Britain’s workplace health and safety regulator has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed the current Inspector General and Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service, Sarah Albon will join the organisation on 1 September.
HSE new CEO Sarah Albon
Ms Albon joined The Insolvency Service in February 2015, implementing its strategy to improve service to its customers, lower its costs, and further strengthen the UK’s insolvency regime.
She will be replacing outgoing Acting Chief Executive David Snowball who has held the post since June 2018 and will be retiring from HSE at the end of the year.
Sarah said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the executive of this important and hugely respected regulator. Working together with my new colleagues across HSE, I’m looking forward to getting to grips with the vital mission we deliver on behalf of Great Britain’s workplaces. My focus will be on continuing to deliver improvements in health and safety performance as our workplaces move into a future with new challenges, new technologies and new opportunities.”
Sarah’s previous roles in Government include, Director of Strategy and Change at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, Director of Civil Family and Legal Aid Policy at the Ministry of Justice, Deputy Director of Criminal Legal Aid Strategy, Ministry of Justice and has also served as principal private secretary to two Lord Chancellors.
Martin Temple, HSE’s Chair welcomed the appointment: “I am delighted to welcome Sarah Albon to HSE as our new chief executive and look forward enormously to working with her.
“Sarah’s CV speaks for itself and her valuable experience in leading organisations through change and planning for the future will stand her in good stead leading this world-class regulator of workplace health and safety.”
The appointment was made following an open recruitment process.
HSE is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates all appointments made by the Secretary of State to SSAC. All such appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the commissioner. The code is based on three core principles – merit, openness and fairness.
Watchdog wants councils to get behind commitment to H&S
Britain’s workplace health and safety regulator is urging local authorities (LAs) across the country to make a statement of commitment to work with others to improve health and safety standards in the sectors they regulate.
Figures collected by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show failures in the management of occupational health and safety in LA enforced business sectors result in more than 100,000 new cases of ill health, 5000 major injuries and the deaths of around 10 workers each year.
LAs predominantly cover the retail, consumer services, entertainment and warehousing/supply chain sectors which account for two thirds of all business premises, around half of the total GB workforce.
Many of those harmed are vulnerable workers not provided with reasonable workplace protection, and around 15 members of the public, including children are killed each year in avoidable incidents because of workplace activity.
Many LAs in Great Britain face a challenging environment that impact on the way they deliver a wide range of regulatory services and statutory duties so a Statement of Commitment (SoC) has been developed by the HSE and LA representative bodies across GB.
It has been designed to strengthen and maintain long term senior commitment to delivery of their legal duty as enforcers of workplace health and safety and asks that LAs collaborate with other bodies to deliver effective and correctly targeted solutions to keep workers safe.
The SoC has been endorsed by HSE’s Board, the Local Government Association (LGA), the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and the Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland (SOCOEHS).
Councillors, Chief Executives and Heads of Regulatory Services in LA’s are also being encouraged to publicly commit to the SoC and embed the principles within their service plans.
The SoC recognises that:
LAs must target and prioritise regulatory resources to meet their legal duties;
Continued delivery of effective co-regulation will require ongoing evolution in both the LA and HSE approaches to regulatory delivery, and
The HSE and LA co-regulatory partnership plays a vital role in delivering the ‘Help GB Work Well’ strategy.
HSE will be working with LAs to develop further supporting materials which will be made available in due course.
LA Chief Executives and Heads of H&S regulatory services are encouraged to publicly endorse the SoC and HSE are seeking opportunities to promote it via articles in appropriate publications and via newsletters etc.
Notes to Editors
1.The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. We also work with local authority co-regulatory partners who enforce in the entertainment, leisure, commercial and consumer service sectors. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2.For more information please contact lau.enquiries@hse.gov.uk
Milling company fined after employee suffers life changing injury to his hand
A milling company has been fined after a worker suffered life changing injuries resulting in loss and partial loss of three fingers in his dominant hand.
Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 21 September 2015, an employee of Nene Milling Company Limited in Wisbech was cleaning wood dust from a 4-sided planer/moulder using an extraction pipe and his hand came into contact with the cutter block. Access to the working parts is usually prevented by hood enclosures but these were damaged, meaning the interlocks were not working. Also, during the set up process, temporary cutter guards should have been in place but were not.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found the company failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery and failed to provide adequate information, instruction, training and supervision of employees.
Nene Milling Company Limited of Brigstock Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act etc.1974 and have been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2499.03.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Roxanne Barker said: “This life changing injury was easily preventable and the risk should have been identified. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”
Notes to Editors:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
In the summertime, kids water safety becomes top of mind for parents. Here’s your family’s guide to staying safe from common dangers associated with pools, fountains and lakes.
Why is Kids Water Safety Important?
For most kids, water is fun and fascinating. Parents are rightfully
concerned and cautious when water is near because kids aren’t fully
aware of the dangers. Kids have a higher risk of drowning in very little
water – whether at home or playing on vacation. As you think about
water safety, here are a few recent facts and statistics to keep in
mind.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for kids. 12 percent of drownings in 2017 were kids ages four and younger. – National Safety Council
Infant drowning deaths often happen in bathtubs and large buckets. – Safe Kids Worldwide
87 percent of drowning fatalities for children younger than five years old are in home pools or hot tubs. – Red Cross
Young children can drown in only two inches of water – including toilets, inflatable pools and fountains. – Kids Health
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(U.S. CPSC) outlines the best safety barrier guidelines for home pools
and hot tubs. For your safety, you’ll also want to be aware of municipal and state pool barrier laws
before installing a pool – including any pool signage and fencing
requirements. Specific laws vary state by state, but pool fences and
gates should always be strongly considered, even if not required by law.
The U.S. CPSC outlines these pool barrier guidelines to keep in mind.
The pool’s barrier should completely surround the pool.
If
local laws do not define a required height, barriers should be at least
four feet high. Each entrance should have door alarms and self-closing
doors with self-latching, child-proof locks.
The space between
each slat should not exceed four inches. There should be no more than
four inches of space between the ground and the bottom of the pool
barrier.
Install the appropriate pool and drain covers to reduce the risk of entrapment and drowning from powerful suction.
It’s also important to be aware of pool suction entrapment and draining systems. In 2002, Virginia Graeme Baker drowned while being trapped by a hot tub draining suction. As a result, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act was passed to outline requirements for compliant drain covers and safety vacuum release systems (SVRS) to reduce the risk of suction entrapment related injuries and deaths. Make sure your safety drain covers and draining systems meet the VGB Act and CPSC requirements for better pool safety. And lastly, get familiar with any swimming programs and requirements in your area from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) for the latest on water safety.
It’s the right time to brush up on how to childproof your pool, maintain a safe swimming environment and ward off tragic accidents. Pools are meant to be enjoyed, so take these steps to keep them safe and fun. To better understand the nature of pool safety, keep a few things in mind:
Sadly, the possibility of pool injuries and fatalities is very real. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for young children aged one to four. In 2018, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, at least 148 children under 15 years old fatally drowned in swimming pools or spas. For every death, twice as many children are hospitalized for injuries. 4-6 minutes underwater is enough to cause irreversible brain damage.
Portable “toy” pools require security measures just like their permanent in-ground and above-ground counterparts. Portable pools account for 10% of drowning fatalities of children under 15.
There’s no single safety device or protective measure that will completely childproof your pool or spa, or prevent every possible accident. Incorporate several types of the safeguards listed here into your pool safety plan.
Devices and barricades aren’t a substitute for an adult with a watchful eye. Never allow a child near water unsupervised, even if they can swim.
Step 1. Set Up Pool & Spa Barriers
Physical barricades (walls, fences and
covers) are the first line of defense. In some places, they are mandated
by state or municipal law. At a minimum, home insurance policies
typically require compliance with all local laws. Your policy most
likely dictates that you’re responsible for any accidents that happen to
pool visitors, even uninvited ones so it’s wise to block access.
What to Look for in Pool Fences
Children should not be able to get over, under or through the pool
wall or fence by themselves. Exact recommendations depend on the style
of barrier and the type of pool you have. Since local regulations vary
or may not exist, these pool barrier guidelines from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are a good place to start:
Fences around pools should be a minimum of four feet high; 5 feet or higher is preferable.
Spaces
in the fence should not be wide enough for a small child to fit
through. If a fence has vertical bars, they should be no more than four
inches apart.
Holes, cutouts or stones in a wall or fence should
not be big enough to provide hand and footholds. If there are cutouts
in the fence (such as decorative shapes or lattice holes) make sure the
openings are less than 1 ¾ inches wide.
Chain link fences should not exceed 1 ¼ inches square. If the fence mesh is too large, attach vertical slats to close off the openings.
Don’t put structures (like benches or large stones) nearby. These objects can help a child hop the fence.
Gates
to the pool area should have self-closing latches that are beyond the
reach of children. No fence is secure if the gate isn’t closed.
Another way to prevent accidents is to keep the water covered. For
smaller hot tubs and spas, rigid folding covers are better than soft
floating covers because they block water access more completely.
Consider using locking straps to secure the cover.
For pools, both manual and automatic covers are available. Manually
laid covers stretch across the top of the pool (either by hand or a
crank mechanism) and anchor into the pool deck. Automatically retracting
covers tend to be easier to use, but also more expensive. If you have
an automatic cover, keep the controls out of reach of children.
Another option is a pool safety net,
which stretches over the surface of the pool and anchors down around
its perimeter. When installed correctly, their strong synthetic
materials catch and support kids that tumble in.
Step 2. Secure the Gates & Doors
Consider all the pathways that children could follow from inside the
house to the water. Add security devices that make it harder to pass
through unsupervised.
Depending on the door style, childproof doorknob covers, lever locks and sliding door locks
are great additions to doors that lead outside (or anywhere else that’s
off limits). They’re inexpensive, easy to install and unobtrusive.
If there aren’t any preexisting fences or gates (or the current barriers are easy to crawl over), use baby gates or freestanding play yards to help keep little ones to a defined perimeter.
If you’re still concerned about kids getting into the pool after
you’ve secured the area, you can also consider getting a pool alarm, an
in-water motion detector that sounds alerts when activity is detected.
There are even wearable alarms for little escape artists.
Step 3. Inspect Pool Drains & Drain Covers
Pool and spa drains can create underwater suction with enough force
to trap even strong swimmers below the surface. Several tragic accidents
have occurred where children pulled into the drain did not only drown
or nearly drown, they also suffered physical injuries from the drain
itself.
In 2008, the Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) Act passed,
requiring all public pools to have anti-entrapment drain covers. Home
pools are not bound by this law, but drain safety should be considered a
requirement nevertheless. Make sure all drain covers are clean,
VGB-compliant, and not broken or missing.
Step 4. Maintain the Pool & Cleaning Chemicals
When used properly, chlorine kills waterborne bacteria and parasites
in a way that’s harmless to humans. But less-than-clean pools and
mishandled chemicals can lead to irritation, illness and even fires or
explosions.
Keep chemicals completely out of reach of children, preferably locked
up. They should be stored separately from other household cleaners due
to the potential for chemical reactions that can cause combustions, The
storage area should be kept clean from leaves, dirt and other debris;
chemical spills should be cleaned up immediately. Request material
safety data sheets (MSDS) from your pool chemical dealer and keep them
nearby in case you have any questions about how to use, handle or store
the cleaning agents.
Step 5. Enforce Pool Safety Rules & Skills
This pool safety step is never truly finished. Parents must remain
vigilant about monitoring kids in and around the pool. Kids should be
taught not to run around the pool, to never enter it alone and to never
play near pool drains or jets.
Be mindful about which toys and floatation devices you allow and
enforce responsible play. Many experts suggest bypassing slides and
diving boards completely. Remember that life jackets and floats are only
secondary safety items, and they’re not enough protection on their own.
Family swimming lessons are also highly recommended, but they don’t
guarantee safety. To be as prepared as possible, parents and caretakers
should also learn the signs of drowning (you won’t usually see splashing or flailing) and consider becoming CPR/First Aid Certified.
