Archive for the ‘Health and Safety’ Category
By Sarah - Friday, August 3rd, 2007
Statistics released today show that one in five workers do not take a lunch break. I have to confess often myself included. However, employers may be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of getting more out of staff but they need to think of the bigger picture.
In fact, they could be failing in their obligations under the Working Time Regulations which state that where a worker’s daily working time is more than six hours, they are entitled to a rest break of not less than 20 minutes. Also in the long term this can affect their health and ability to do the job.
Interestingly, the same survey team in a different survey found that nearly one quarter of those employees surveyed enjoy an alcoholic drink during their lunchbreak. It would seem there for that since 20% do not take lunch breaks, that actually, it is 25% of the remaining 80% that enjoy a tipple or too. Normally this is more often the case in the summer as employees enjoy sitting outside down the pub in their lunchbreak.
There is a fine line however to be drawn and the employee must be careful that he/she is not contravening health and safety by working in the afternoon under the influence of alcohol. This is particularly the case when they are due to get behind the wheel or operate machinery.
Posted in Health and Safety, Working Time Regs | No comments »
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By Sarah - Tuesday, June 26th, 2007
It is the countdown to stubbing out that cigarette for good. In 5 days time on the 1st July 2007 smoking will be banned from all public places. We have heard of reports from clients of bike shelters loosing two of their sides to turn them into smoking shelters and other clients who have gone for an outright ban.
If you have not already begun to plan for the ban - you need to act quickly. Free guidance is available from most local councils since they will be the ones enforcing the law next week. Employers may also want to consider making the offence of smoking on site Gross Misconduct in their policies given the penalties involved for a violation of the law. Employers may also want to consider whether they want to have a policy for helping staff kick the habit. This is in addition to the legal requirement concerning signs and any smoking roooms/shelters.
For those of us that do not smoke we cannot wait until Sunday when we can go to the pub without passive smoking. Smokers have one more Saturday night on the town and workers in pubs and restaurants, where smoking is still permitted, have only a few more days before the workers can be smoke free too! As the law comes into force on 1st July 2007 it will be interesting to see what will happen with venues that open beyond midnight. Will they implement it suddenly at 12.01am or will they allow smoking until they open for business on the 1st July?
Either way no doubt the news will be dominated next week with smoking ban stories. Have your say on the smoking ban and the effect on your workplace on this site.
Posted in Health and Safety | 6 comments »
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By Liam - Monday, April 16th, 2007
ACAS have published guidance on the cunningly named Health Act 2006 which will at lastintroduce the smoking ban in public places and workplaces in England from 1 July 2007. The guidance can be found here.
Amongst other things, some of the traps that could lead to employers being fined as easily as motorists, include the requirement to put a no smoking sign on every entrance to a no smoking premises. It is not just any no smoking sign that will do. Subject to finalisation of the Regulations which are currently being considered by Europe under the Technical Standards Directive, the sign must be A5 (not A4 or A6, but A5) and must contain the words “No smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises”. How many readers of this blog have that wording on their current signs? I wonder who will receive the revenue from the £1,000.00 fine for employers caught not displaying the correct signs, or the £2,500.00 fine for failing to ensure premises are smoke free?
Posted in Health and Safety, Miscellaneous | No comments »
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By Philip - Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
This weekend whilst on holiday in Northern Italy we were served coffee by a waiter who looked as though he should have been at school. This sparked a debate amongst the group about whether the employment laws in Italy are less stringent than here in the UK. Of course the rest of the party were foolish to get into such a debate with an employment solicitor and I promptly informed them that this was not the case since most of our UK Employment law originates from Europe in any event. To name a few rights to the group I listed Working Time, Equal Pay, Discrimination and Parental Leave. Can anyone else list some more examples?
Posted in Health and Safety | 4 comments »
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By Philip - Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007
We know that many employees need to drive as part of their job. With Gatso speed cameras everywhere, it is quite easy to pick up points on your licence. The DTI has just announced that if you are caught using your mobile phone in your hand while driving you will incur a fixed penalty of £60.00 plus three points. It is also worth noting that if you are caught not having proper control of the car whilst using a hands free then that will also incur a £60 fine and 3 penalty points. Read it here
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By Philip - Friday, January 19th, 2007
It looks as though the HSE is running a new campaign to ensure that hairdressers wear gloves at work to prevent dermatitis. If you are going to the hairdressers or barbers this weekend and find your hairdresser all gloved up, don’t take it personally as you’ll know why. Read about it here
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By Philip - Friday, December 1st, 2006
Any employers out there who still allow smoking on site should introduce a no smoking workplace on or before 1 July 2007 to comply with the ban on smoking in public places which is commented on here. Stub it out before it stubs you out.
Posted in Health and Safety | 2 comments »
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