Life is still cheap at work: recent fineRecent seven-figure fines for serious safety breaches have captured the headlines, but the price paid for killing a worker can often be considerably lower. DA Carter Ltd from Burscough was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs last week after employee Michael Alty died as a result of a six metre fall through asbestos sheeting on a warehouse roof.
See Working at height? Check the guidance warns HSE
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=220084&NewsAreaID=2
Maintenance workers warned - don't take the gamble with asbestos
"Don't take a gamble with your life" is the message to maintenance workers from Steve Coldrick, Director of the Health and Safety Executive's Disease Reduction Programme. These workers, including plumbers, carpenters and builders, account for more than one quarter of the 3,500 asbestos-related cancer deaths each year. To raise their awareness of the dangers of working with asbestos, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched its "Don't take the gamble" campaign.
www.hse.gov.uk/press/2006/e06091.htm
BUPA Care Homes fined £90,000 after the tragic death of a 95-year old woman in their care
BUPA Care Homes Ltd has been fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £19,247 costs to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in a prosecution by the HSE, following the death of 95-year-old woman, Mrs Charlotte Wood from Mottingham.
www.hse.gov.uk/press/2006/e06093.htm
Asbestos is deadly serious - prevent exposure warns the new European Asbestos Campaign
According to the International Labour Office (ILO), asbestos kills 100,000 workers a year worldwide. Although about 40 countries have eliminated the use of asbestos, it is still being used in several countries. The European Union and ILO have decided to start promoting a global asbestos ban. The European campaign supported by the European Agency for Safety and Health at work began on 1st September 2006.
For more information see http://osha.europa.eu/campaigns/asbestos/index_html/
Safe approaches to nanotechnology
The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) new web site on approaches to safe nanotechnology contains information on working with engineered nanomaterials, exposure assessment and exposure control procedures, occupational health surveillance, NIOSH research and references.
Feedback, comments or suggestions are requested. www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/safenano/