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Risk assessment: a highly intellectual science or just plain commonsense?

Article Abstract:

The health and safety directives emanating from the European Commission are being based on the concept of risk assessment but this is not to be regarded as a highly complicated science, merely a basic management tool founded on common sense. Deputy director of the UK's Health and Safety Executive David Eves said there was no intention of making small and medium-sized companies perform complicated auditing. Risk assessment means identifying potential dangers in the workplace, estimating the risk from these potential dangers, deciding how these risks can be minimised and then taking the appropriate action along these lines.

Risk assessment, Measurement

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Roofwork blitz begins...

Article Abstract:

An average of three roofers are killed each month in the UK and another 10 seriously injured, roofers being the group of construction workers most likely to be killed. The Health and Safety Executive has been working hard to get the message across with advertising, seminars and distribution of roofwork information packs. The next move is an intensive nationwide inspection and clampdown programme. The recession has led to a drop in the amount of work and small firms especially are economising on safety to enable them to undercut more safety-conscious firms. However a fatality could cause bankruptcy to a small firm.

Roofing industry

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Construction boss narrowly escapes gaol after foreman's death

Article Abstract:

The judge told Lionel Whitnell, 36, that he thought he would be sending him to gaol when he first went on trial, prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the death of his friend Michael Stuart when a 30-foot sewer trench collapsed on him. Instead he was fined 30,000 pounds sterling and had to pay over 7,000 pounds sterling costs. The HSE said they had not heard about the excavation until after the fatality but should have been told when the work started and should also have been informed of another accident there three days before Mr Stuart died.

Construction, Building

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