Safety First
Posted on Monday, November 8th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Health and Safety Matters
Health and safety rules are often lambasted by the public for their overbearing control on the day to day lives of most people. However IOSH (The Institute of Occupational Health and Safety) claim that 2 million people die every year across the world as a result of health and safety lapses and that in the European Union alone someone dies every 3.5 minutes for the same reason. You may not feel that in your line of work there is a likelihood of death through health and safety negligence but injuries can be sustained in the most mundane of situations. For example slips, trips and falls and improper lifting and carrying procedures are cited as the most common of office accidents. The employer or owner of business premises has a duty to ensure that they do not contravene health and safety regulations. If they are found to be at fault when an accident occurs then they are likely to face compensation claims.
The Sunday Telegraph recently conducted a survey of some of the main tourist attractions in the U.K. They found that in the last five years 24 organisations, including English Heritage and many museums, paid out £2,149,345 in compensation. Many of the incidents seem to involve individuals that lack common sense, but people are not compelled to take responsibility for their own mistakes where health and safety is concerned and huge pay outs can be awarded. For example a woman who trespassed at 2am in the moat at Carlisle Castle and hurt her pelvis and hip was awarded £15,000 plus her legal fees which amounted to £37,250. The Victoria and Albert Museum compensated a women who hurt her hip when she got hit by a revolving door at the entrance to the museum. She received £23,651 and her lawyers got £29,863.
The shocking disparity between legal fees and the amount awarded to claimants is an indication of who really wins in these disputes. The organisations, in this case charitable trusts, are paying significant amounts of money to lawyers on top of the money to the injured parties. All this indicates the necessity of being extremely cautious when it comes to health and safety.
The U.K. is the home to two of the leading Health and Safety Institutions, IOSH and NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety). IOSH are the chartered body for health and safety professionals. They are a registered charity who are the “voice of the profession…lobbying governments on policy and law”. They find problems and then present solutions to them with the aim of furthering the prevalence of good health and safety procedures. They offer a range of IOSH courses, in particular the IOSH working safely, and IOSH managing safely courses. Both of these courses reflect governmental mandate on health and safety standards. NEBOSH are also a charitable organisation but have established their position as a global world leader. They have 30,000 candidates every year and are recognised by IOSH and other relevant organisations as providing a high standard of training. Both of these awarding bodies have globally recognised certifications offering a range of occupational health and safety courses.
If you want to avoid being another health and safety statistic you would be well advised to contact either of these bodies, they have a range of free advice available as well as further information about their health and safety training courses. The government also have dedicated resources helping you to understand your position in the complex world of health and safety responsibility.
Health and safety rules are often lambasted by the public for their overbearing control on the day to day lives of most people. However IOSH (The Institute of Occupational Health and Safety) claim that 2 million people die every year across the world as a result of health and safety lapses and that in the European Union alone someone dies every 3.5 minutes for the same reason. You may not feel that in your line of work there is a likelihood of death through health and safety negligence but injuries can be sustained in the most mundane of situations. For example slips, trips and falls and improper lifting and carrying procedures are cited as the most common of office accidents. The employer or owner of business premises has a duty to ensure that they do not contravene health and safety regulations. If they are found to be at fault when an accident occurs then they are likely to face compensation claims.
The Sunday Telegraph recently conducted a survey of some of the main tourist attractions in the U.K. They found that in the last five years 24 organisations, including English Heritage and many museums, paid out £2,149,345 in compensation. Many of the incidents seem to involve individuals that lack common sense, but people are not compelled to take responsibility for their own mistakes where health and safety is concerned and huge pay outs can be awarded. For example a woman who trespassed at 2am in the moat at Carlisle Castle and hurt her pelvis and hip was awarded £15,000 plus her legal fees which amounted to £37,250. The Victoria and Albert Museum compensated a women who hurt her hip when she got hit by a revolving door at the entrance to the museum. She received £23,651 and her lawyers got £29,863.
The shocking disparity between legal fees and the amount awarded to claimants is an indication of who really wins in these disputes. The organisations, in this case charitable trusts, are paying significant amounts of money to lawyers on top of the money to the injured parties. All this indicates the necessity of being extremely cautious when it comes to health and safety.
The U.K. is the home to two of the leading Health and Safety Institutions, IOSH and NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Health and Safety). IOSH are the chartered body for health and safety professionals. They are a registered charity who are the “voice of the profession…lobbying governments on policy and law”. They find problems and then present solutions to them with the aim of furthering the prevalence of good health and safety procedures. They offer a range of IOSH courses, in particular the IOSH working safely, and IOSH managing safely courses. Both of these courses reflect governmental mandate on health and safety standards. NEBOSH are also a charitable organisation but have established their position as a global world leader. They have 30,000 candidates every year and are recognised by IOSH and other relevant organisations as providing a high standard of training. Both of these awarding bodies have globally recognised certifications offering a range of occupational health and safety courses.
If you want to avoid being another health and safety statistic you would be well advised to contact either of these bodies, they have a range of free advice available as well as further information about their health and safety training courses. The government also have dedicated resources helping you to understand your position in the complex world of health and safety responsibility.
About the Author
Comprehensive lists of health and safety courses including NEBOSH courses and IOSH coursesare available from Courses Plus the premier directory of on line training courses.
|
|
Cuisinart Elite Collection Food Processor $500.00 All-inclusive food processor from Cuisinart surpasses all other brands with the speed, multiple-performance and precision that has made Cuisinart the internationally-acclaimed brand of choice for gourmet chefs. Powerful 1,000 watt motor starts with touchpad control operation. Pulses or kneads dough with a simple press of a button. Two interchangeable discs, plus two interchangeable blades, let you… |
|
|
Safety 1st Oven Front Lock Keep little ones safe from kitchen accidents with this oven front lock. It features a special heat-resistant latch and adhesive that mounts it to the front of a stove. It can be used on ovens that are flush to kitchen cabinets. Incorporates upgraded materials and styling to better complement newer kitchens and home decor…. |
|
|
The First Years Night and Day Bottle Warmer System $20.00 About the size of a coffee maker, this electric baby bottle cooler/warmer will be a big convenience for bleary-eyed parents who are tired of stumbling down to the kitchen in the middle of the night. At the rear of the unit, an insulated compartment keeps two 8-ounce bottles cool for up to eight hours. (There’s no refrigerant, just a specially shaped container that can be filled with water, fr… |
|
|
Disney’s Wild About Safety with Timon and Pumbaa: Safety Smart in the Water Classroom Edition [Interactive DVD] $7.40 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Disney’s Wild About Safety with Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart About Fire! Classroom Edition [Interactive DVD] $6.49 Get down, get out and stay out! That’s just one of the lessons Timon and Pumbaa share to help students understand what to do in a fire emergency. From smoke alarms, fire escape plans and preventative measures such as not playing with matches, Timon and Pumbaa review their Safety Smart® Checklist full of valuable and life-saving fire safety information. This Classroom Edition DVD includes exclus… |
|
|
Disney’s Wild About Safety with Timon and Pumbaa Safety Smart at Home Classroom Edition [Interactive DVD] $8.14 Timon thinks he and Pumbaa should move to a bigger house, but Pumbaa isn’t so sure. The two friends–armed with their Safety Smart® Checklist–look through the house and discover some serious safety problems. Timon and Pumbaa discuss how to fix the problems–including overloaded electrical outlets and a cluttered stairway–and end the program with a memorable safety song. This Classroom Edition D… |
|
|
Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger $12.99 Protect your electronic devices while traveling…. |
|
|
Emergency Mylar Thermal Blankets (Pack of 10) $0.68 Disposable rescue blanket keeps in body heat and preserves body temperature. Small enough to fit in most first aid kits…. |
|
|
Kidde KN-COSM-B Battery-Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm with Talking Alarm $64.97 The Kidde KN-COSM-B Battery-Operated Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm combines two important safety devices into a single unit. This alarm includes a voice warning system that announces “Fire, Carbon Monoxide, Low Battery, or Smart Hush Activation.” The voice alarm eliminates any confusion and clearly warns you and your family of a smoke or carbon monoxide danger, or if your battery is in need of r… |
|
|
The Ultimate Doom, Part 3: Revival $0.99 … |