INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OFRISK AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Visit our website at wwwiirsmorgIssue 112016

If your company appeared in court tomorrow and was hit with a multi-million pound fine could it survive Even if it had the means to pay the reputational damage it would suffer would almost certainly have a detrimental effect on business

Since the revised Sentencing Guidelines came into force earlier this year big businesses have been hit with huge penalties thanks to their turnover The pages of this issue alone document Tescorsquos pound500000 fine after a worker suffered bruises following a fall Network Railrsquos pound4 million penalty after a pensioner was killed on a level crossing and Merlinrsquos pound5 million fine following the Alton Towers rollercoaster crash ndash the biggest penalty to date for a non fatal incident

As well as the dramatic increase in the levels of fines ndash which incidentally are more likely to make the headlines ndash Section 10 of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act allows the courts to impose publicity orders on convicted firms to attract additional adverse publicity and potentially damage its reputation Previous notices have either appeared in local newspapers or in the case of joinery firm Peter Mawson on its website Mobile Sweepers (Reading) which was convicted of corporate manslaughter in February 2014 was required to take out ads in two local newspapers

But itrsquos not just killing workers that attracts bad publicity After the Kingrsquos Cross fire in 1987 travel on London Underground dropped by 6 and took two years to

recover It is unlikely that 31 separate deaths would have prompted the same response

Last year a Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu survey revealed that only 19 of senior executives would say their companies deserve an ldquoArdquo for their ability to protect against and respond to reputation risks while 39 said the maturity of their risk strategy was average or below average

In todayrsquos global fast-moving social media landscape reputational issues can spread and amplify extremely quickly Often it will come down to the speed at which issues are identified and how they are subsequently handled

Does your organisation have a strategy to protect its reputation Perhaps itrsquos time you addressed this emerging risk

Case study how Mobile Mini drove down accidents

10INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Rooftop fall costs supermarket giant pound500000

03 Cyber security guides research and white papers

06 Robot protects workers in hazardous oil fields

09

The true cost of reputational damage

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 32

News Prosecutions

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Phillip PearsonDIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP AND COMMUNICATIONSClare FlemingMANAGING EDITOR Louis Wustemann

EDITOR Kellie Mundellkelliemundelllexisnexiscouk DESIGNER Carrie Love

ADDRESSIIRSM 77 Fulham Palace Road London W6 8JA UK Tel +44 (0)20 8741 9100 Fax +44 (0)20 8741 1349Website wwwiirsmorgEmail infoiirsmorg

Registered in England and WalesCharity No 1107666Company No 5310696

PUBLISHED BY LexisNexis copy Reed Elsevier (UK) Limited 2016Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd Kent

This publication is intended to be a general guide and cannot be a substitute for professional advice Neither the authors nor the publisher accept any responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of material contained in this publication

Reproduction copying or extracting by any means of the whole or part of this publication must not be undertaken without the written permission of the publishers

ISSN 1746-1359

News Prosecutions

SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK

Alton Towers operator fined pound5m over ride collision

The owner of Alton Towers has been fined a record pound5 million for the ldquocatastrophicrdquo rollercoaster crash last year that left five passengers with life-changing injuries and others seriously hurt

The judge Michael Chambers QC said Merlin Attractions Operationsrsquo safety procedures were ldquowoefully inadequaterdquo and a ldquoshamblesrdquo in scathing criticism over the Smiler crash on 2 June 2015

He added ldquoThis was a needless and avoidable accident in which those injured were fortunate not to have been killed or to have bled to deathrdquo

The two-day sentencing at Stafford Crown Court heard how the crash was like a 90mph car accident and that the victims waited nearly an hour in mid-air before paramedics were able to access the pound18 million ride

Chambers said Vicky Balch and Leah Washington who each lost a leg were fortunate not to have bled to death in the four to five hours they were trapped on the Smiler On that day Alton Towers ldquofell well shortrdquo of the safety standards expected of

the UKrsquos biggest theme park he addedThe organisation originally said the

accident was caused by ldquohuman errorrdquo But prosecutors argued the fault was with the employer not individuals

The court had heard how engineers failed to notice a carriage that had stopped midway round the 14-loop ride

They assumed there was a problem with the computer and overrode the stop mechanism setting another train in motion and into the empty carriage

Bernard Thorogood prosecuting said workers had not been given a system to follow which would safely deal with the issue He said engineers had not read or seen the ridersquos operating instructions

Since the crash a number of safety changes have been made including improved access and a policy of closing the ride when winds exceed 34mph

MENTAL HEALTH

Survey reveals scale of problemMore than three-quarters of employees have experienced poor mental health and almost half of workers would not talk to their manager about a mental health issue according to a new report

Released to coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October the Business in the Community (BITC) charity uncovered that while employers are talking more about mental health words are not translating into action

More than 20000 participants took part in a YouGov panel survey (3036 respondents) and a public open survey (16246 respondents)

According to the study 62 had experienced physical psychological or behavioural symptoms of poor mental health where work issues played a part and 24 had experienced symptoms in the last month alone

Three in four line managers (76) believe that employee wellbeing is their responsibility yet only 22 had received some form of training on mental health at work

ldquoOur findings show that we need more openness more training and information and more support for employees and managersrdquo said Louise Aston Wellbeing Director at BITC ldquoThis is why we are asking employers to take three steps ndash talk train and take action

ldquoProgress will only happen when employers approach mental ill health as they would physical ill health ndash doing what they can to prevent ill health occurring or escalating and ensuring proper support for employees when it happensrdquo

Victimsrsquo solicitor Paul Paxton said ldquomoney alone will never replace limbsrdquo

WORK AT HEIGHT

Tesco in court after worker plummeted 30ft through skylightSupermarket giant Tesco has been fined pound500000 after a maintenance worker fell through a skylight onto the shop floor

On 13 June 2014 Andrew Burgess was part of a team carrying out repairs to the roof and gutters of the Express store in Liscard Village Wallesey when the incident happened He fell 30 feet and suffered cuts bruises and muscle damage Customers in the store accompanied him to a local NHS walk-in centre

Tesco Maintenance and Tesco Stores were prosecuted by the HSE following an investigation that found no risk assessment or method statement had been produced before carrying out the work

Liverpool Crown Court heard that as the shop has a false ceiling the skylights had been painted white along with the rest of the roof but the skylights were not marked as fragile

A colleague began marking around the skylights with yellow warning paint but

before he could complete the task Burgess fell through one of them

Tesco Stores pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act and Regulation

10 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 It was fined pound200000 plus costs

Tesco Maintenance pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9 of the Work at Height Regulations and Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act It was ordered to pay pound300000 plus costs

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Chris Hatton said ldquoI am shocked at a company the size of Tesco failing to take even basic precautions to prevent injury to its employees and further to risk injury to the publicrdquo

WORKPLACE TRANSPORT

Housebuilder fined pound800k over segregation failings

CDM failing lands Crest Nicholson in court Housebuilder did not monitor whether

segregation was effective

Developer Crest Nicholson has been prosecuted after a site supervisor was struck by an HGV at a site in Wokingham Berkshire

Reading Crown Court heard that the housebuilder failed to segregate pedestrians and vehicles and failed to monitor whether workers stayed behind roadside pedestrian barriers

David Cole was working on the housing project in Mulberry Grove in December 2014 when he was pulled under a large bulk powder carrier

He was walking along the nearside of the vehicle when it pulled forward turned towards the nearside and hit him Cole suffered life threatening injuries

and the skin on his left arm and leg was removed

He fractured his left hip all the fingers on his right hand were broken and his left leg is now permanently shorter than his right by 20mm

Crest Nicholson which ran the project was accused of failing to plan and manage workplace transport effectively by the HSE

Prosecutors told the court the incident could have been avoided if the developers had taken action to ensure workers stayed behind the pedestrian barriers and did not walk in the road while heavy goods vehicles were moving

Crest Nicholson pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 36 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 As well as the fine it was ordered to pay pound10984 in costs

InBriefMoD receives Crown CensureThe Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been issued with a Crown Censure by the HSE for the second time this year over the death of a fusilier

On 14 September 2011 21-year-old Dean Griffiths was lined up against the wooden wall of a compound at Lydd Ranges military firing range in Kent Two colleagues entered the compound followed by a safety supervisor and one fired two shots at a target

A bullet passed through the incorrectly placed target and hit Griffiths in the neck as he stood on the other side of the wall It severed an artery and he died at the scene

The MoD was also hit with a Crown Censure in March over the deaths of three army reservists on an SAS selection exercise in the Brecon Beacons in Wales (see page five of Insight issue 0416)

For CCTV footage of the crash visit wwwhealthandsafetyatworkcomrisk-assessmentalton-towers-merlin-fine-smiler

Judge Steven Everett said it was lsquoa minor miraclersquo Burgess had not been killed or seriously injured

Less than a quarter of line managers have had training

22

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n M

cfad

den

Ass

ocia

ted

New

spap

ers

REX

Shu

tter

stoc

k

copy G

oogl

e M

aps

ldquoI am shocked at a company the size of Tesco failing to take even basic precautions to prevent injury to its employees and further to risk injury to the publicrdquo

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 54

News ProsecutionsNews Prosecutions

WORK AT HEIGHT

Homeware firmrsquos lsquobreathtakingrsquo failure to manage risks leads to pound22m fine

In what is thought to be the largest ever fine following a Local Authority prosecution a wholesaler has been ordered to pay pound22 million following the death of an agency worker at the companyrsquos Buckinghamshire site

Decco which operates from industrial premises at Latimer Road in Chesham supplying retailers and construction companies with DIY gardening and housewares products received the fine at Aylesbury Crown Court on 9 September 2016 after admitting at an earlier hearing to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act

The accident happened on 25 November 2014 William Richardson was working at the Decco site helping to unload a delivery from a first-floor loading platform on the outside of one of the companyrsquos warehouses when he fell from the unguarded platform edge onto the concrete surface about eight feet below

He was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford but died on 3 December from his injuries

A site inspection subsequently carried out by Chiltern District Council officers highlighted significant health and safety failures on the site According to the council the firm had a risk assessment for working on the platform which was reviewed every year but it failed to consider the nature of the work that was being carried out

PUBLIC SAFETY

Multi-million pound fine for ignoring visibility warning

Worker warned rail firm of danger More than 1000 level crossings have been

closed in recent years

Network Rail has been fined pound4 million for a string of safety failures after a woman was struck and killed by a train at a level crossing

Olive McFarland 82 was hit in August 2011 by a train travelling at nearly 100mph on a section of track that an employee of the rail giant said should have been restricted to 55mph

During its investigation into the incident the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) found that Network Rail had failed to act on ldquosubstantial evidencerdquo that pedestrians were at increased risk of being struck by a train on the crossing due to the lack of visibility

Plants obscured pedestriansrsquo view of the line and an audible warning device was too close to the crossing to give people time to avoid oncoming trains according to the Bury Free Press

Network Rail pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act The firm ndash which had a turnover of pound6 billion in 2015 ndash had its fine reduced by a third for pleading guilty but was ordered to pay prosecution costs of pound35000

ldquoIn 2011 Network Railrsquos safety management fell below the standards required putting members of the public using Gipsy Lane footpath crossing in

unnecessary dangerrdquo said Ian Prosser HM Chief Inspector of Railways

ldquoOver the past decade Network Rail has focused its attention and investment on improving health and safety on Britainrsquos railways However despite now being ranked as the safest in Europe there can be no room for complacency

Despite now being ranked as the safest in Europe there can be no room for complacencyrdquo

ldquoRail safety remains a top priority for the regulator We will always take action against companies or individuals if failings are foundrdquo

The rail regulator said that following the incident Network Rail immediately acted to improve safety at the Gipsy Lane footpath crossing by redesigning its layout and implementing a speed restriction for trains which remains in place The company is currently progressing plans to replace the crossing with a footbridge

Since 2009ndash10 Network Rail has closed more than 1000 level crossings as part of its level crossing risk reduction programme

SICKNESS ABSENCE

Employee absence rates remain stable survey finds

On average public-sector employees took 83 days per year off sick

Sickness absence rates continued to remain stable during 2015 according to a new study

XpertHRrsquos annual sickness absence benchmarking survey has revealed that employees took an average of 58 daysrsquo sickness absence during the 2015 calendar year equivalent to 26 of working time ndash considerably lower than 10 years ago

However absence rates in the public

sector continued to be higher than the private sector with a median absence rate of 37 in 2015 On average public-sector employees took 83 days per year off sick

In the private sector median absence rates were below the national median the survey found Employees in manufacturing and production took 57 days per year on average while those in services employers took just five days per year

The study found that just over two-fifths (407) of employers measure the cost of sickness absence though many admitted this could be an underestimate

Those who did measure the cost of sickness absence estimated it to be an average of pound45595 per employee for the 2015 calendar year

This sum was significantly higher for public-sector employers where the estimated median cost of sickness absence per employee is pound81963

In manufacturing and production this was pound52332 and in private sector services it was pound41674

William Richardson suffered fatal brain injuries when he fell eight feet from this wet wooden unguarded platform

Olive McFarland 82 was hit by a train as she crossed this track near Needham Market in Suffolk

BREXIT

EU requirements will be coverted into UK law

Great Repeal Bill will instantly annul the ability for EU law to take instant effect in UK

A proposal to end the European Unionrsquos legal supremacy in the UK will convert all EU requirements into British law as soon as Britain exits the union

ldquoThe Great Repeal Billrdquo will annul the 1972 European Communities Act (ECA) which gives EU law instant effect in the UK and give Parliament the power to absorb parts of EU legislation into UK law and scrap elements it does not want to keep

Prime Minister Theresa May and Brexit Secretary David Davis plan to introduce the Bill as early as the spring with its passage through Parliament set to take place in parallel to withdrawal negotiations in Brussels

Speaking during the Conservative party conference at the beginning of October Davis said ldquoItrsquos very simple At the moment we leave Britain must be back in control And that means EU law must cease to apply

ldquoEU law will be transposed into domestic law wherever practical on exit day It will be for elected politicians here to make the changes to reflect the outcome of our negotiation and our exit

ldquoThat is what people voted for power and authority residing once again with the sovereign institutions of our own country

ldquoThat way when we leave we will have provided the maximum possible certainty for British business ndash and also for British workersrdquo

They also revealed that the government would trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017 and conclude the two year negotiation process with the EU by spring 2019

Davis also tried to reassure workers concerned that key rights which were introduced on an EU-wide level will remain in place

ldquoTo those who are trying to frighten British workers saying lsquoWhen we leave employment rights will be erodedrsquo I say firmly and unequivocally lsquono they wonrsquotrsquordquo he added

InBriefTough new safety rules for HGVs driving in LondonTransport for London (TfL) has announced plans to introduce a tough new lsquodirect vision standardrsquo for HGVs operating on the capitalrsquos roads to cut the toll of accidents linked to driversrsquo blind spots

The plans now in consultation involve rating all HGVs from zero to five stars according to the field of vision from the driverrsquos cab

London Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes to outlaw all zero-rated cabs from 2020 The plan would also require all HGVs on Londonrsquos roads to have a three-star rating by 2024 Read more wwwhealthandsafetyatworkcomroad-safetytfl-direct-vision

HSE considers consolidating hazardous substances lawsThe HSE is asking businesses for opinions on how it should revise three major sets of regulations governing the management of hazardous substances in the workplace The regulations under the spotlight are the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) the Control of Lead at Work Regulations and the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR)

If you work with hazardous substances the HSE wants your input Take the survey here wwwsurveymonkeycoukrhazardsub

Network Rail was ordered to pay a fine of

pound4m

copy F

aceb

ook

Gip

sy L

ane

Railw

ay C

ross

ing

copy C

hilte

rn D

istric

t C

ounc

il

Platform was unguarded Worker fell 8ft to his death

For more on sickness absence visit wwwhealthandsafetyatworkcomcategoryhealthsickness-absence

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 76

Institute News Institute News

CYBER CRIME

Donrsquot underestimate the threat New web page provides you with guides

research and white papers

Did you know that 74 of small organisations reported a security breach in 2015 ndash a 60 increase from 2014 These shocking statistics indicate cyber crime is rising so itrsquos vital we put in place measures to protect all the data we hold within our organisations to stop the threat from escalating

To help you implement these measures IIRSM has been working with IIRSM members Zurich Insurance and AMPG International to prepare a range of resources to provide information guidance and easy to implement tips on how to protect your business and yourselves from cyber threats So whether yoursquore a big or small organisation find out what you need to do to manage this ever growing threat

Take a look at our Cyber Security page under the Info Hub section of the website

ndash itrsquos packed full of useful and insightful information including

Practical guide to cyber security for small businesses

Research report Managing data in an evolving world ndash good data governance

White paper Managing cyber risk The facts ndash infographic

BRANCH UPDATE

Londonrsquos burning issues

Fire risk assessment presentation from TalkTalkrsquos Group Head of Health and Safety

IIRSMrsquos Chief Executive was also in attendance

In October members of the London Branch enjoyed an informative session on fire risk assessment in low to medium fire risk buildings by Branch Chairman Andrew Ammerlaan Group Health and Safety Manager at TalkTalk

The delegates listened to a presentation on the legal requirements to carry out fire risk assessments when to do them and who should do them An interesting discussion took place on competencies required to undertake a fire risk assessment

Andrew kindly shared an example of a fire risk assessment for a building he manages which houses more than 900 employees He agreed to share the

template with the group after the meeting which was welcomed by his fellow members

IIRSM Chief Executive Phillip Pearson was also in attendance and provided an update of the Institutersquos activities as well as its plans for the next five years On the agenda are building the Branch network broadening IIRSMrsquos scope to encompass the wider risk management arena and realigning our membership streams to reflect this Phillip also discussed a plan to introduce new qualifications

Members of the Branch had a general discussion around planning for the next meeting and guest speakers and site visits resulted in many suggestions and avenues to pursue

If you would like to attend the next London Branch meeting please register your interest by emailing branchesiirsmorg

OCCUPATIONAL SKIN MANAGEMENT

A8000 Certificate of Competency ndash can you help

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is proposing to introduce into its training programme a module on the prevention of damage to health due to the interaction between the skin and the working environment

This is an important development Statistics show that occupational skin disease represents around 35 of all occupational ill health (WHO and EU statistics) and that skin contact with common chemicals can result in cancer or even fatalities The statistics also show that damage to health due to skin exposure is actually more common

than that due to inhalation exposure

One reason for this is because the way in which the skin interacts with the (working) environment is surprisingly complex and often not adequately covered in current health and safety training There are many myths and much misinformation about the skin in the working environment

What may appear logical may not be correct There are many pitfalls that await the unwary or inadequately informed ndash hence the need for this module

The module is intended to provide those working in health and safety with an in-depth understanding of how to prevent damage to health due to workplace skin exposure Chris Packham FIIRSM has been asked to help the BOHS to ascertain whether there is sufficient interest in providing a distance learning course leading to a formal BOHS Certificate of Competency in

Occupational Skin Management If you would like to know more or

for a detailed explanation of what the module involves please email Chris Packham chrisenvirodermcouk

New fellows Congratulations to the following members who were recently awarded Fellowship statusMukhtari Abdul-Karim Tyron Bancroft Raymond Bone Shimjith Chiriyath Mark Colquhoun Patrick Darmdy Edward Deighan Jeffrey Dutton John Ede John Fislwy David Foy John Hamilton Calvin Hanks Tracey Harding Karen Hoskins Manish Kumar Phil Maddison Adai Onazi Ray Owen Kevin Phillips Umar Puthukkadi John Rutter Paul Sawyer Peter Scholefield Capt Kulwant Singh John Smith Roger Smith Lin Wai Ming Paul Williams Adam Wilson and Dr Yousuf Majeed

Central England20 October 2016 | NorthamptonshireTopic Cultural change and safe leadershipSpeakers Dan Terry Adrian Crawford Anne Mallory and Andy Hawkes Register branchesiirsmorg

Northern England27 October 2016 | NewcastleTopic Establishing a safety improvement programme for a high risk international businessSpeaker Hugh Maxwell Vesuvius Register branchesiirsmorg

United Arab Emirates9 November 2016 | DubaiRegister uaebranchiirsmorg

South East England10 November 2016 | Swanley KentTopic Legal update by Gullands SolicitorsRegister trevorarnoldhotmailcouk

South Wales14 November 2016 | Taffrsquos Well CardiffTopic Face fit ndash respiratory protection Speaker Risk amp Policy Analysts (RPA)Register stevebergiershotmailcouk

North West England17 November 2016 Register edblanchard27btinternetcom

North Scotland24 November 2016Register hughcanningtalktalknet

Yorkshire29 November 2016Register rogerrustomnacroorguk

London1 December 2016 | HammersmithRegister branchesiirsmorg

Nigeria2 December 2016 | LagosRegister eugeneituayahoocom

UPCOMING BRANCH MEETINGS

Whenrsquos your next meeting

Visit wwwiirsmorgcyber-security

NEW BRANCHES

Potential Branch in Sri Lanka IIRSMrsquos international membership continues to grow and we are keen to find ways for each of our members to network learn and share their expertise and knowledge

At the end of September Manjula Hettiarachchie from Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka visited IIRSMrsquos headquarters in Hammersmith to meet with IIRSM Chief Executive Phillip Pearson They discussed the potential of setting up a Sri Lankan Branch ndash currently a group of about 20 HSE professionals meet on an informal basis but

they are now keen to expand this with the possible association of IIRSM

Do you want to be part of a Sri Lankan Branch Register your interest by emailing branchesiirsmorg

Phillip Pearson meets Manjula Hettiarachchie

copy M

atej

Mod

erc

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 76

Institute News Institute News

CYBER CRIME

Donrsquot underestimate the threat New web page provides you with guides

research and white papers

Did you know that 74 of small organisations reported a security breach in 2015 ndash a 60 increase from 2014 These shocking statistics indicate cyber crime is rising so itrsquos vital we put in place measures to protect all the data we hold within our organisations to stop the threat from escalating

To help you implement these measures IIRSM has been working with IIRSM members Zurich Insurance and AMPG International to prepare a range of resources to provide information guidance and easy to implement tips on how to protect your business and yourselves from cyber threats So whether yoursquore a big or small organisation find out what you need to do to manage this ever growing threat

Take a look at our Cyber Security page under the Info Hub section of the website

ndash itrsquos packed full of useful and insightful information including

Practical guide to cyber security for small businesses

Research report Managing data in an evolving world ndash good data governance

White paper Managing cyber risk The facts ndash infographic

BRANCH UPDATE

Londonrsquos burning issues

Fire risk assessment presentation from TalkTalkrsquos Group Head of Health and Safety

IIRSMrsquos Chief Executive was also in attendance

In October members of the London Branch enjoyed an informative session on fire risk assessment in low to medium fire risk buildings by Branch Chairman Andrew Ammerlaan Group Health and Safety Manager at TalkTalk

The delegates listened to a presentation on the legal requirements to carry out fire risk assessments when to do them and who should do them An interesting discussion took place on competencies required to undertake a fire risk assessment

Andrew kindly shared an example of a fire risk assessment for a building he manages which houses more than 900 employees He agreed to share the

template with the group after the meeting which was welcomed by his fellow members

IIRSM Chief Executive Phillip Pearson was also in attendance and provided an update of the Institutersquos activities as well as its plans for the next five years On the agenda are building the Branch network broadening IIRSMrsquos scope to encompass the wider risk management arena and realigning our membership streams to reflect this Phillip also discussed a plan to introduce new qualifications

Members of the Branch had a general discussion around planning for the next meeting and guest speakers and site visits resulted in many suggestions and avenues to pursue

If you would like to attend the next London Branch meeting please register your interest by emailing branchesiirsmorg

OCCUPATIONAL SKIN MANAGEMENT

A8000 Certificate of Competency ndash can you help

The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) is proposing to introduce into its training programme a module on the prevention of damage to health due to the interaction between the skin and the working environment

This is an important development Statistics show that occupational skin disease represents around 35 of all occupational ill health (WHO and EU statistics) and that skin contact with common chemicals can result in cancer or even fatalities The statistics also show that damage to health due to skin exposure is actually more common

than that due to inhalation exposure

One reason for this is because the way in which the skin interacts with the (working) environment is surprisingly complex and often not adequately covered in current health and safety training There are many myths and much misinformation about the skin in the working environment

What may appear logical may not be correct There are many pitfalls that await the unwary or inadequately informed ndash hence the need for this module

The module is intended to provide those working in health and safety with an in-depth understanding of how to prevent damage to health due to workplace skin exposure Chris Packham FIIRSM has been asked to help the BOHS to ascertain whether there is sufficient interest in providing a distance learning course leading to a formal BOHS Certificate of Competency in

Occupational Skin Management If you would like to know more or

for a detailed explanation of what the module involves please email Chris Packham chrisenvirodermcouk

New fellows Congratulations to the following members who were recently awarded Fellowship statusMukhtari Abdul-Karim Tyron Bancroft Raymond Bone Shimjith Chiriyath Mark Colquhoun Patrick Darmdy Edward Deighan Jeffrey Dutton John Ede John Fislwy David Foy John Hamilton Calvin Hanks Tracey Harding Karen Hoskins Manish Kumar Phil Maddison Adai Onazi Ray Owen Kevin Phillips Umar Puthukkadi John Rutter Paul Sawyer Peter Scholefield Capt Kulwant Singh John Smith Roger Smith Lin Wai Ming Paul Williams Adam Wilson and Dr Yousuf Majeed

Central England20 October 2016 | NorthamptonshireTopic Cultural change and safe leadershipSpeakers Dan Terry Adrian Crawford Anne Mallory and Andy Hawkes Register branchesiirsmorg

Northern England27 October 2016 | NewcastleTopic Establishing a safety improvement programme for a high risk international businessSpeaker Hugh Maxwell Vesuvius Register branchesiirsmorg

United Arab Emirates9 November 2016 | DubaiRegister uaebranchiirsmorg

South East England10 November 2016 | Swanley KentTopic Legal update by Gullands SolicitorsRegister trevorarnoldhotmailcouk

South Wales14 November 2016 | Taffrsquos Well CardiffTopic Face fit ndash respiratory protection Speaker Risk amp Policy Analysts (RPA)Register stevebergiershotmailcouk

North West England17 November 2016 Register edblanchard27btinternetcom

North Scotland24 November 2016Register hughcanningtalktalknet

Yorkshire29 November 2016Register rogerrustomnacroorguk

London1 December 2016 | HammersmithRegister branchesiirsmorg

Nigeria2 December 2016 | LagosRegister eugeneituayahoocom

UPCOMING BRANCH MEETINGS

Whenrsquos your next meeting

Visit wwwiirsmorgcyber-security

NEW BRANCHES

Potential Branch in Sri Lanka IIRSMrsquos international membership continues to grow and we are keen to find ways for each of our members to network learn and share their expertise and knowledge

At the end of September Manjula Hettiarachchie from Colombo Dockyard in Sri Lanka visited IIRSMrsquos headquarters in Hammersmith to meet with IIRSM Chief Executive Phillip Pearson They discussed the potential of setting up a Sri Lankan Branch ndash currently a group of about 20 HSE professionals meet on an informal basis but

they are now keen to expand this with the possible association of IIRSM

Do you want to be part of a Sri Lankan Branch Register your interest by emailing branchesiirsmorg

Phillip Pearson meets Manjula Hettiarachchie

copy M

atej

Mod

erc

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 98

International News International News

When the work was complete colleagues realised he was missing and found him dead in the compacted waste

The Japan Times reported that the incident was the third at ITO plants in about a month On 20 August a 56-year-old worker died at the same plant when he was crushed between a loading shovel and a truck and on 2 August a 67-year-old temporary worker was killed in a conveyer belt at another plant in the Nara area

PAKISTAN

Teens die in bakery blastThree teenage workers have been killed and two people injured in a boiler explosion at a bakery factory in Shahpur Kanjran Chuhng

The explosion happened at the Cakes and Bakes plant on 17 September A rescue official said workers were boiling milk at the production unit when the boiler exploded The roof caved in and the milk container also exploded The three teenagers all aged 18 died before they got to hospital

Local police said hundreds of gas cylinders were also found in the factory courtyard violating safety requirements

KAZAKHSTAN

Robot protects workers in hazardous oil fieldsOil giant Shell has announced it is sending out a semi-autonomous rover vehicle to a remote island in the Kashagan development in the Caspian Sea an oil field known for high levels of poisonous hydrogen sulfide

The vehicle ndash developed by Shell and known as Sensabot ndash has sensors cameras and wireless communications that allow operators to control it from a safe place ldquoSensabot enables colleagues to do their jobs at a safe distance while also lowering the costs of day-to-day operationsrdquo said Alisa Choong executive VP responsible for digital technologies at Shell

The robot can work in remote or unmanned oil and gas facilities and will run for six months without maintenance Operators can use it to carry out safety and equipment checks and respond to alerts Shell described the robot as ldquoan extension of the human workerrdquo rather than a substitute

UNITED STATES

Dollar General fined again for blocked exits

Discount retailer Dollar General has been cited again for blocking exit routes with stacked merchandise

In the latest case Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors found exits blocked at the firmrsquos store in Bolivar Ohio As a result OSHA issued three repeated safety citations with proposed fines totalling $156772 Inspectors also found fire extinguisher locations not marked and electrical panels blocked

Since 2010 OSHA has recorded more than 100 safety and health violations at Dollar General stores nationwide and assessed more than $1m in proposed fines

ldquoIn an emergency no one should have to struggle to get out of a store safely grab a fire extinguisher or shut down the power quickly but these dangerous hazards are exactly what our inspectors found at the Dollar General store in Bolivarrdquo said Larry Johnson OSHArsquos area director in Columbus ldquoFinding these conditions in one company location is bad enough but Dollar Generalrsquos willingness to ignore its immediate responsibility to protect employees and shoppers in all of its stores is cause for real concernrdquo

BANGLADESH

Foil factory death toll rises to 34

The number of workers killed at the Tampoco Foil factory fire has risen to at least 34 with dozens more left injured

As we reported in last monthrsquos Insight the fire broke out on 10 September when a boiler exploded inside the factory an ageing building that had previously had extra floors added to its structure The factory produced foil packs for consumer products including tobacco Some of the multi-national companies alleged to have used the factory in their supply chains include British American Tobacco Mondelez and Nestleacute According to the International Trade Union Confederation the cramped building was full of flammable materials and only had one working exit

AUSTRALIA

Shift workers more at risk of injury New research by Safe Work Australia has found that the overall injury rate for shift workers is significantly higher than that for non-shift workers

The study based on a nationally representative survey in 2013ndash14 shows that the rate for shift workers (499 injured workers per million hours worked) was more than twice as high as the rate for non-shift workers (232) Though shift workers accounted for only 16 of hours worked they accounted for 30 of injured workers

Not all groups of shift workers had significantly higher injury rates machinery operators and drivers working shifts showed a lower injury rate than their non-shift worker counterparts Compared with non-shift workers a significantly higher percentage of shift workers experience burn injuries

NEW ZEALAND

Tiger killed city zookeeperHamilton City Council has been fined NZ$38250 after a mother-of-two was killed by a tiger while working at Hamilton Zoo in September 2015

The council which owns and operates the zoo pleaded guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety in Employment Act

in that it failed to ensure the safety of Samantha Kudeweh

A WorkSafe investigation discovered the zoo had insufficient mechanical and safety features to prevent two gates between the cat chute and the main enclosure being open at the same time did not have a two keeper system and had not provided warning signs to indicate a tiger was not secured

As well as the fine the council must pay reparations of $5180 to each of Kudewehrsquos children

JAPAN

Third fatality at ITO recycling plants

A worker has died after becoming caught in a waste grinding machine at a plant operated by recycling firm ITO

The 45-year-old was one of four workers putting construction waste into the machinery at the plant in Nara

UNITED STATES

Hoboken crash train had no automatic protection system

Investigators are looking at whether brake failure driver distraction or a driver health issue might have contributed to an incident in which a New Jersey Transit Corporation commuter train crashed into the Hoboken terminal during rush hour on 29 September The train was not fitted with an automatic train protection system

The crash killed a 34-year-old woman on the platform and left 108 injured It also knocked down support columns in the station building which is a major transit point for New York commuters

In a statement on 1 October the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said officials had interviewed the engineer who was injured in the crash but it would not immediately release anything further The NTSB also noted that it had inspected the tracks and found nothing that would have affected

the trainrsquos performance It added that environmental and structural issues had delayed the recovery of a data recorder and forward-facing video recorder

While investigators continue to look into the incident safety experts have been questioning why the train did not have a second engineer or positive train control (PTC) a system that automatically slows down trains when they exceed the speed limit

A federal mandate required PTC installation by 2015 on all the nationrsquos main railways but this was extended by three years because companies said they could not finish the work by the deadline Railway operators also had the option to request a further extension of up to two years to complete testing and installation

New Jersey Transitrsquos most recent PTC progress report shows that none of its 440 trains on the New Jersey Transit rail line have PTC

The 29 September crash killed one commuter and injured more than 100 others

GLOBAL

Boost to garment factory conditions

Conditions have improved in garment factories in developing countries that have received support from the UN-backed Better Work programme

More than 1300 factories employing 16 million workers are involved in the Better Work (BW) programme ndash a partnership between the International Labour Organization and the International Finance Corporation

An assessment of the programme by Tufts University which looked at factories in Cambodia Indonesia Vietnam Lesotho Jordan Nicaragua and Haiti found that the support had helped factories move away from practices such as long working hours low pay dismissal threats and abuse of probationary contracts

There has also been significant progress in tackling coercive labour practices and limiting harassment and verbal abuse In Jordan reports of sexual harassment fell by 18 in BW factories and the incidence of workers feeling fearful also declined

The programme has helped improve occupational safety and health although this remains an area of major noncompliance Examples of improvement included case studies from Haiti that showed BW factories using LED lighting to lower energy consumption and workplace temperature investing in new machines and combating air pollution and noise exposure In Nicaragua workers in BW factories are less likely to be injured at work and worker concerns with excess overtime have declined

The Better Work programme is designed to improve working conditions in developing countriescopy

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wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1110

Case studyCase study

Fleet manoeuvresVehicle technology safety bonuses and improved worker engagement have all helped Mobile Mini drive down accidents and in turn insurance premiums We find out more

then there are the schools supermarkets and smaller building or residential sites which though less intrinsically hazardous bring their own challenges because of the presence of children and other members of the publicrdquo Watcham explains ldquoIt requires a lot of thought and thatrsquos where the technology also comes in We have cameras fitted all around the vehicles which helps the driver during manoeuvring and wersquove got pedestrian warnings so if someone does come close to the vehicle therersquos an audible warning inside and outside the cabrdquo

Tech specsMobile Mini started its programme by analysing the types of incidents drivers were involved in These were mainly reversing accidents they didnrsquot involve injuries but vehicles were hitting other parked vehicles or property After identifying reversing as a priority the company looked at both driver training and vehicle technologies ldquoWe brought in the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and trained the guys specifically on reversing and manoeuvringrdquo says Watcham Alongside this camera technology was fitted to the Hiabs At first these were reversing cameras on the back of the vehicles and trailers which provided an in-cab visual to help drivers when reversing

The success of the reversing cameras encouraged the company to go further The next step was to fit forward facing dashboard cameras which provide an accurate picture of any accidents that occur so help with internal investigations and help insurers in defending accidents that are not Mobile Mini driversrsquo fault ldquoWe initially looked at it in Londonrdquo says Watcham ldquoAnd it was the drivers in London that were asking for them because they were more exposed some had been in collisions where they

Incidents more than halved dropping from 51 to 21 and we reduced our insurance premium by just over pound100000 (a 40 fall) so there are clear benefitsrdquo

R educing vehicle incidents by 90 over six years is something most health and safety managers would

be proud of But when this is allied to significant cost savings from greater fuel efficiency and lower insurance premiums as well as improved worker satisfaction engagement and training the wider benefits of investing in health and safety become clear

At Mobile Mini UK which provides portable site storage solutions and accommodation units these results were achieved by focusing on improving safety within its 50-strong fleet of HGV loader cranes (Hiabs) ldquoWe started the improvement process around five years agordquo explains Chris Watcham MIIRSM Mobile Minirsquos Health and Safety Director ldquoThe volume of accidents per year at that time was quite significant at 51 in both 2010 and 2011 Though there were no injuries and the vast majority of incidents were not major the sheer volume was unacceptable and our insurance liability was increasingrdquo

Taking a three-pronged approach that combined bespoke professional training investment in on-vehicle cameras and other technologies and a robust driver bonus scheme Mobile Mini has brought these incidents under control The results were immediate and the improvement has continued In 2012 the number of incidents (those requiring investigation and informing

insurers) more than halved dropping to 21 ldquoThis year so far wersquove only had four incidentsrdquo says Watcham ldquowhich is remarkable considering the 50 HGVs and 39 service vans we have on the road around the countryrdquo

Nuclear to residentialMobile Mini operates a national network of 16 sites providing more than 36000 portable accommodation and storage units to about 11300 customers which range from nuclear and construction sites to shopping centres hospitals and schools as well as individual households Each of these brings its own unique set of logistical and safety challenges

ldquoWe have the really highly regulated sites such as nuclear power stations where their checks are in-depth and they set their own rigorous safety requirements that we must adhere tordquo explains Watcham At these sites for example there may be security checks on individual drivers and vehicle cameras might need to be disengaged Then there are construction sites including those in busy central London where the HGVs are coming close to members of public other vehicles and construction workers as well as having to manoeuvre under pressure in tight crowded spaces

ldquoSo at one point we could be servicing a petrochemical or nuclear site then at the next point at Marble Arch in London and

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1312

Case studyCase study

swore they were not at fault but insurers had no proof so had agreed 5050 paymentsrdquo

Vehicle technology was starting to pick up in the UK at the time and a member of the firmrsquos safety team went to a Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) ndash an accreditation scheme developed by Transport for London (TfL) ndash meeting where a company did a presentation on a system it was selling as a driver protection system (to protect driversrsquo licences) ldquoWe went back to our drivers and they were more than happy with the ideardquo explains Watcham ldquoso we put them into London first and then rolled it outrdquo

Not long after the first dash cameras were fitted there was a collision in London in which a TfL bus crashed into one of Mobile Minirsquos HGVs This was a potentially costly incident but the cameras proved the Hiab driver hadnrsquot even moved he was waiting to turn right and the bus crashed into him Watcham believes this incident helped to cement the camerasrsquo value Whenever there are useful learning points from incidents the company now sends footage company-wide so that it can be shown at driver safety meetings ldquoThat has really embedded what the cameras are all aboutrdquo he says ldquoIf wersquore at fault it tells us too and we need to know that so we can improve things furtherrdquo

Mobile Mini has continued to invest in vehicle technologies so alongside the front dash and reversing cameras most vehicles now have two further cameras on the sides which record any impacts in those areas and provide the driver with even better vision Vehicles also have reversing and left turning

alarms that are audible externally and inside the cab automatic lane departure warning systems and telematics to help influence driver behaviours

The next step in terms of technology is an automatic emergency braking system that prevents collisions in front These can be supplied in new vehicles but are prohibitively expensive to retro-fit in the existing fleet ldquoWe recently met with camera providers and there is now a wide-angled camera you can fit which is also a sensorrdquo says Watcham ldquoSo for those vehicles that have not got the automatic emergency system what we can do is put in another kind of detectionwarning systemrdquo As drivers travel down a road the camera on the dash picks up hazards such pedestrians or cyclists and the warning systems tells the driver if they are too close by going from green to amber to red This technology is likely to cost about pound500 per vehicle which amounts to around pound25000 for the fleet ldquoWe have had some low speed incidents historically ndash where a vehicle rolls forward in traffic for examplerdquo says Watcham ldquoSo I think this will be our next focusrdquo

As well as the Hiab fleet Mobile Mini operates a fleet of white transit vans as service vehicles which go out to sites if there is a problem with anything in the units such as a door not opening correctly or a broken light ldquoTheyrsquore on the road all day every dayrdquo says Watcham ldquoSo we got telematics fitted to those as well and the newer vehicles have sensors Our focus was on the HGVs initially because that was where the potential risks and consequences

Mobile Mini also asked drivers for suggestions on the specification of new vehicles These ranged from additional safety features to changes in the design of storage areas and new cab features to make life on the road more comfortable ldquoWe asked the drivers to tell us about existing problems and how they worked around theserdquo explains Watcham Some of the suggestions were impossible because of the design of the axles or because they would have made vehicles illegal ldquoBut where we could make an improvement we didrdquo he says ldquoThey might seem like small things but they were important to the driverrsquos wellbeing and safetyrdquo One suggestion was for an in-cab heaterair conditioning unit that did not run off the engine ldquoThey didnrsquot want to leave the engine running because theyrsquod been on the safe and efficient fuel course it was a great idea so we did itrdquo

Drivers also asked for ladder racks to be placed in different locations for easier access and an extra storage bin Most of

the changes improved working conditions and welfare but there was an element of safety too In the past drivers sometimes had to get on the bed of the vehicle to get ladders off ldquoNow by redesigning the spec ndash where we put the ladders chains and accessories ndash wersquove moved away from drivers having to climb on the vehicle A lot of what we do can now be done from the ground eliminating work at height risksrdquo

Attention grabberThe third prong of the strategy was to reward safe drivers ldquoWe had a discussion at board levelrdquo explains Watcham ldquoWe looked at the volume of accidents and what those cost us as a business and we decided that to modify behaviour any bonus had to be big enough to mean something to a driver So we decided on a pound500 bonus for each quarter successfully completed with no at-fault accidents This got driversrsquo attentionrdquo

He acknowledges that safety bonuses can have unintended consequences particularly in that they risk driving reporting underground This didnrsquot happen at Mobile Mini The cameras and telematics alone would have shown up any incidents that werenrsquot reported and there were no cases where the firm had to follow up anything on camera that drivers had failed to report

The safety aspect is now tied into the wider company bonus scheme that covers all aspects of performance not just whether drivers have an accident or not

were greater But we used what we had learnt and applied that to the service vehicles toordquo

Keep it professionalTo complement the technology investment Watchamrsquos team also looked at ldquothe people part of the processrdquo by engaging the HGV drivers and providing them with bespoke professional training ldquoWe tied this into driversrsquo ongoing legal requirements for the Certificate of Professional Competencerdquo he explains The RHA designed a bespoke course that met Mini Mobilersquos specific requirements ldquoWhat we didnrsquot wantrdquo he stresses ldquowas an off-the-shelf course where our guys went to watch a DVD with drivers from a variety of sectors and then signed a sheet to say they had done sordquo Instead the company asked the RHA trainers to come on site explained the challenges and highlighted where drivers were having problems The result was mainly one-to-one training out on the road ldquoThere was some classroom content too but the theoretical side was minimalrdquo says Watcham

The training has been so successful that the company has continued it even now the number of incidents has fallen Watcham admits that at pound700ndashpound800 per driver this represents a significant business cost But he believes it has played a key role in improving the safety record ldquoI think the guys prefer it this way itrsquos directly relevant

to them and addresses the risks they face out on site and on the roadrdquo

As well as the bespoke training each driver receives specific accredited training to safely operate the crane and its associated lifting equipment This is provided by the Association of Lorry Loader Importers and Manufacturers and all drivers must meet the standard

Ask the driverDriver engagement and participation has been at the core of all the improvements ldquoWersquore always listening to the drivers and involving them in the decisionsrdquo emphasises Watcham For example the company sent out feedback forms asking drivers to suggest areas for further training that they felt would be most useful One popular suggestion was for training on vulnerable road users ndash pedestrians and cyclists in built up areas ldquoSo we did that last yearrdquo says Watcham ldquoand before that wersquod done safe loading and unloading and safe and fuel efficient drivingrdquo

ldquoAfter wersquod initially driven down the volume of accidents we realised the specific driversrsquo reward was causing some friction with other parts of the workforce because they didnrsquot get the same opportunity if they worked safelyrdquo says Watcham The solution was to maintain the overall aim of making sure good safety was something that was rewarded but at the same time keeping it consistent across the workforce If drivers have an accident that could have been prevented they can now lose part of their overall bonus

Golden hat-trickFORS first came to Mobile Minirsquos attention in 2012 when customers increasingly started to make it a contractual condition ldquoTo carry out work on the Crossrail project for example we had to be FORS- accreditedrdquo notes Watcham ldquoSo we got the bronze accreditation for commercial reasons but we soon realised there were benefits to going through to the gold standard It was good for business improved safety and showed our clients that we take these issues seriouslyrdquo

Mobile Mini replicated the FORS standard across UK so that every vehicle is fitted out to the same standard The firm which was the first mobile container supplier to achieve the gold accreditation has now held the award for the past three years ldquoItrsquos a huge commitmentrdquo Watcham acknowledges ldquobut our big construction clients and other large companies want to see it it gives us an edge in the industryrdquo

More widely the whole fleet safety programme has been a significant investment ldquoItrsquos a serious message that we want to send outrdquo emphasises Watcham ldquoInternally we discuss all the facts and figures at board level so senior management can see where wersquove invested and how it has benefited usrdquo One of the most tangible results in monetary terms has been a reduction in insurance costs ldquoWe reduced our insurance premium by just over pound100000 (a 40 fall) at the last renewal So there are clear benefits thererdquo he adds

To help maintain the momentum the company recently appointed a dedicated national transport manager with 25 yearsrsquo experience ldquoAs in the past the focus will be on what we can do with the vehicles and with the drivers to continuously improve safety and efficiencyrdquo stresses Watcham ldquoWe want to maintain what wersquove achieved and to push on furtherrdquo

Promote from withinThe national shortage of qualified HGV drivers is a challenge for firms across a range of sectors To address this Mobile Mini has set up a driver development programme that allows employees working in other areas within the company to be trained as HGV drivers and crane operators ldquoThis helps the company two-foldrdquo says Chris Watcham MIIRSM Mobile Minirsquos Health and Safety Director ldquoWe get an employee we know and we fill a critical position it also shows employees that we want to invest in their futurerdquo

The initiative was driven by the HR team which was struggling to recruit drivers of the right calibre ldquoIf yoursquove got a vehicle idle the daily costs can add up in terms of lost revenuerdquo notes

Watcham So far three employees have gone through the programme two are already on the road and the third is about to start

The recruits came from the workshop or yard with no experience of working with cranes or HGVs ldquoWe had to get the training and mentoring rightrdquo emphasises Watcham ldquoso candidates go through a training programme to get the HGV licence for the vehicle and trailer then do training on the crane and work at heightrdquo

The mentoring period involves an experienced driver going out on the road with the trainees to build their confidence allow them to ask questions on the job and to evaluate their performance in real situations

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1514

Membersrsquo Pages Membersrsquo Pages

If you are looking for advice call the health and safety information helpline with your questions on +44 (0)1296 678 465 or email iirsmhelplinealcumusgroupcom for information on any health and safety related topic Here are just a few of your recent queries

QampAsPERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Should workers wear hard hats when operating mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)

The HSErsquos publication lsquoThe selection management and use of mobile elevating work platformsrsquo offers various methods of good practice when using MEWPs and outlines the personal protective equipment (PPE) that operatives should wear where appropriate following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

a hard hat (with or without a chin strap)

suitable high visibility clothing suitable coldwet weather clothing a full body harness with a restraint

lanyard or a fall arrest lanyard suitably adjusted to prevent a fall from the platform The document is available at wwwhse

govukpubnsgeis6pdf

FIRE SAFETY AND SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION

My client is currently using the ground floor of his house as an office while the first floor is used as accommodation and sleeps four people I have advised him to replace the existing standard doors to each bedroom with fire doors as well as fitting fire doors to the offices on the ground floor I have also suggested that smoke detectors should be placed in each bedroom as well as emergency lighting The walls are traditional brick and one set of stairs is wooden Should they be adapted to be fire resistant

All upper floors in sleeping premises should provide 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance and all corridors serving sleeping areas should be protected routes with 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance Therefore fire resistant doors should be fitted to comply with current legislation

The requirement of emergency lighting would be covered by your risk assessment through which you should be able to identify escape routes that are not permanently illuminated by normal lighting such as external stairs then a switch clearly marked lsquoEscape lightingrsquo or some other means of switching on the lighting should be provided at the entry to that areastairs

We are not aware of any requirement for fire alarms to be present in each dwelling ndash a fire alarm should be installed at each level of the premises though having said that your fire risk assessment may identify further requirements due to the size of the building We have however found the level of detection system that can be used for your property Grade D LD2 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes) and in rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants Grade D LD3 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes)

Page 123 of the governmentrsquos document lsquoFire safety risk assessment (sleeping accommodation)rsquo covers non-combustible materials and internal partitions made from fire-resisting materials It gives basic information on how fire-resisting construction can provide up to 30 minutesrsquo protection to escape routes This is the standard recommended for most situations If you are still unsure of the level of fire resistance which is necessary after reading the information you should consult a fire safety expert

More information is also available at wwwfiresafeorgukhouses-in-multiple-occupation

REVERSE PARKING POLICIES

We are implementing a parking policy where we request all vehicles to park lsquonose outrsquo Is there a regulation for this or is it just good practice

Though there is no legislative enforcement on reverse parking there is advice from the HSE which provides information on best practice Wherever possible parking areas should be designed so that only simple manoeuvres are needed for vehicles to park and leave Always try to avoid the need for reversing and also think about how other large vehicles will be able to use the space safely If a driver needs to move the load area of their vehicle close to a structure reversing will often

be unavoidable However parking areas can often be arranged in drive-through patternsIf you canrsquot have drive-through parking arrangements should encourage reverse parking that

reduces the number of vehicles reversing out into a flow of traffic

improves visibility for departing vehicles

Arranging parking bays at an angle backwards to the flow of traffic is a good way of encouraging reverse parking

Further information on parking and vehicle handling is available at wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportparkinghtmenforce and wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportvehiclehandlinghtmreverse

COMMUNICATING SAFE WAYS OF WORKING

We are currently looking at the way we communicate risk assessments and safe systems of work to our employees While we carry these out and widely consult with our employees prior to publishing we know that they are not in the most user friendly format to enable optimal communication and training Can you suggest a tried and tested means of doing this

There is no set way of teaching risk assessments and safe systems of work as people tend to learn in various different ways The key would be to identify what the needs of the individuals would be and help them to engage with any session you give

There are four main ways you can try to approach the training to make it as interactive as possible these include

Visual (spatial) using pictures images and spatial understanding

Aural (auditory-musical) using sound and music

Verbal (linguistic) using words both in speech and writing

Physical (kinesthetic) using body hands and sense of touch

Use humour trainers can make a point more effectively by using humour than by drowning trainees in statistics or theories

Encourage participation Make the session lively by engaging participants in the learning process In fact try to spend close to 80 of training time on group participation Encourage everyone in the training session to speak freely and candidly because learning occurs most readily when feelings are involved

Building your training around these points will help to create a training programme that will hopefully make it as engaging as possible

FIRE SAFETY IN CARE HOMES

Irsquove been asked to create a table top exercise for a fire safety policy in a care home which houses 65 residents over three floors I will firstly look at business continuity in the event of fire I would also like to carry out a walk through fire evacuation exercise as many of the residents have disabilities which makes it difficult to do full evacuation Can you provide any information that will help

There is a document available called lsquoHealth and safety in care homesrsquo (HSG220) which offers some specific guidance with regards to fire safety As part of your manual handling risk assessment moving and handling in the event of emergencies such as fire evacuations for example residents falling would need to be considered It may be necessary to restrict access to some stairs during a fire drill where residents are at risk of falls See lsquoFire Risk Assessment Residential Care Premisesrsquo at wwwcommunitiesgovukpublicationsfirefiresafetyrisk5

This documents references a number of topics which should be carried out when training staff in fire safety This includes fire drills with and without residentsrsquo involvement which should familiarise residents with procedures and test the arrangements which are in place for disabled people This document also advises who should and shouldnrsquot take part in the fire drill for example residents who cannot be moved or are required to remain with particular equipment or processes which cannot be shut down This document is also quite detailed in the best approach to carry out the drill and will hopefully provide you with adequate information

While there doesnrsquot appear to be any information on table top exercises specific to care homes see firetelanganagovinfilesdrillsHospitalspdf for help on

mock fire drills in hospitals It suggests that the table top exercise is carried out as a group brainstorming session based around different scenarios and problem statements

COMPETENCE OF DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINERS

To what standards would a trainer have to be qualified to deliver automated external defibrillator (AED) training Do you know if there are any plans to revise the First Aid Regulations to include the training and requirements for AED use

According to Resuscitation Council UK there are no statutory legal provisions in the UK relating to training of AEDs and practicing resuscitation However it is recommended by the Resuscitation Council that people who train others in the use of AEDs be appropriately qualified This can include doctors nurses resuscitation officers community defibrillation officers paramedics statutory ambulance service trainers voluntary aid society and voluntary rescue organisation trainers and other individuals such as accredited first aid trainers However this list is not exhaustive (see wwwresusorgukfaqsfaqs-training-in-cpr-and-aeds)

The person giving the training needs to be competent in the use of AEDs as well as teaching More details about competent people and the legal status of those attempting CPR can be found at wwwresusorgukcprlegal-status-of-those-attempting-cpr

With regards to a revisions of the First Aid Regulations there has been no indication that these will be changing in the near future

APPOINTING A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

A number of contractors have been asked to tender for Principle Designer under CDM 2015 for a site to contain a depotworkshopsdomestic waste recycling centre and waste transfer station All of them have declined to take on this role

One option we are considering is for the property services function to take on this role with the help of another agency As I understand the regulations the default position falls to the client in the event of not appointing a Principle Designer I would appreciate any comments or advice you may have

While a number of contractors may have been asked to tender for the position only one contractor can become the lsquoPrincipal Designerrsquo This is the contractor appointed (in writing) by the client This would mean that as the client they could appoint any one of the contractors on site or hire an external company to do this role (though this will usually be more costly)

As you have mentioned if no Principal Designer has been appointed the duties would then fall to the client This is something that would be up to you as the client If your company has the competence and resources to perform this task then that is indeed a viable option However if this is something that is not held by the company then appointing a Principal Designer (be it one of the onsite contractors or an external company) would be the best option

Visit wwwhsegovukconstructioncdm2015principal-designershtm for more information on Principal Designers

Join the conversationThe opinion corner is designed to gauge exactly what our members are thinking on current issues in the industry If you have a question you would like us to ask members please email kelliemundelllexisnexiscouk

This month wersquore asking

Does your organisation have a reputational risk strategy in place

Have your say visit wwwlinkedincom and search Groups for IIRSM and request to join

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1110

Case studyCase study

Fleet manoeuvresVehicle technology safety bonuses and improved worker engagement have all helped Mobile Mini drive down accidents and in turn insurance premiums We find out more

then there are the schools supermarkets and smaller building or residential sites which though less intrinsically hazardous bring their own challenges because of the presence of children and other members of the publicrdquo Watcham explains ldquoIt requires a lot of thought and thatrsquos where the technology also comes in We have cameras fitted all around the vehicles which helps the driver during manoeuvring and wersquove got pedestrian warnings so if someone does come close to the vehicle therersquos an audible warning inside and outside the cabrdquo

Tech specsMobile Mini started its programme by analysing the types of incidents drivers were involved in These were mainly reversing accidents they didnrsquot involve injuries but vehicles were hitting other parked vehicles or property After identifying reversing as a priority the company looked at both driver training and vehicle technologies ldquoWe brought in the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and trained the guys specifically on reversing and manoeuvringrdquo says Watcham Alongside this camera technology was fitted to the Hiabs At first these were reversing cameras on the back of the vehicles and trailers which provided an in-cab visual to help drivers when reversing

The success of the reversing cameras encouraged the company to go further The next step was to fit forward facing dashboard cameras which provide an accurate picture of any accidents that occur so help with internal investigations and help insurers in defending accidents that are not Mobile Mini driversrsquo fault ldquoWe initially looked at it in Londonrdquo says Watcham ldquoAnd it was the drivers in London that were asking for them because they were more exposed some had been in collisions where they

Incidents more than halved dropping from 51 to 21 and we reduced our insurance premium by just over pound100000 (a 40 fall) so there are clear benefitsrdquo

R educing vehicle incidents by 90 over six years is something most health and safety managers would

be proud of But when this is allied to significant cost savings from greater fuel efficiency and lower insurance premiums as well as improved worker satisfaction engagement and training the wider benefits of investing in health and safety become clear

At Mobile Mini UK which provides portable site storage solutions and accommodation units these results were achieved by focusing on improving safety within its 50-strong fleet of HGV loader cranes (Hiabs) ldquoWe started the improvement process around five years agordquo explains Chris Watcham MIIRSM Mobile Minirsquos Health and Safety Director ldquoThe volume of accidents per year at that time was quite significant at 51 in both 2010 and 2011 Though there were no injuries and the vast majority of incidents were not major the sheer volume was unacceptable and our insurance liability was increasingrdquo

Taking a three-pronged approach that combined bespoke professional training investment in on-vehicle cameras and other technologies and a robust driver bonus scheme Mobile Mini has brought these incidents under control The results were immediate and the improvement has continued In 2012 the number of incidents (those requiring investigation and informing

insurers) more than halved dropping to 21 ldquoThis year so far wersquove only had four incidentsrdquo says Watcham ldquowhich is remarkable considering the 50 HGVs and 39 service vans we have on the road around the countryrdquo

Nuclear to residentialMobile Mini operates a national network of 16 sites providing more than 36000 portable accommodation and storage units to about 11300 customers which range from nuclear and construction sites to shopping centres hospitals and schools as well as individual households Each of these brings its own unique set of logistical and safety challenges

ldquoWe have the really highly regulated sites such as nuclear power stations where their checks are in-depth and they set their own rigorous safety requirements that we must adhere tordquo explains Watcham At these sites for example there may be security checks on individual drivers and vehicle cameras might need to be disengaged Then there are construction sites including those in busy central London where the HGVs are coming close to members of public other vehicles and construction workers as well as having to manoeuvre under pressure in tight crowded spaces

ldquoSo at one point we could be servicing a petrochemical or nuclear site then at the next point at Marble Arch in London and

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1312

Case studyCase study

swore they were not at fault but insurers had no proof so had agreed 5050 paymentsrdquo

Vehicle technology was starting to pick up in the UK at the time and a member of the firmrsquos safety team went to a Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) ndash an accreditation scheme developed by Transport for London (TfL) ndash meeting where a company did a presentation on a system it was selling as a driver protection system (to protect driversrsquo licences) ldquoWe went back to our drivers and they were more than happy with the ideardquo explains Watcham ldquoso we put them into London first and then rolled it outrdquo

Not long after the first dash cameras were fitted there was a collision in London in which a TfL bus crashed into one of Mobile Minirsquos HGVs This was a potentially costly incident but the cameras proved the Hiab driver hadnrsquot even moved he was waiting to turn right and the bus crashed into him Watcham believes this incident helped to cement the camerasrsquo value Whenever there are useful learning points from incidents the company now sends footage company-wide so that it can be shown at driver safety meetings ldquoThat has really embedded what the cameras are all aboutrdquo he says ldquoIf wersquore at fault it tells us too and we need to know that so we can improve things furtherrdquo

Mobile Mini has continued to invest in vehicle technologies so alongside the front dash and reversing cameras most vehicles now have two further cameras on the sides which record any impacts in those areas and provide the driver with even better vision Vehicles also have reversing and left turning

alarms that are audible externally and inside the cab automatic lane departure warning systems and telematics to help influence driver behaviours

The next step in terms of technology is an automatic emergency braking system that prevents collisions in front These can be supplied in new vehicles but are prohibitively expensive to retro-fit in the existing fleet ldquoWe recently met with camera providers and there is now a wide-angled camera you can fit which is also a sensorrdquo says Watcham ldquoSo for those vehicles that have not got the automatic emergency system what we can do is put in another kind of detectionwarning systemrdquo As drivers travel down a road the camera on the dash picks up hazards such pedestrians or cyclists and the warning systems tells the driver if they are too close by going from green to amber to red This technology is likely to cost about pound500 per vehicle which amounts to around pound25000 for the fleet ldquoWe have had some low speed incidents historically ndash where a vehicle rolls forward in traffic for examplerdquo says Watcham ldquoSo I think this will be our next focusrdquo

As well as the Hiab fleet Mobile Mini operates a fleet of white transit vans as service vehicles which go out to sites if there is a problem with anything in the units such as a door not opening correctly or a broken light ldquoTheyrsquore on the road all day every dayrdquo says Watcham ldquoSo we got telematics fitted to those as well and the newer vehicles have sensors Our focus was on the HGVs initially because that was where the potential risks and consequences

Mobile Mini also asked drivers for suggestions on the specification of new vehicles These ranged from additional safety features to changes in the design of storage areas and new cab features to make life on the road more comfortable ldquoWe asked the drivers to tell us about existing problems and how they worked around theserdquo explains Watcham Some of the suggestions were impossible because of the design of the axles or because they would have made vehicles illegal ldquoBut where we could make an improvement we didrdquo he says ldquoThey might seem like small things but they were important to the driverrsquos wellbeing and safetyrdquo One suggestion was for an in-cab heaterair conditioning unit that did not run off the engine ldquoThey didnrsquot want to leave the engine running because theyrsquod been on the safe and efficient fuel course it was a great idea so we did itrdquo

Drivers also asked for ladder racks to be placed in different locations for easier access and an extra storage bin Most of

the changes improved working conditions and welfare but there was an element of safety too In the past drivers sometimes had to get on the bed of the vehicle to get ladders off ldquoNow by redesigning the spec ndash where we put the ladders chains and accessories ndash wersquove moved away from drivers having to climb on the vehicle A lot of what we do can now be done from the ground eliminating work at height risksrdquo

Attention grabberThe third prong of the strategy was to reward safe drivers ldquoWe had a discussion at board levelrdquo explains Watcham ldquoWe looked at the volume of accidents and what those cost us as a business and we decided that to modify behaviour any bonus had to be big enough to mean something to a driver So we decided on a pound500 bonus for each quarter successfully completed with no at-fault accidents This got driversrsquo attentionrdquo

He acknowledges that safety bonuses can have unintended consequences particularly in that they risk driving reporting underground This didnrsquot happen at Mobile Mini The cameras and telematics alone would have shown up any incidents that werenrsquot reported and there were no cases where the firm had to follow up anything on camera that drivers had failed to report

The safety aspect is now tied into the wider company bonus scheme that covers all aspects of performance not just whether drivers have an accident or not

were greater But we used what we had learnt and applied that to the service vehicles toordquo

Keep it professionalTo complement the technology investment Watchamrsquos team also looked at ldquothe people part of the processrdquo by engaging the HGV drivers and providing them with bespoke professional training ldquoWe tied this into driversrsquo ongoing legal requirements for the Certificate of Professional Competencerdquo he explains The RHA designed a bespoke course that met Mini Mobilersquos specific requirements ldquoWhat we didnrsquot wantrdquo he stresses ldquowas an off-the-shelf course where our guys went to watch a DVD with drivers from a variety of sectors and then signed a sheet to say they had done sordquo Instead the company asked the RHA trainers to come on site explained the challenges and highlighted where drivers were having problems The result was mainly one-to-one training out on the road ldquoThere was some classroom content too but the theoretical side was minimalrdquo says Watcham

The training has been so successful that the company has continued it even now the number of incidents has fallen Watcham admits that at pound700ndashpound800 per driver this represents a significant business cost But he believes it has played a key role in improving the safety record ldquoI think the guys prefer it this way itrsquos directly relevant

to them and addresses the risks they face out on site and on the roadrdquo

As well as the bespoke training each driver receives specific accredited training to safely operate the crane and its associated lifting equipment This is provided by the Association of Lorry Loader Importers and Manufacturers and all drivers must meet the standard

Ask the driverDriver engagement and participation has been at the core of all the improvements ldquoWersquore always listening to the drivers and involving them in the decisionsrdquo emphasises Watcham For example the company sent out feedback forms asking drivers to suggest areas for further training that they felt would be most useful One popular suggestion was for training on vulnerable road users ndash pedestrians and cyclists in built up areas ldquoSo we did that last yearrdquo says Watcham ldquoand before that wersquod done safe loading and unloading and safe and fuel efficient drivingrdquo

ldquoAfter wersquod initially driven down the volume of accidents we realised the specific driversrsquo reward was causing some friction with other parts of the workforce because they didnrsquot get the same opportunity if they worked safelyrdquo says Watcham The solution was to maintain the overall aim of making sure good safety was something that was rewarded but at the same time keeping it consistent across the workforce If drivers have an accident that could have been prevented they can now lose part of their overall bonus

Golden hat-trickFORS first came to Mobile Minirsquos attention in 2012 when customers increasingly started to make it a contractual condition ldquoTo carry out work on the Crossrail project for example we had to be FORS- accreditedrdquo notes Watcham ldquoSo we got the bronze accreditation for commercial reasons but we soon realised there were benefits to going through to the gold standard It was good for business improved safety and showed our clients that we take these issues seriouslyrdquo

Mobile Mini replicated the FORS standard across UK so that every vehicle is fitted out to the same standard The firm which was the first mobile container supplier to achieve the gold accreditation has now held the award for the past three years ldquoItrsquos a huge commitmentrdquo Watcham acknowledges ldquobut our big construction clients and other large companies want to see it it gives us an edge in the industryrdquo

More widely the whole fleet safety programme has been a significant investment ldquoItrsquos a serious message that we want to send outrdquo emphasises Watcham ldquoInternally we discuss all the facts and figures at board level so senior management can see where wersquove invested and how it has benefited usrdquo One of the most tangible results in monetary terms has been a reduction in insurance costs ldquoWe reduced our insurance premium by just over pound100000 (a 40 fall) at the last renewal So there are clear benefits thererdquo he adds

To help maintain the momentum the company recently appointed a dedicated national transport manager with 25 yearsrsquo experience ldquoAs in the past the focus will be on what we can do with the vehicles and with the drivers to continuously improve safety and efficiencyrdquo stresses Watcham ldquoWe want to maintain what wersquove achieved and to push on furtherrdquo

Promote from withinThe national shortage of qualified HGV drivers is a challenge for firms across a range of sectors To address this Mobile Mini has set up a driver development programme that allows employees working in other areas within the company to be trained as HGV drivers and crane operators ldquoThis helps the company two-foldrdquo says Chris Watcham MIIRSM Mobile Minirsquos Health and Safety Director ldquoWe get an employee we know and we fill a critical position it also shows employees that we want to invest in their futurerdquo

The initiative was driven by the HR team which was struggling to recruit drivers of the right calibre ldquoIf yoursquove got a vehicle idle the daily costs can add up in terms of lost revenuerdquo notes

Watcham So far three employees have gone through the programme two are already on the road and the third is about to start

The recruits came from the workshop or yard with no experience of working with cranes or HGVs ldquoWe had to get the training and mentoring rightrdquo emphasises Watcham ldquoso candidates go through a training programme to get the HGV licence for the vehicle and trailer then do training on the crane and work at heightrdquo

The mentoring period involves an experienced driver going out on the road with the trainees to build their confidence allow them to ask questions on the job and to evaluate their performance in real situations

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1514

Membersrsquo Pages Membersrsquo Pages

If you are looking for advice call the health and safety information helpline with your questions on +44 (0)1296 678 465 or email iirsmhelplinealcumusgroupcom for information on any health and safety related topic Here are just a few of your recent queries

QampAsPERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Should workers wear hard hats when operating mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)

The HSErsquos publication lsquoThe selection management and use of mobile elevating work platformsrsquo offers various methods of good practice when using MEWPs and outlines the personal protective equipment (PPE) that operatives should wear where appropriate following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

a hard hat (with or without a chin strap)

suitable high visibility clothing suitable coldwet weather clothing a full body harness with a restraint

lanyard or a fall arrest lanyard suitably adjusted to prevent a fall from the platform The document is available at wwwhse

govukpubnsgeis6pdf

FIRE SAFETY AND SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION

My client is currently using the ground floor of his house as an office while the first floor is used as accommodation and sleeps four people I have advised him to replace the existing standard doors to each bedroom with fire doors as well as fitting fire doors to the offices on the ground floor I have also suggested that smoke detectors should be placed in each bedroom as well as emergency lighting The walls are traditional brick and one set of stairs is wooden Should they be adapted to be fire resistant

All upper floors in sleeping premises should provide 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance and all corridors serving sleeping areas should be protected routes with 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance Therefore fire resistant doors should be fitted to comply with current legislation

The requirement of emergency lighting would be covered by your risk assessment through which you should be able to identify escape routes that are not permanently illuminated by normal lighting such as external stairs then a switch clearly marked lsquoEscape lightingrsquo or some other means of switching on the lighting should be provided at the entry to that areastairs

We are not aware of any requirement for fire alarms to be present in each dwelling ndash a fire alarm should be installed at each level of the premises though having said that your fire risk assessment may identify further requirements due to the size of the building We have however found the level of detection system that can be used for your property Grade D LD2 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes) and in rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants Grade D LD3 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes)

Page 123 of the governmentrsquos document lsquoFire safety risk assessment (sleeping accommodation)rsquo covers non-combustible materials and internal partitions made from fire-resisting materials It gives basic information on how fire-resisting construction can provide up to 30 minutesrsquo protection to escape routes This is the standard recommended for most situations If you are still unsure of the level of fire resistance which is necessary after reading the information you should consult a fire safety expert

More information is also available at wwwfiresafeorgukhouses-in-multiple-occupation

REVERSE PARKING POLICIES

We are implementing a parking policy where we request all vehicles to park lsquonose outrsquo Is there a regulation for this or is it just good practice

Though there is no legislative enforcement on reverse parking there is advice from the HSE which provides information on best practice Wherever possible parking areas should be designed so that only simple manoeuvres are needed for vehicles to park and leave Always try to avoid the need for reversing and also think about how other large vehicles will be able to use the space safely If a driver needs to move the load area of their vehicle close to a structure reversing will often

be unavoidable However parking areas can often be arranged in drive-through patternsIf you canrsquot have drive-through parking arrangements should encourage reverse parking that

reduces the number of vehicles reversing out into a flow of traffic

improves visibility for departing vehicles

Arranging parking bays at an angle backwards to the flow of traffic is a good way of encouraging reverse parking

Further information on parking and vehicle handling is available at wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportparkinghtmenforce and wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportvehiclehandlinghtmreverse

COMMUNICATING SAFE WAYS OF WORKING

We are currently looking at the way we communicate risk assessments and safe systems of work to our employees While we carry these out and widely consult with our employees prior to publishing we know that they are not in the most user friendly format to enable optimal communication and training Can you suggest a tried and tested means of doing this

There is no set way of teaching risk assessments and safe systems of work as people tend to learn in various different ways The key would be to identify what the needs of the individuals would be and help them to engage with any session you give

There are four main ways you can try to approach the training to make it as interactive as possible these include

Visual (spatial) using pictures images and spatial understanding

Aural (auditory-musical) using sound and music

Verbal (linguistic) using words both in speech and writing

Physical (kinesthetic) using body hands and sense of touch

Use humour trainers can make a point more effectively by using humour than by drowning trainees in statistics or theories

Encourage participation Make the session lively by engaging participants in the learning process In fact try to spend close to 80 of training time on group participation Encourage everyone in the training session to speak freely and candidly because learning occurs most readily when feelings are involved

Building your training around these points will help to create a training programme that will hopefully make it as engaging as possible

FIRE SAFETY IN CARE HOMES

Irsquove been asked to create a table top exercise for a fire safety policy in a care home which houses 65 residents over three floors I will firstly look at business continuity in the event of fire I would also like to carry out a walk through fire evacuation exercise as many of the residents have disabilities which makes it difficult to do full evacuation Can you provide any information that will help

There is a document available called lsquoHealth and safety in care homesrsquo (HSG220) which offers some specific guidance with regards to fire safety As part of your manual handling risk assessment moving and handling in the event of emergencies such as fire evacuations for example residents falling would need to be considered It may be necessary to restrict access to some stairs during a fire drill where residents are at risk of falls See lsquoFire Risk Assessment Residential Care Premisesrsquo at wwwcommunitiesgovukpublicationsfirefiresafetyrisk5

This documents references a number of topics which should be carried out when training staff in fire safety This includes fire drills with and without residentsrsquo involvement which should familiarise residents with procedures and test the arrangements which are in place for disabled people This document also advises who should and shouldnrsquot take part in the fire drill for example residents who cannot be moved or are required to remain with particular equipment or processes which cannot be shut down This document is also quite detailed in the best approach to carry out the drill and will hopefully provide you with adequate information

While there doesnrsquot appear to be any information on table top exercises specific to care homes see firetelanganagovinfilesdrillsHospitalspdf for help on

mock fire drills in hospitals It suggests that the table top exercise is carried out as a group brainstorming session based around different scenarios and problem statements

COMPETENCE OF DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINERS

To what standards would a trainer have to be qualified to deliver automated external defibrillator (AED) training Do you know if there are any plans to revise the First Aid Regulations to include the training and requirements for AED use

According to Resuscitation Council UK there are no statutory legal provisions in the UK relating to training of AEDs and practicing resuscitation However it is recommended by the Resuscitation Council that people who train others in the use of AEDs be appropriately qualified This can include doctors nurses resuscitation officers community defibrillation officers paramedics statutory ambulance service trainers voluntary aid society and voluntary rescue organisation trainers and other individuals such as accredited first aid trainers However this list is not exhaustive (see wwwresusorgukfaqsfaqs-training-in-cpr-and-aeds)

The person giving the training needs to be competent in the use of AEDs as well as teaching More details about competent people and the legal status of those attempting CPR can be found at wwwresusorgukcprlegal-status-of-those-attempting-cpr

With regards to a revisions of the First Aid Regulations there has been no indication that these will be changing in the near future

APPOINTING A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

A number of contractors have been asked to tender for Principle Designer under CDM 2015 for a site to contain a depotworkshopsdomestic waste recycling centre and waste transfer station All of them have declined to take on this role

One option we are considering is for the property services function to take on this role with the help of another agency As I understand the regulations the default position falls to the client in the event of not appointing a Principle Designer I would appreciate any comments or advice you may have

While a number of contractors may have been asked to tender for the position only one contractor can become the lsquoPrincipal Designerrsquo This is the contractor appointed (in writing) by the client This would mean that as the client they could appoint any one of the contractors on site or hire an external company to do this role (though this will usually be more costly)

As you have mentioned if no Principal Designer has been appointed the duties would then fall to the client This is something that would be up to you as the client If your company has the competence and resources to perform this task then that is indeed a viable option However if this is something that is not held by the company then appointing a Principal Designer (be it one of the onsite contractors or an external company) would be the best option

Visit wwwhsegovukconstructioncdm2015principal-designershtm for more information on Principal Designers

Join the conversationThe opinion corner is designed to gauge exactly what our members are thinking on current issues in the industry If you have a question you would like us to ask members please email kelliemundelllexisnexiscouk

This month wersquore asking

Does your organisation have a reputational risk strategy in place

Have your say visit wwwlinkedincom and search Groups for IIRSM and request to join

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1312

Case studyCase study

swore they were not at fault but insurers had no proof so had agreed 5050 paymentsrdquo

Vehicle technology was starting to pick up in the UK at the time and a member of the firmrsquos safety team went to a Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) ndash an accreditation scheme developed by Transport for London (TfL) ndash meeting where a company did a presentation on a system it was selling as a driver protection system (to protect driversrsquo licences) ldquoWe went back to our drivers and they were more than happy with the ideardquo explains Watcham ldquoso we put them into London first and then rolled it outrdquo

Not long after the first dash cameras were fitted there was a collision in London in which a TfL bus crashed into one of Mobile Minirsquos HGVs This was a potentially costly incident but the cameras proved the Hiab driver hadnrsquot even moved he was waiting to turn right and the bus crashed into him Watcham believes this incident helped to cement the camerasrsquo value Whenever there are useful learning points from incidents the company now sends footage company-wide so that it can be shown at driver safety meetings ldquoThat has really embedded what the cameras are all aboutrdquo he says ldquoIf wersquore at fault it tells us too and we need to know that so we can improve things furtherrdquo

Mobile Mini has continued to invest in vehicle technologies so alongside the front dash and reversing cameras most vehicles now have two further cameras on the sides which record any impacts in those areas and provide the driver with even better vision Vehicles also have reversing and left turning

alarms that are audible externally and inside the cab automatic lane departure warning systems and telematics to help influence driver behaviours

The next step in terms of technology is an automatic emergency braking system that prevents collisions in front These can be supplied in new vehicles but are prohibitively expensive to retro-fit in the existing fleet ldquoWe recently met with camera providers and there is now a wide-angled camera you can fit which is also a sensorrdquo says Watcham ldquoSo for those vehicles that have not got the automatic emergency system what we can do is put in another kind of detectionwarning systemrdquo As drivers travel down a road the camera on the dash picks up hazards such pedestrians or cyclists and the warning systems tells the driver if they are too close by going from green to amber to red This technology is likely to cost about pound500 per vehicle which amounts to around pound25000 for the fleet ldquoWe have had some low speed incidents historically ndash where a vehicle rolls forward in traffic for examplerdquo says Watcham ldquoSo I think this will be our next focusrdquo

As well as the Hiab fleet Mobile Mini operates a fleet of white transit vans as service vehicles which go out to sites if there is a problem with anything in the units such as a door not opening correctly or a broken light ldquoTheyrsquore on the road all day every dayrdquo says Watcham ldquoSo we got telematics fitted to those as well and the newer vehicles have sensors Our focus was on the HGVs initially because that was where the potential risks and consequences

Mobile Mini also asked drivers for suggestions on the specification of new vehicles These ranged from additional safety features to changes in the design of storage areas and new cab features to make life on the road more comfortable ldquoWe asked the drivers to tell us about existing problems and how they worked around theserdquo explains Watcham Some of the suggestions were impossible because of the design of the axles or because they would have made vehicles illegal ldquoBut where we could make an improvement we didrdquo he says ldquoThey might seem like small things but they were important to the driverrsquos wellbeing and safetyrdquo One suggestion was for an in-cab heaterair conditioning unit that did not run off the engine ldquoThey didnrsquot want to leave the engine running because theyrsquod been on the safe and efficient fuel course it was a great idea so we did itrdquo

Drivers also asked for ladder racks to be placed in different locations for easier access and an extra storage bin Most of

the changes improved working conditions and welfare but there was an element of safety too In the past drivers sometimes had to get on the bed of the vehicle to get ladders off ldquoNow by redesigning the spec ndash where we put the ladders chains and accessories ndash wersquove moved away from drivers having to climb on the vehicle A lot of what we do can now be done from the ground eliminating work at height risksrdquo

Attention grabberThe third prong of the strategy was to reward safe drivers ldquoWe had a discussion at board levelrdquo explains Watcham ldquoWe looked at the volume of accidents and what those cost us as a business and we decided that to modify behaviour any bonus had to be big enough to mean something to a driver So we decided on a pound500 bonus for each quarter successfully completed with no at-fault accidents This got driversrsquo attentionrdquo

He acknowledges that safety bonuses can have unintended consequences particularly in that they risk driving reporting underground This didnrsquot happen at Mobile Mini The cameras and telematics alone would have shown up any incidents that werenrsquot reported and there were no cases where the firm had to follow up anything on camera that drivers had failed to report

The safety aspect is now tied into the wider company bonus scheme that covers all aspects of performance not just whether drivers have an accident or not

were greater But we used what we had learnt and applied that to the service vehicles toordquo

Keep it professionalTo complement the technology investment Watchamrsquos team also looked at ldquothe people part of the processrdquo by engaging the HGV drivers and providing them with bespoke professional training ldquoWe tied this into driversrsquo ongoing legal requirements for the Certificate of Professional Competencerdquo he explains The RHA designed a bespoke course that met Mini Mobilersquos specific requirements ldquoWhat we didnrsquot wantrdquo he stresses ldquowas an off-the-shelf course where our guys went to watch a DVD with drivers from a variety of sectors and then signed a sheet to say they had done sordquo Instead the company asked the RHA trainers to come on site explained the challenges and highlighted where drivers were having problems The result was mainly one-to-one training out on the road ldquoThere was some classroom content too but the theoretical side was minimalrdquo says Watcham

The training has been so successful that the company has continued it even now the number of incidents has fallen Watcham admits that at pound700ndashpound800 per driver this represents a significant business cost But he believes it has played a key role in improving the safety record ldquoI think the guys prefer it this way itrsquos directly relevant

to them and addresses the risks they face out on site and on the roadrdquo

As well as the bespoke training each driver receives specific accredited training to safely operate the crane and its associated lifting equipment This is provided by the Association of Lorry Loader Importers and Manufacturers and all drivers must meet the standard

Ask the driverDriver engagement and participation has been at the core of all the improvements ldquoWersquore always listening to the drivers and involving them in the decisionsrdquo emphasises Watcham For example the company sent out feedback forms asking drivers to suggest areas for further training that they felt would be most useful One popular suggestion was for training on vulnerable road users ndash pedestrians and cyclists in built up areas ldquoSo we did that last yearrdquo says Watcham ldquoand before that wersquod done safe loading and unloading and safe and fuel efficient drivingrdquo

ldquoAfter wersquod initially driven down the volume of accidents we realised the specific driversrsquo reward was causing some friction with other parts of the workforce because they didnrsquot get the same opportunity if they worked safelyrdquo says Watcham The solution was to maintain the overall aim of making sure good safety was something that was rewarded but at the same time keeping it consistent across the workforce If drivers have an accident that could have been prevented they can now lose part of their overall bonus

Golden hat-trickFORS first came to Mobile Minirsquos attention in 2012 when customers increasingly started to make it a contractual condition ldquoTo carry out work on the Crossrail project for example we had to be FORS- accreditedrdquo notes Watcham ldquoSo we got the bronze accreditation for commercial reasons but we soon realised there were benefits to going through to the gold standard It was good for business improved safety and showed our clients that we take these issues seriouslyrdquo

Mobile Mini replicated the FORS standard across UK so that every vehicle is fitted out to the same standard The firm which was the first mobile container supplier to achieve the gold accreditation has now held the award for the past three years ldquoItrsquos a huge commitmentrdquo Watcham acknowledges ldquobut our big construction clients and other large companies want to see it it gives us an edge in the industryrdquo

More widely the whole fleet safety programme has been a significant investment ldquoItrsquos a serious message that we want to send outrdquo emphasises Watcham ldquoInternally we discuss all the facts and figures at board level so senior management can see where wersquove invested and how it has benefited usrdquo One of the most tangible results in monetary terms has been a reduction in insurance costs ldquoWe reduced our insurance premium by just over pound100000 (a 40 fall) at the last renewal So there are clear benefits thererdquo he adds

To help maintain the momentum the company recently appointed a dedicated national transport manager with 25 yearsrsquo experience ldquoAs in the past the focus will be on what we can do with the vehicles and with the drivers to continuously improve safety and efficiencyrdquo stresses Watcham ldquoWe want to maintain what wersquove achieved and to push on furtherrdquo

Promote from withinThe national shortage of qualified HGV drivers is a challenge for firms across a range of sectors To address this Mobile Mini has set up a driver development programme that allows employees working in other areas within the company to be trained as HGV drivers and crane operators ldquoThis helps the company two-foldrdquo says Chris Watcham MIIRSM Mobile Minirsquos Health and Safety Director ldquoWe get an employee we know and we fill a critical position it also shows employees that we want to invest in their futurerdquo

The initiative was driven by the HR team which was struggling to recruit drivers of the right calibre ldquoIf yoursquove got a vehicle idle the daily costs can add up in terms of lost revenuerdquo notes

Watcham So far three employees have gone through the programme two are already on the road and the third is about to start

The recruits came from the workshop or yard with no experience of working with cranes or HGVs ldquoWe had to get the training and mentoring rightrdquo emphasises Watcham ldquoso candidates go through a training programme to get the HGV licence for the vehicle and trailer then do training on the crane and work at heightrdquo

The mentoring period involves an experienced driver going out on the road with the trainees to build their confidence allow them to ask questions on the job and to evaluate their performance in real situations

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1514

Membersrsquo Pages Membersrsquo Pages

If you are looking for advice call the health and safety information helpline with your questions on +44 (0)1296 678 465 or email iirsmhelplinealcumusgroupcom for information on any health and safety related topic Here are just a few of your recent queries

QampAsPERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Should workers wear hard hats when operating mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)

The HSErsquos publication lsquoThe selection management and use of mobile elevating work platformsrsquo offers various methods of good practice when using MEWPs and outlines the personal protective equipment (PPE) that operatives should wear where appropriate following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

a hard hat (with or without a chin strap)

suitable high visibility clothing suitable coldwet weather clothing a full body harness with a restraint

lanyard or a fall arrest lanyard suitably adjusted to prevent a fall from the platform The document is available at wwwhse

govukpubnsgeis6pdf

FIRE SAFETY AND SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION

My client is currently using the ground floor of his house as an office while the first floor is used as accommodation and sleeps four people I have advised him to replace the existing standard doors to each bedroom with fire doors as well as fitting fire doors to the offices on the ground floor I have also suggested that smoke detectors should be placed in each bedroom as well as emergency lighting The walls are traditional brick and one set of stairs is wooden Should they be adapted to be fire resistant

All upper floors in sleeping premises should provide 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance and all corridors serving sleeping areas should be protected routes with 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance Therefore fire resistant doors should be fitted to comply with current legislation

The requirement of emergency lighting would be covered by your risk assessment through which you should be able to identify escape routes that are not permanently illuminated by normal lighting such as external stairs then a switch clearly marked lsquoEscape lightingrsquo or some other means of switching on the lighting should be provided at the entry to that areastairs

We are not aware of any requirement for fire alarms to be present in each dwelling ndash a fire alarm should be installed at each level of the premises though having said that your fire risk assessment may identify further requirements due to the size of the building We have however found the level of detection system that can be used for your property Grade D LD2 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes) and in rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants Grade D LD3 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes)

Page 123 of the governmentrsquos document lsquoFire safety risk assessment (sleeping accommodation)rsquo covers non-combustible materials and internal partitions made from fire-resisting materials It gives basic information on how fire-resisting construction can provide up to 30 minutesrsquo protection to escape routes This is the standard recommended for most situations If you are still unsure of the level of fire resistance which is necessary after reading the information you should consult a fire safety expert

More information is also available at wwwfiresafeorgukhouses-in-multiple-occupation

REVERSE PARKING POLICIES

We are implementing a parking policy where we request all vehicles to park lsquonose outrsquo Is there a regulation for this or is it just good practice

Though there is no legislative enforcement on reverse parking there is advice from the HSE which provides information on best practice Wherever possible parking areas should be designed so that only simple manoeuvres are needed for vehicles to park and leave Always try to avoid the need for reversing and also think about how other large vehicles will be able to use the space safely If a driver needs to move the load area of their vehicle close to a structure reversing will often

be unavoidable However parking areas can often be arranged in drive-through patternsIf you canrsquot have drive-through parking arrangements should encourage reverse parking that

reduces the number of vehicles reversing out into a flow of traffic

improves visibility for departing vehicles

Arranging parking bays at an angle backwards to the flow of traffic is a good way of encouraging reverse parking

Further information on parking and vehicle handling is available at wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportparkinghtmenforce and wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportvehiclehandlinghtmreverse

COMMUNICATING SAFE WAYS OF WORKING

We are currently looking at the way we communicate risk assessments and safe systems of work to our employees While we carry these out and widely consult with our employees prior to publishing we know that they are not in the most user friendly format to enable optimal communication and training Can you suggest a tried and tested means of doing this

There is no set way of teaching risk assessments and safe systems of work as people tend to learn in various different ways The key would be to identify what the needs of the individuals would be and help them to engage with any session you give

There are four main ways you can try to approach the training to make it as interactive as possible these include

Visual (spatial) using pictures images and spatial understanding

Aural (auditory-musical) using sound and music

Verbal (linguistic) using words both in speech and writing

Physical (kinesthetic) using body hands and sense of touch

Use humour trainers can make a point more effectively by using humour than by drowning trainees in statistics or theories

Encourage participation Make the session lively by engaging participants in the learning process In fact try to spend close to 80 of training time on group participation Encourage everyone in the training session to speak freely and candidly because learning occurs most readily when feelings are involved

Building your training around these points will help to create a training programme that will hopefully make it as engaging as possible

FIRE SAFETY IN CARE HOMES

Irsquove been asked to create a table top exercise for a fire safety policy in a care home which houses 65 residents over three floors I will firstly look at business continuity in the event of fire I would also like to carry out a walk through fire evacuation exercise as many of the residents have disabilities which makes it difficult to do full evacuation Can you provide any information that will help

There is a document available called lsquoHealth and safety in care homesrsquo (HSG220) which offers some specific guidance with regards to fire safety As part of your manual handling risk assessment moving and handling in the event of emergencies such as fire evacuations for example residents falling would need to be considered It may be necessary to restrict access to some stairs during a fire drill where residents are at risk of falls See lsquoFire Risk Assessment Residential Care Premisesrsquo at wwwcommunitiesgovukpublicationsfirefiresafetyrisk5

This documents references a number of topics which should be carried out when training staff in fire safety This includes fire drills with and without residentsrsquo involvement which should familiarise residents with procedures and test the arrangements which are in place for disabled people This document also advises who should and shouldnrsquot take part in the fire drill for example residents who cannot be moved or are required to remain with particular equipment or processes which cannot be shut down This document is also quite detailed in the best approach to carry out the drill and will hopefully provide you with adequate information

While there doesnrsquot appear to be any information on table top exercises specific to care homes see firetelanganagovinfilesdrillsHospitalspdf for help on

mock fire drills in hospitals It suggests that the table top exercise is carried out as a group brainstorming session based around different scenarios and problem statements

COMPETENCE OF DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINERS

To what standards would a trainer have to be qualified to deliver automated external defibrillator (AED) training Do you know if there are any plans to revise the First Aid Regulations to include the training and requirements for AED use

According to Resuscitation Council UK there are no statutory legal provisions in the UK relating to training of AEDs and practicing resuscitation However it is recommended by the Resuscitation Council that people who train others in the use of AEDs be appropriately qualified This can include doctors nurses resuscitation officers community defibrillation officers paramedics statutory ambulance service trainers voluntary aid society and voluntary rescue organisation trainers and other individuals such as accredited first aid trainers However this list is not exhaustive (see wwwresusorgukfaqsfaqs-training-in-cpr-and-aeds)

The person giving the training needs to be competent in the use of AEDs as well as teaching More details about competent people and the legal status of those attempting CPR can be found at wwwresusorgukcprlegal-status-of-those-attempting-cpr

With regards to a revisions of the First Aid Regulations there has been no indication that these will be changing in the near future

APPOINTING A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

A number of contractors have been asked to tender for Principle Designer under CDM 2015 for a site to contain a depotworkshopsdomestic waste recycling centre and waste transfer station All of them have declined to take on this role

One option we are considering is for the property services function to take on this role with the help of another agency As I understand the regulations the default position falls to the client in the event of not appointing a Principle Designer I would appreciate any comments or advice you may have

While a number of contractors may have been asked to tender for the position only one contractor can become the lsquoPrincipal Designerrsquo This is the contractor appointed (in writing) by the client This would mean that as the client they could appoint any one of the contractors on site or hire an external company to do this role (though this will usually be more costly)

As you have mentioned if no Principal Designer has been appointed the duties would then fall to the client This is something that would be up to you as the client If your company has the competence and resources to perform this task then that is indeed a viable option However if this is something that is not held by the company then appointing a Principal Designer (be it one of the onsite contractors or an external company) would be the best option

Visit wwwhsegovukconstructioncdm2015principal-designershtm for more information on Principal Designers

Join the conversationThe opinion corner is designed to gauge exactly what our members are thinking on current issues in the industry If you have a question you would like us to ask members please email kelliemundelllexisnexiscouk

This month wersquore asking

Does your organisation have a reputational risk strategy in place

Have your say visit wwwlinkedincom and search Groups for IIRSM and request to join

wwwiirsmorg | 112016112016 | wwwiirsmorg 1514

Membersrsquo Pages Membersrsquo Pages

If you are looking for advice call the health and safety information helpline with your questions on +44 (0)1296 678 465 or email iirsmhelplinealcumusgroupcom for information on any health and safety related topic Here are just a few of your recent queries

QampAsPERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Should workers wear hard hats when operating mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)

The HSErsquos publication lsquoThe selection management and use of mobile elevating work platformsrsquo offers various methods of good practice when using MEWPs and outlines the personal protective equipment (PPE) that operatives should wear where appropriate following a suitable and sufficient risk assessment

a hard hat (with or without a chin strap)

suitable high visibility clothing suitable coldwet weather clothing a full body harness with a restraint

lanyard or a fall arrest lanyard suitably adjusted to prevent a fall from the platform The document is available at wwwhse

govukpubnsgeis6pdf

FIRE SAFETY AND SLEEPING ACCOMMODATION

My client is currently using the ground floor of his house as an office while the first floor is used as accommodation and sleeps four people I have advised him to replace the existing standard doors to each bedroom with fire doors as well as fitting fire doors to the offices on the ground floor I have also suggested that smoke detectors should be placed in each bedroom as well as emergency lighting The walls are traditional brick and one set of stairs is wooden Should they be adapted to be fire resistant

All upper floors in sleeping premises should provide 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance and all corridors serving sleeping areas should be protected routes with 30 minutesrsquo fire resistance Therefore fire resistant doors should be fitted to comply with current legislation

The requirement of emergency lighting would be covered by your risk assessment through which you should be able to identify escape routes that are not permanently illuminated by normal lighting such as external stairs then a switch clearly marked lsquoEscape lightingrsquo or some other means of switching on the lighting should be provided at the entry to that areastairs

We are not aware of any requirement for fire alarms to be present in each dwelling ndash a fire alarm should be installed at each level of the premises though having said that your fire risk assessment may identify further requirements due to the size of the building We have however found the level of detection system that can be used for your property Grade D LD2 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes) and in rooms or areas that present a high fire risk to occupants Grade D LD3 an automatic fire detection system (designed for dwellings) based on interconnected mains powered smoke alarms (with battery back-up) with detectors sited in escape routes (including rooms that open on to escape routes)

Page 123 of the governmentrsquos document lsquoFire safety risk assessment (sleeping accommodation)rsquo covers non-combustible materials and internal partitions made from fire-resisting materials It gives basic information on how fire-resisting construction can provide up to 30 minutesrsquo protection to escape routes This is the standard recommended for most situations If you are still unsure of the level of fire resistance which is necessary after reading the information you should consult a fire safety expert

More information is also available at wwwfiresafeorgukhouses-in-multiple-occupation

REVERSE PARKING POLICIES

We are implementing a parking policy where we request all vehicles to park lsquonose outrsquo Is there a regulation for this or is it just good practice

Though there is no legislative enforcement on reverse parking there is advice from the HSE which provides information on best practice Wherever possible parking areas should be designed so that only simple manoeuvres are needed for vehicles to park and leave Always try to avoid the need for reversing and also think about how other large vehicles will be able to use the space safely If a driver needs to move the load area of their vehicle close to a structure reversing will often

be unavoidable However parking areas can often be arranged in drive-through patternsIf you canrsquot have drive-through parking arrangements should encourage reverse parking that

reduces the number of vehicles reversing out into a flow of traffic

improves visibility for departing vehicles

Arranging parking bays at an angle backwards to the flow of traffic is a good way of encouraging reverse parking

Further information on parking and vehicle handling is available at wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportparkinghtmenforce and wwwhsegovukworkplacetransportvehiclehandlinghtmreverse

COMMUNICATING SAFE WAYS OF WORKING

We are currently looking at the way we communicate risk assessments and safe systems of work to our employees While we carry these out and widely consult with our employees prior to publishing we know that they are not in the most user friendly format to enable optimal communication and training Can you suggest a tried and tested means of doing this

There is no set way of teaching risk assessments and safe systems of work as people tend to learn in various different ways The key would be to identify what the needs of the individuals would be and help them to engage with any session you give

There are four main ways you can try to approach the training to make it as interactive as possible these include

Visual (spatial) using pictures images and spatial understanding

Aural (auditory-musical) using sound and music

Verbal (linguistic) using words both in speech and writing

Physical (kinesthetic) using body hands and sense of touch

Use humour trainers can make a point more effectively by using humour than by drowning trainees in statistics or theories

Encourage participation Make the session lively by engaging participants in the learning process In fact try to spend close to 80 of training time on group participation Encourage everyone in the training session to speak freely and candidly because learning occurs most readily when feelings are involved

Building your training around these points will help to create a training programme that will hopefully make it as engaging as possible

FIRE SAFETY IN CARE HOMES

Irsquove been asked to create a table top exercise for a fire safety policy in a care home which houses 65 residents over three floors I will firstly look at business continuity in the event of fire I would also like to carry out a walk through fire evacuation exercise as many of the residents have disabilities which makes it difficult to do full evacuation Can you provide any information that will help

There is a document available called lsquoHealth and safety in care homesrsquo (HSG220) which offers some specific guidance with regards to fire safety As part of your manual handling risk assessment moving and handling in the event of emergencies such as fire evacuations for example residents falling would need to be considered It may be necessary to restrict access to some stairs during a fire drill where residents are at risk of falls See lsquoFire Risk Assessment Residential Care Premisesrsquo at wwwcommunitiesgovukpublicationsfirefiresafetyrisk5

This documents references a number of topics which should be carried out when training staff in fire safety This includes fire drills with and without residentsrsquo involvement which should familiarise residents with procedures and test the arrangements which are in place for disabled people This document also advises who should and shouldnrsquot take part in the fire drill for example residents who cannot be moved or are required to remain with particular equipment or processes which cannot be shut down This document is also quite detailed in the best approach to carry out the drill and will hopefully provide you with adequate information

While there doesnrsquot appear to be any information on table top exercises specific to care homes see firetelanganagovinfilesdrillsHospitalspdf for help on

mock fire drills in hospitals It suggests that the table top exercise is carried out as a group brainstorming session based around different scenarios and problem statements

COMPETENCE OF DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINERS

To what standards would a trainer have to be qualified to deliver automated external defibrillator (AED) training Do you know if there are any plans to revise the First Aid Regulations to include the training and requirements for AED use

According to Resuscitation Council UK there are no statutory legal provisions in the UK relating to training of AEDs and practicing resuscitation However it is recommended by the Resuscitation Council that people who train others in the use of AEDs be appropriately qualified This can include doctors nurses resuscitation officers community defibrillation officers paramedics statutory ambulance service trainers voluntary aid society and voluntary rescue organisation trainers and other individuals such as accredited first aid trainers However this list is not exhaustive (see wwwresusorgukfaqsfaqs-training-in-cpr-and-aeds)

The person giving the training needs to be competent in the use of AEDs as well as teaching More details about competent people and the legal status of those attempting CPR can be found at wwwresusorgukcprlegal-status-of-those-attempting-cpr

With regards to a revisions of the First Aid Regulations there has been no indication that these will be changing in the near future

APPOINTING A PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

A number of contractors have been asked to tender for Principle Designer under CDM 2015 for a site to contain a depotworkshopsdomestic waste recycling centre and waste transfer station All of them have declined to take on this role

One option we are considering is for the property services function to take on this role with the help of another agency As I understand the regulations the default position falls to the client in the event of not appointing a Principle Designer I would appreciate any comments or advice you may have

While a number of contractors may have been asked to tender for the position only one contractor can become the lsquoPrincipal Designerrsquo This is the contractor appointed (in writing) by the client This would mean that as the client they could appoint any one of the contractors on site or hire an external company to do this role (though this will usually be more costly)

As you have mentioned if no Principal Designer has been appointed the duties would then fall to the client This is something that would be up to you as the client If your company has the competence and resources to perform this task then that is indeed a viable option However if this is something that is not held by the company then appointing a Principal Designer (be it one of the onsite contractors or an external company) would be the best option

Visit wwwhsegovukconstructioncdm2015principal-designershtm for more information on Principal Designers

Join the conversationThe opinion corner is designed to gauge exactly what our members are thinking on current issues in the industry If you have a question you would like us to ask members please email kelliemundelllexisnexiscouk

This month wersquore asking

Does your organisation have a reputational risk strategy in place

Have your say visit wwwlinkedincom and search Groups for IIRSM and request to join

112016 | wwwiirsmorg16

Interview

Azeez Ola-Ojetola FIIRSMChief executive officer and managing director of Canadian safety consultancy HAMFAZ Azeez first became interested in health and safety while he was serving as a firefighter Here he tells us why he chose to move into the profession and how his career has progressed

How did your career start

I was a firefighter in Nigeria for a few years when I decided to join the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria as a fire officer I was offered tremendous opportunities to grow and develop my career When I passed my Graduateship Diploma examination with the UKrsquos Institute of Fire Engineers Shell moved me into the main health and safety department where I was given several challenging responsibilities which expanded my knowledge developed my technical safety competence and lead to future leadership roles I undertook training at home and abroad which unearthed my hidden potential

How did you become involved in health and safetyI realised that the field of health and safety was ever involving expansive challenging and interesting The health and safety profession is dynamic ndash it is an area that makes you think beyond the surface to achieve your ultimate goal of keeping people and premises safe

What do you get out of your jobThe fact that my contribution leads to the safety of workers and facilities gives me immense satisfaction The thought

of someone or something being saved from disaster and being operated safely as a result of your efforts is extremely rewarding

Whatrsquos the most memorable experience yoursquove had in your careerWhen I delivered a presentation at the international conference of the American Society of Safety Engineer in Bahrain in 2008 it felt like I was standing in front of the world In 2011 I delivered a paper and also served as chair of the technical panel at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) These were definitely highs of my career

What issues can you see coming up in your sectorMore than 90 of my career has been in the oil and gas industry with the remaining in engineering procurement and construction sectors I have come to the realisation that the oil and gas industry is at the forefront of embedding safety values into businesses

Whatrsquos the most challenging problem yoursquove had to overcomeIn 2010 I took the position of a senior corporate incidentaccident analyst at Qatar Petroleum I decided my immediate priority would be to change the organisationrsquos safety culture with respect to dichotomy between staff and contractorsrsquo safety performance management With the support of both my line manager and director I succeeded in putting both staff and contractors in the same shoes

and using the same yardstick to measure their performance Managers were held to account for the safety of whomever worked for them be it a staff or contractor Though it was tough we eventually got there

Whatrsquos the best piece of advice yoursquove ever been givenDonrsquot accept half measures if you want to be a successful professional If you can think it you can get it

Why did you join IIRSM

For the continuous professional development international exposure and recognition

Where do you see yourself in five yearsrsquo timeA change leader of international repute in all aspects of safety and risk management