identify common risk factors covering manual handling operations including lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and repetitive tasks. The tools have been designed to help assessors’ break down tasks and identify task elements that could pose a risk to workers and help evaluate potential solutions or improvements.

Click here > FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Toolkit

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Manual Handling and Label

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Sample Question:

What can be done to help prevent manual handling injuries?

Answer: In simple terms, the main thing is a risk assessment, though there are other considerations: Firstly, does the load need to be moved at all?

If so, can it be moved mechanically? For example by using a handling aid, such as a pallet truck, an electric or hand-powered hoist, or a conveyor? Advice on the many different types of lifting and handling aids is contained in. Are you making the best use of lifting and handling aids?

Click here > FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Manual Handling and Label

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - General Questions

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive. FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - General

Sample Question:

What is a Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)?

Answer: MSD is a broad umbrella label for many types of aches and pains, and treatment is determined by the exact medical diagnosis. They fall largely into three types:

* Upper limb disorders

* Lower limb disorders

* Back pain

Click here > FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - General

Friday 28 October 2011

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Display Screen Equipment

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Sample Question:

How long and how often should breaks be for DSE work and what should I do during breaks?

Answer: This depends on the kind of work you are doing. There is no legal guidance but it is advisable to break up long spells of DSE work. Short frequent breaks are better than longer ones but less frequent ones such as 5–10 minute breaks every hour are better than 20 minutes every 2 hours. Ideally users should have some choice about when to take breaks. Most jobs provide opportunities to pause from DSE work to do other tasks, such as filing or copying. If there are no such natural changes of activity in your job, your employer should plan for you to have rest breaks. It is best if breaks or changes of activity allow the user to get up from their workstation and move around, or at least stretch and change posture.

Click here > FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Display Screen Equipment

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Lower Limb Disorders

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Sample Question:

What are LLDs?

Answer: Lower limb disorders (LLDs) affect the legs and feet, from hips to toes. About 80% of damage to the hips, knees and legs at work is due to overuse. Workers may report lower limb pain, aching and numbness without a specific disease being identified or present.

Click here >FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Lower Limb Disorders

Thursday 27 October 2011

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Upper Limb Disorders

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Sample Question:

What are ULDs?

Answer: Upper limb disorders (ULDs) affect the arms from shoulder to fingers or the neck including problems with the soft tissues, muscles, tendons and ligaments, along with the circulatory and nerve supply to the limb.

Click here > Musculoskeletal Disorders - FAQs - Upper Limb Disorders

FAQs - Musculoskeletal Disorders - Back pain

This is a useful FAQ Document by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Sample Question:

What is back pain?

Answer: Back pain is any ache, pain, tension, or disorder that affects the muscles or bones of the back from the base of the neck to the hips. It can be caused by damage to the muscles or the bones of the spine and ribs or to the disc between the vertebrae.

Click here >Musculoskeletal Disorders - FAQs - Back pain

Wednesday 26 October 2011

HSE Guidance on leading health and safety at work

This is a useful recent release / updated Industrial Guidance Document (INDG 417) by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

Click here > INDG 417 Leading Health and Safety Work

This guidance sets out an agenda for the effective leadership of health and safety. It is designed for use by all directors, governors, trustees, officers and their equivalents in the private, public and third sectors. It applies to organisations of all sizes