All portable electrical appliances are exposed to potential damage during usage; this damage could cause the equipment to become dangerous to the user if gone unchecked. Portable appliance testing (PAT testing) is the examination carried out on electrical appliances to ensure they follow health and safety regulations and will not harm its operator.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 in the UK requires that all electrical systems and appliances are regulated in a way to prevent danger to the user. PAT testing is not essential but it’s a great way to regulate health and safety measures.

The Law

The law demands that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition, it does not state who should carry out the test or how frequently. It does not have  to be carried out annually, some appliances will need testing more regularly than others – for example power tools on a construction site more often than the office phone.

In the UK, each year, there are around one thousand accidents in the workplace involving electric shocks or burns, one quarter of these are portable appliances and thirty of these accidents are fatal.

When it comes down to electrical safety and portable appliance testing, there are no laws. However, PAT testing is a tried and tested measure to ensure electrical safety in the workplace and minimise the risk of fire and injury caused by electrical appliances.

Testing

The appliance first undergoes a visual inspection to identify if there are any visible faults; these are usually frayed or broken cables or cracked plugs. A simple visual examination can identify most electrical safety defects, but PAT testing equipment is required for the further tests. These check the resistance, current, polarity and earth continuity of the item to verify whether it complies with British safety standards.

Completing PAT Testing

To get the equipment in your office PAT tested, you could hire a professional to check your appliances. It is also possible for yourself, or another employee to complete the PAT testing. This is recommended if the assessment is to be carried out regularly as it will be more cost effective in the long run. Investing in an employee taking a PAT testing training course and some equipment will mean that appliances can be regularly checked when necessary without outside help.

Unsafe electrical equipment  

Electrical accidents are most likely to happen when equipment is either damaged or misused and you’ll be surprised at how many people forget to follow the very basic safety guidelines, so here’s a quick reminder:

• Don’t overload sockets
• Never ignore warning signs such as burning smells or unusual noises
• Check the plug and sockets to see if there are any burn marks
• Immediately replace any cords that are looking frayed
• Use plugs with the British standard safety mark as they have features that allow you to pull plugs in and out of sockets easily

If you are unsure whether your appliances are safe and you don’t trust your own judgement, it’s always worth getting in an expert with electrical test equipment to double check your devices and replace them for you.

Hazardous rooms within your house

Your home might seem the safest place on earth for you and your family, but it’s shocking how many hazards are featured throughout your house so here’s a few tips to help avoid any electrical injuries in different rooms in your home:

Kitchen safety

• Avoid any electricity coming into contact with any water so ensure that all electrical sockets are fitted at a safe distance from your kitchen sink.
• Getting to the sockets for various kitchen appliances such as fridges or dishwashers may be difficult, so ideally these appliances should be controlled by a switch fuse connection unit located in a place that is easy for you to reach.
• Don’t touch any electrical equipment with wet hands.
• Unplug any electrical appliances such as a kettle before you clean them.
• Don’t try to get toast out of the toaster with a metal object while the toaster is plugged in.
• Don’t fill a kettle or steam iron while it is still plugged in.

Bathroom safety

• Shaver units must be a safe distance from any water.
• Standard wall mounted light switches are a possible danger in the bathroom and a ceiling-mounted pull cord is much safer as it’s made from insulating material.
• Electrical showers should be supplied on its own circuit direct from the consumer unit.
• Avoid bringing anything electrical into the bathroom that has a risk of being slashed by water.

Bedroom safety

• All too often people forget to turn their hair straighteners off before they leave the house, becoming a common hazard, causing many fires in households. So make sure you take the time to unplug them and let them cool off in a non-flammable surface before you leave the house.
• In you enjoy lighting candles or incense in your bedroom, it’s vital that you blow them out before leaving your bedroom.  The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) indicates that residential candle fire incidents occur most often in the bedroom at 45.2%.

These steps may seem all too simple, but it’s the simple things that are the main cause of electrical injuries and deaths every year. Even if you already know these tips like the palm of your hand, it’s worth reminding your children and educating them on the electrical hazards that they are surrounded by in their home every day. Making the conscious effort to check your appliances and treating electricity with respect could save you and your family’s life.

Farming can be one of the most hazardous industries to work in – it only makes up 1.8% of the workforce but 19% of the fatal injuries reported per year – therefore health and safety is of particular importance for farms.  Furthermore the rate of illness in farming is significantly higher than in other industries. The most commons types of farm accidents involve machinery and vehicles, falling from high places, risky substances and heavy lifting.

This is such a pressing issue that a new safety campaign has been launched today in Warwickshire that specifically targeting machinery use on farms – “Safe Stop” campaign by the Farm Safety Partnership and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Very simple safety measures when using farming equipment could help to save lives and avoid necessary injury.

The first step in this campaign has been to create stickers which remind the driver of the actions of a safe stop – putting the handbrake on, controls placed to neutral, engine off and key taken out of the ignition. This may seem obvious but it is evident from the data that simple precautions are being forgotten – if a simple reminder can prevent an incident then it seems like something worth doing. Dealers in farming vehicles and equipment have agreed to give customers some “safe stop” stickers as part of the health and safe check when they are purchasing new equipment.

A representative from IOSH, Alan Plom said “This is only the start of this initiative and the delegates, representing a wide cross section of the industry at today’s workshop, will be invited to share ideas to improve other aspects of machinery safety and come up with new ways to encourage operators to work safely.” For more information visit the http://www.nfuonline.com/business/farm-safety/farm-safety-partnership/.

It is clear that a proactive approach to health and safety practices is essential in an agricultural environment.  This can be achieved through a risk assessment; some of the key areas you might want to consider are:

- The processes regarding how hazardous chemicals are handled and stored

- How livestock are handled (making sure equipment used to handle and restrain livestock is suitable)

-Ensuring you have proper land drainage to help avoid flooding which could increase the chance of accidents

-Public safety is also an important concern, if someone is walking through your property you could be held accountable if they are injured

For further details on farm safety visit the official government website, here.

It has recently emerged that UK homeowners have taken to purchasing their own electrical test equipment and taken their electrics in to their own hands. The shocking fact is that 60% of Britons are attempting to make home improvements themselves, rather than hiring a qualified electrician, despite unsafe electrics causing more than 12,500 house fires every year.

It can’t be stressed enough: don’t do your own electrics! Not only are you putting yourself and others at risk but there are legal ramifications too. Local authorities are required to inspect a finished job, however, many DIYers aren’t aware of this. Tony Cable at NICEIC said: “People are far too casual about electrics in the home, especially in the current economic climate when it is too tempting to try to save a few pennies where possible.” It’s estimated that of the 60% who attempt electrical DIY, 28% fancy themselves able enough to install new garden lighting. This is work that should really be done by a qualified electrician, guys. They have the equipment on hand to check it’s 100% safe.

Next up, plumbing. We’re not talking about changing the water pressure on your outside tap every now and then. That’s acceptable. We’re talking big plumbing projects such as extending hot water pipes and replacing broken boilers. Just leave it to the professionals – they’re the ones who know how to operate a blowtorch and weld. They’ve replaced more boilers than you’ve had hot dinners (maybe) and it comes as second nature to these guys. It’s a hefty fee to fork out but you’d rather have a fully operational plumbing system than a dodgy leak every few months, right?

DIY is all well and good so long as it’s safe. It’s the best way to save money, whether it be through decorating your living room or knitting a winter jumper so you don’t have to hand over a hefty amount of cash to your high street retailer. However, although painting and decorating is acceptable, fiddling with your electrics and plumbing is not. However, if you’ve successfully done it yourself, perhaps it’s time to consider a career change, but that’s a completely different beast entirely…

This debate has arisen as a result of a large infrastructural project taking place; the National Broadband Network rollout. As a result of the construction, many people have been exposed to asbestos and the fibres which are dangerous as they are able to be easily breathed in.

Asbestos is the biggest cause of death in the UK that is related to work, making it a serious and pressing subject. It is used for a wide range of uses, including building materials, fireproofing and most commonly, loft insulation. In its own and untouched state, asbestos is perfectly harmless. However, it is only when it is damaged or disturbed that it becomes harmful and the asbestos fibres become airborne. Asbestos has been proven to cause four main diseases; asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and diffuse pleural thickening. The National Broadband Network rollout infrastructural project is therefore of great significance as it involves the disturbance of the asbestos material, making it potentially lethal.

Workplace relations minister Bill Shorten and the chief executives called a meeting last month in order to discuss the issue. This was organised to help assure Australians that their lives were not at risk. “Asbestos is a deadly scourge – more Australians will be killed by asbestos than gave their lives on the battlefield at Flanders. It is no place for political posturing, and particularly not the kind of negative politics we keep seeing come out of Treasury Place,” Mr Shorten said.

However, the main controversy has stemmed from the fact that the government has deregulated the use of asbestos, removing its regulation and thus removing all guidelines around the issue. Now that the National Broadband Network rollout has exposed and disturbed the asbestos in multiple areas around the country, the question seems to be – who is responsible for this, the government or the private contractors who carry out the construction work?

On one hand, one could argue that it is the government’s responsibility. They deregulated the use of asbestos and thus, relied on the private sector to operate sensibly and responsibly. Alternatively, despite the fact that the government took away asbestos regulations, it could also be argued that the private contractors should always regulate their work to their highest possible standards, keeping the safety of the people at their highest priority.

The life threatening behavior that has been carried out by the private contractors has made many question the issue of regulation. It appears that some companies cut corners, highlighting that maybe the government ought to take back control over such matters.

Whether asbestos safety is the responsibility of the government or the private contractors, it is essential that whoever deals with it has asbestos awareness training. This can save lives and greatly minimize the health risks to individuals working or living in close contact with the minerals. Working with the substance comes with great responsibility and it is fundamental that this is kept in mind.

The Basics

Let’s start with the basics that you need to have in your car at all times in order to travel carefree. A handy tip is to keep a small Tupperware full of these essentials in your car; you never know when you might need them. Plasters and bandages as well as safety pins will ensure that you have all situations covered for any cuts or scrapes along the way. A tube of basic antiseptic cream, sting relief, as well as pain killers are vital to keep in your car too. Travel sickness tablets are useful for all ages; they will eliminate any feeling of nausea, making your car journey a lot more pleasant.  Lastly, don’t forget the sun cream. Even if you are only going away in England, it is necessary for your summer holiday as you never know when you will get a bit of elusive sunshine.

Travelling With Children

Making a long car journey with children is not always easy, but these essentials will make sure your trip is comfortable and relaxed. First of all, make certain that you take lots of water along with you. It seems obvious but water is crucial to keep headaches, stomach aches and general dehydration at bay. Healthy snacks like fruit and vegetable sticks will also curb any hunger, as well as helping to avoid the temptation of stopping off at service stations for fast food. Planning visual games to play in the car that involve the whole family, like ‘I spy’, will keep the children occupied and make the time pass quickly. Blankets and pillows are also a great item to bring with you; they will make the journey more comfortable and allow the children to get a good sleep along the way. Spare clothes to go on the back seat rather than in your suitcase are a must when you are travelling with children. There are bound to be spillages of food and drink, so keep these close to hand.

Travelling at Night

Driving at night requires a few more necessities. You need to check that you carry a torch and a high visibility jacket with you in the case of a breakdown. And again, blankets are also useful to keep passengers, and children in particular, warm at night. In addition, it can be a great help to have a satellite navigation system when travelling at night in particular, as it can be hard to read a map. They are an easy way to calculate journey times and they also advise you on speed limits.

Bio: This article was written by Holly Whitaker on behalf of Britannia Safety and Training who specialise in First Aid Training Norfolk.

Inspectors visited the areas as part of a national Health and Safety Executive (HSE) clampdown aimed at reducing death, injury and ill health.

A total of 61 of the 215 sites inspected were found to have significant failings and 40 enforcement notices were issued as a result.

Specific work activities on some of the sites were deemed so dangerous that 27 Prohibition Notices were served by inspectors, immediately halting further work until standards had been improved.

The inspectors visited sites where refurbishment or repair work was taking place, to support a drive to improve standards in one of Britain’s most dangerous industries.

They made unannounced visits to ensure companies are managing high-risk activity, such as working at height. They also checked for general good order, assessed welfare facilities and checked whether Personal Protective Equipment, such as head protection, was being used appropriately.

During 2011/12, three workers were killed while working in construction across the four counties, and a further 131 were seriously injured.

In Swindon there was one fatality and eight injuries, and in Wiltshire 27 injuries in that time.

Nationally, there were 49 deaths and more than 2,800 major injuries.

The purpose of the initiative is to remind those working in the industry that poor standards are unacceptable and could result in enforcement action.

Andrew Kingscott, HSE Principal Inspector for the Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Construction Division, said: “It is good news that the majority of the construction sites we visited were obeying the law and making the effort to manage safety, but sadly some sites are letting down the rest of the industry.

“Poorly erected scaffolding, exposure to dangerous types of dust, and inadequate washing facilities were among the poor standards we found on some sites.

“I hope by carrying out these spot checks we will help to raise awareness of the dangers and reduce the number of construction workers being killed or seriously injured at work.”

This highlights the importance of making sure that your construction site is meeting the expected standard required. Keep your health and safety training up to date otherwise you not only be risking employees lives but also others and your company.

Why we need to take Safety Talks seriously
Safety talks if taken seriously can play instrumental role in avoiding workplace mishaps to a great extent. Since safety talks are easy to follow and easy to deploy, they will definitely play a constructive role in the production process by reducing the possibility of workplace injuries and thereby boosting the morale of the workers involved.

How to make safety talks more effective:

Make It Short and Sweet
You have to realise the fact that you are not going to do a documentary on safety talks nor you are planning to give a lecture to graduate students about the importance of safety systems in a workplace. It is great though that you are planning something so grand that will for sure be going to change the perception of the people about the safety systems. But at the same time, it might also run the risk of appearing boring and monotonous. So, rather than trying to cover everything, you have to focus on a single agenda.

Communicate, Don’t Dictate
Yes, it is hard to believe but the truth is that the workers know better when it comes to workplace safety. You may have read hundreds of hard cover books on safety and probably have attended several seminars on the same topics, but you lack the practical knowledge that these workers have. So, rather than dictating them what they should be doing and what they should not be doing, you should be discussing with them what can be done. They may come up with some brilliant suggestions. In short, safety talk should be a two way street and not a dictation where one person is preaching and others are listening.
Get The Workers Involved
I have discussed earlier that the workers know better what the problems are with the safety systems. Since they are dealing with these things every day, you should ask them to come up with topics and suggestions. Now, when you will be discussing topics suggested by them, you will get better response from them which is just awesome. This will help you to hook the attention of the listeners and make the safety talk a grand success.

Be Relevant
It will have greater impact on the audience when you will take into accounts things like current day situations, facts and figures while talking about safety and security system. If you can manage to achieve this, people would easily be able to relate to the discussion and may take part without your encouragement.  Whatever examples you may be using to explain the state of the safety system, you should at least try to make sure that these examples bear some sort of relevance to the reality of things.

Do Not Miss Out On Near Misses
These are the issues that you should never miss out. It will give you an excellent opportunity to get people involved voluntarily in the discussion on safety. You will get positive responses from workers who might have faced similar situations and it was just sheer luck that they have survived. Workers are likely to show more interest on topics that have actually happened than to those topics that can only happen theoretically.

Author Bio
Chris Boyace is a bit obsessed about workplace safety. Currently, he is employed with Safety-Steps.co.uk.

Food production and trade has grown rapidly over recent years which has, in turn, increased the likelihood of international incidents which lead to contaminated food.  This rapid growth has led to an acknowledged need for some sort of international ‘united front’ and as well as the new provision of an International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), a joint initiative between the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organisations of the UK, there has also been the introduction of the ISO 22000 certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation to set an international standard for food safety management systems.

Food safety law applies to all working in the food industry and is not just reserved for those working directly with food. For example if you manufacture packaging, store food, transport food or provide cleaning in areas where food is worked with you also need to have a clear understanding of the safety regulations.

In the UK a certain number of Food Safety Acts must be followed which include regulations from the UK and also from the EU regarding imports and exports. The Food Safety Act of 1990 created consumer protection offences which relate to the safety of food to those purchasing and consuming it. The Act stipulates that:

‘Food should not be rendered injurious to health by adding an article or substance to the food, using an article or substance as an ingredient in the preparation of the food, abstracting any constituent from the food or subjecting the food to any process or treatment’

The Food Safety Act also does not allow the false description or presentation of food and selling food at a lower substance or quality than expected by the purchaser. Like many laws as long as the food business operator can prove that they took all reasonable precautions to avoid the offence. This is why putting a system into place like the one offered by ISO 22000.

If the legislation is broken there are a number of penalties for breaches in the law which can involve imprisonment.

With this in mind, to ensure compliance with food safety regulations many companies opt to implement a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) – a system which the ISO 22000 standard ensures is current, comprehensive and thorough. The ISO 22000 demands documentation of the FSMS and was based around the HACCP principles which were developed in the 1960s to ensure safe food for space expeditions by NASA and the US Army. They have been used widely in the food industry but to ensure that there was some consistency over borders the ISO decided to introduce ISO 22000.

The Red Cross ‘Big Red Survey’ was conducted between April and May in 2012 in the UK. They asked people taking part in their first-aid training course what they thought about it and what impact it had on their lives. 99 % of those taking part confirmed that the training course would keep people safer.

Training is also often considered to be a motivational factor for many staff members whether it is training to do their job better, to build their confidence or to meet and improve internal strategies – such as first aid training. Staff members will often appreciate that an important role within the organisation has been entrusted with them, increasing their morale as well as allowing them to feel safer at work knowing that their health and wellbeing is cared for.

The Health and Safety at Work Act states that employers are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of their employees whilst they are on work premises. This is why many organisations have chosen to establish a first aid policy if any accidents were to happen, as well as sending their staff on health and safety or first aid training.

Another aspect of the study showed that many of those participating in the study utilised the skills and knowledge they had picked up outside the office. First aid skills are transferable to any environment such as at home or in public. 73 % of people said they had used their first aid skills in real life and a further 35 % of these confirmed that they had used them both inside and outside the workplace. This means that people feel they are getting more back for the time spent on the course and that it is making them feel both safer and happier.