February 2017 compared with January 2017-Production in construction up by 6.9% in euro-area -Up by 4.4% in EU28

In February 2017 compared with January 2017, seasonally adjusted production in the construction sector increased by 6.9% in the euro area (EA19) and by 4.4% in the EU28, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In January 2017, production in construction fell by 2.4% in the euro area andby 1.5% in the EU28.

Full text available on EUROSTAT website




Benoît Cœuré: Central clearing: reaping the benefits, controlling the risks

Summary

As a result of structural changes in financial markets and the introduction of mandatory central clearing obligations for standardised over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives, central clearing has expanded significantly in recent years. In parallel, public authorities have devoted greater attention to strengthening the global safeguards for central clearing, notably with the adoption of the CPMI-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures in 2012, a complementary CPMI-IOSCO report on recovery of financial market infrastructures in 2014, and dedicated Financial Stability Board guidance on how to apply the “Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes for Financial Institutions” to financial market infrastructures in 2014. In 2015 global standard-setting bodies launched a comprehensive work plan on central counterparty (CCP) resilience, recovery, resolution and clearing interdependencies to further enhance this framework.

This article takes stock of the latest achievements in this area and outlines future priorities, concerning the finalisation of the CCP work plan, interactions between requirements for central counterparties and those for banks, greater granularity of central counterparty supervision and oversight, cross-border cooperation between authorities as well as macroprudential safeguards for central clearing.

The article is available from this page or directly from the website of the Banque de France.

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New H7N9 case reported in NE China

An H7N9 patient is in a critical condition in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, local health authorities said on Thursday.

The patient, a 61-year-old woman, is receiving treatment in a provincial hospital, according to the local health and family planning commission.

The province has reported four H7N9 cases this year.

H7N9 is a bird flu strain first reported to have infected humans in China in March 2013. Infections are most likely to occur in winter and spring. No evidence has shown that the virus is transmitted from person to person.




HSL: Stair Assessment – Buxton, 26 April 2017

Book Course

HSL is to run a 1 day course on Stair Assessment.

26 April 2017

The causes of stair falls are well understood but poorly designed stairs are still commonplace, stairs therefore often present significant potential for harm. A stair fall often leads to serious injury or even death. In the UK there is a fall on stairs every 90 seconds (BS 5395-1:2010). It is often assumed that all stairs comply with the relevant building codes and that compliance means the stair must be safe. Neither of these assumptions is true.

HSL falls prevention experts investigate serious and fatal stair accidents, often in seemingly innocuous environments like retail premises and restaurants. There are approximately 100,000 accidents on stairs in leisure environments each year, and several thousand more in the workplace.

Negotiating stairs is a largely subconscious task and, as such, falls are often blamed entirely on human error. In reality, the design of a stair plays a critical role in helping a pedestrian make their subconscious judgments accurately and therefore safely negotiate the stair. Understanding both stair design and human performance is the key to making a difference to risk.

Simple, cost-effective improvements to existing stairs can significantly reduce the risk of a serious fall. This course will help you understand the design features of stairs which can give rise to a risk of falling, and identify simple remedial improvements to reduce the likelihood of a fall.

To get the most out of the course, delegates are encouraged to share a stair fall issue from their own workplace in advance, with photographs where possible, for discussion during the day. This ensures that you get the most relevant information from the course.

By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and skills to assess stairs in your own premises, and identify examples of good and bad practice. This will allow appropriate changes to working practices and the work environment to be considered and planned in proportion with the risks and costs involved.

The course will cover

  • Common design issues that give rise to a risk of falls on stairs
  • Examples of HSL stair investigations and the findings
  • How to undertake a stair fall assessment using a simple toolkit
  • An opportunity for you to assess stairs yourself and discuss with the expert

Anyone who is interested in understanding falls on stairs or who has responsibility for managing health and safety.

We can run bespoke courses at your premises tailored to your specific requirements. This includes a free expert assessment of your stairs.

The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport.

Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk
Cost

The full cost of the course is £450 per person (includes course notes, lunch and refreshments).

Book Course

Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers.  If you are selecting the invoice option for payment, it will be mandatory to input a purchase order/reference number as we are unable to process booking forms without this.

For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit
at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806.

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HSL: Slips and Trips-Falls Prevention – Buxton, 31 Oct 2017

Book Course

HSL is to run a 1 day course on Slips and Trips – Falls Prevention.

31 October 2017

Introduction

Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of major injuries in the workplace. These injuries can be devastating for the individual involved and they generate a huge financial burden on industry. Almost all slips and trips can be prevented, often with simple inexpensive interventions.

Slips and trips can happen for a number of reasons, but all too frequently people jump to conclusions about why they happen rather than looking for the true cause, or assume that it is ‘just one of those things’ and do nothing.

The biggest challenges when trying to reduce slips in the workplace are knowing where to get reliable information on flooring, understanding the ins and outs of cleaning, and knowing how to select footwear. Understanding the science behind slips and trips makes it easier to identify the true cause of a fall and prevent future incidents.

This course will help you understand the causes of slips, trips and falls, and highlight successful interventions that offer a great starting point for organisations looking to reduce falls. It is delivered by experts in accident investigation and has a practical focus on understanding the causes of slips, trips and falls and reducing the risk of future incidents.

Previous attendees of our slip, trip and fall training courses have reported a reduction in incidents of up to 50%.

Course includes

  • Why people slip – the slip potential model
  • Characterising flooring, which tests work, which don’t and why
  • The role of contamination in slip accidents
  • The effect that good and bad cleaning techniques can have on slips
  • How footwear can help in reducing slip accidents
  • Preventing trips
  • The causes of stair falls and how to reduce the risk

There will also be an opportunity to visit the Falls Prevention Team laboratory and see slip testing in action.

Who should attend

Anyone who is involved in managing slips and trips, particularly those responsible for selecting flooring or footwear in their business. Employees involved in critical operations such as cleaning.

The course can also be tailored to suit all businesses and employees. Bespoke versions of this course for specific organisations can be developed on request.

Venue

The course will be run at the HSL laboratory in the spa town of Buxton. Buxton is in the heart of the Peak District and has good links to mainline train stations and Manchester International Airport.

Details of hotels in the Buxton area can be found at www.visitbuxton.co.uk

Cost

The cost of this course is £450 per person (includes course notes, lunch and refreshments).

Book Course

Please note the invoice option is not available within 4 weeks of the course date, or for overseas customers.  If you are selecting the invoice option for payment, it will be mandatory to input a purchase order/reference number as we are unable to process booking forms without this.

For further dates and additional information email: training@hsl.gsi.gov.uk or contact the Training & Conferences Unit
at HSL directly on +44 (0)1298 218806.

Back to Health & Safety Training Courses