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| Spotlight - August 2005 Edition | ||||||||||
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Welcome This is Spotlight – Bravanark’s monthly e-zine that focuses on topical issues within the Human Resources (HR), Health and Safety (HS) and Accessibility fields. We acknowledge that developments in these areas happen virtually by the second and we cannot possibly cover them all in this e-zine, so will instead focus our Spotlight on a small number of issues – ones that we hope you’ll find both interesting and useful to know. |
MAD WORLD
If
we were to tell you to brace yourselves during the course of this article
because we’re about to impart some interesting fact to you, what would we be
expecting you to do? Assume the crash position? Hold onto your desk for
support? Take a sharp intake of breath? Merely read on?
In this particular instance of course we would advocate the sensible approach and hope that you would merely read on, but you’ve no doubt all heard the stories about some more extreme risk aversion measures that have recently been highlighted – children being ordered to wear safety goggles to play conkers; trapeze artists having to wear hard hats during their performances. We’ve probably all shaken our heads and tutted at such extreme interpretations of health and safety legislation and whilst some of these stories are just fabricated flights of fancy, some are unfortunately based in fact. The existence of risk is also a fact and to ignore risk is to put people in unnecessary danger. Businesses must carry out risk assessment processes – how do you keep your workforce safe if you don’t assess the risks to them of doing their job? – but having identified those risks Bravanark advocates a sensible risk management approach to dealing with them.
Now brace yourself (see above re: sensible approach!). The HSC has opened a debate about where that sensible balance in health and safety should lie. This is an opportunity for anyone with an opinion on this subject to have their say. It opened on 13 July and will run until early 2006.
Have your say at www.hse.gov.uk/riskdebate.
Contact us on courses@bravanark.co.uk for further details of...
- Bitesize: Principles of Risk Assessment (£20)
- 1-day IOSH Working Safely (£85)
- 4-day IOSH Managing Safely (£650) courses.
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INTERNET ABUSE Does your company have a policy about the use of the internet at work? If it doesn’t consider the following: recent research has shown that staff can be spending up to 3 hours per day surfing the net – not, as most employers fear visiting porn sites, but as is the case with the University Hospital of North Staffordshire – making excessive use of online shopping sites. Apparently 40% of workers visit eBay at work. If you don’t have a policy in place you will struggle to deal with any member of staff who you think is abusing your internet access. If you do have a policy make sure that you are communicating effectively what unacceptable use of the internet is, what you consider personal use to be, and when staff can use your internet access for personal use. It may be that you are happy for staff to book holidays and shop online so long as it is during their lunch break. Also ensure your disciplinary process includes internet abuse and communicate the message that continual abuse could be subject to disciplinary proceedings. Finally, don’t forget that if you are implementing a new policy or amending an old one, consult your staff first. Contact hr@bravanark.co.uk for advice and guidance on developing and implementing staff policies and procedures. |
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NEW REGULATIONS New vibration at work regulations came into force on 6 July. The European Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive deals with the control of diseases caused by vibration at work from equipment, vehicles and machines. Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) is a major cause of occupational ill health and it is estimated that approximately 5 million workers are exposed to HAV in the workplace. Contact hs@bravanark.co.uk if you need advice about carrying out vibration risk assessments. |
DEBENHAMS IN TROUBLE OVER DDA Debenhams looks likely to be the first major retailer to be prosecuted under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) for failing to improve the physical access to its Derby store. The Disability Rights Commission is backing Greg Jackson, a wheelchair user, who after a number of requests to improve the accessibility of the menswear section of the Derby store were ignored by Debenhams, has decided to sue. Debenhams will be sued under part lll of the DDA which places specific duties on businesses that provide services to the public to alter, adapt or remove any physical barriers that make it unreasonably difficult to access those services. Contact access@bravanark.co.uk for further information about the DDA and how it affects your business or courses@bravanark.co.uk for details about bitesize course - The DDA: What’s it all about. |
AGE DISCRIMINATION Discriminating against someone on the grounds of their age will become unlawful on 1 October 2006. On 14 July this year the government released Coming of Age its draft regulations and final consultation on age laws. This final consultation period is employers’ last chance to influence the government’s proposals. The consultation document and summary can be downloaded from the DTI Website. Further information can be found at the Employers Forum on Age Website . For advice and guidance on implementing non-discriminatory policies and procedures contact hr@bravanark.co.uk |
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DID
YOU KNOW…