Category: Health & Safety

DSEAR require employers and the self-employed to control the risks, as far as is reasonably practicable, to safety within the workplace, of employees and members of the public who may be affected by hazards posed by work processes that may result in fire, explosions or the corrosion of metals.

The applicable legislation that places this duty on employers and the self-employed is the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002.

The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 apply to the majority of workplaces, including moveable structures, outdoor areas and domestic premises, where: –

• Work is being carried out by an employer or self-employed person
• A dangerous substance is present (or is likely to be present or generated) at the workplace
• A potentially explosive atmosphere may occur
• The dangerous substance and/or a potentially explosive atmosphere could be a risk to the safety of people as a result of fires, explosions or similar energetic events

For example, DSEAR covers the following scenarios:

• storage and use of flammable liquids including paints and inks, cleaning products, and fuels
• storage and use of LPG
• storage and use of oxygen
• storage and transport of powders in pharmaceutical and food industries
• storage and display of flammable goods, such as paints in shops
• handling and storage of flammable waste materials
• welding or other ‘hot work’ on tanks and drums that have contained flammable material
• use of flammable gases, such as acetylene, for welding or flame cutting
• use of flammable solvents or other substances in laboratories
• transport of flammable substances in containers around a workplace
• deliveries from road tankers, such as flammable liquids, gases and bulk powders
• chemical manufacturing, processing, and warehousing
• Distillation of alcohol products
• Creation of dusts during work processes such as wood cutting
• Charging of electric FLT

• Storage and use of Substances corrosive to metal
• The use of gas appliances designed for use in industrial processes on industrial premises and appliances that heat water to a temperature greater than 105 °C

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH L4DipFRA OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

The current situation?

The UK Government is continuing to meet its commitment to phase out the use of PFOAs from firefighting products. PFOAs are known as “forever chemicals” due to their lasting harmful impact on the environment.

This phase out is being achieved through measures restricting or prohibiting the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds used in fire-fighting foam for liquid fuel vapour suppression and Class B fires. It will include the use of aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) fire extinguishers.

What are “forever chemicals”?

“Forever chemicals” have been widely used across the world since the 1940s, from fire-fighting foams to industrial applications and consumer products. Their high thermal and chemical stability and water and oil-repellent nature means they have been heavily used in cosmetics, coatings for textiles and paper including food contact materials.

They comprise per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which is the collective name given to a group of fluorinated compounds.

PFAS are everywhere in nature due to their inability to break down. The long history of their use has resulted in “a legacy of environmental contamination that is challenging to remediate”, according to the Environment Agency, and their toxic nature has been linked to health problems since the 1990s. They are a large group of synthetic, environmentally persistent and potentially toxic chemicals, which can build up in living organisms through a process called bioaccumulation.

The best-known examples of PFAS are PFOAs and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), both of which are now subject to regulatory restrictions because of their harmful properties.

What legislation do you need to know?

Assimilated Regulation 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants (the UK POPs Regulation) bans the production, placing on the market and use of substances, mixtures and articles containing PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds.

They have previously been used as active ingredients in Class B firefighting foams, and particularly so within AFFFs, in the main due to their surfactant properties. They may also be present in foams as a contaminant.

Exemptions and deadlines?

There was a recent restriction from 1 January 2023, where the use of the fire-fighting foam was only allowed in sites where all releases can be contained.

The use of PFOA, its salts and PFOA-related compounds in firefighting foams for Class B fires will be banned on the 4th of July 2025.

What you need to do?

Assess your current fire safety equipment and plan for the switch to safer alternatives. It is essential that you find out whether the foam in your extinguishers contains PFOA, its salts and/or PFOA-related compounds.

You can do this by:

• checking the safety data sheet for the foam
• contacting the supplier or manufacturer of the foam
• getting the foam analysed by a suitable lab

If your fire extinguishers have been regularly serviced, refilled or replaced every five years, its likely they do not contain PFOS or PFOA.

However, if your extinguishers are very old with no service or refill record, then it should be assumed to be potentially containing PFOS or PFOA and environmentally disposed of.

In addition, if you intend to use, or have a stockpile of Class B foam already installed in systems which contains or may contain PFOA, its salts and/or PFOA-related compounds, you must comply with the following conditions –

• holders of stockpiles greater than 50kg must notify the appropriate regulator by completing a stockpile notification form, as soon as possible
• the fire-fighting foam must not be used for training
• the fire-fighting foam must not be used for testing unless all releases are contained

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH L4DipFRA OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

DSEAR stands for Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 which is concerned with protection to employees, and to members of the public against the risks and potential outcomes arising from dangerous substances and potentially explosive atmospheres.

The duties in DSEAR apply alongside the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA) 1974, and other regulations made under the Act such as The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999, and those in relation to fire safety such as The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) 2005.

DSEAR does not apply to maritime activities, areas used directly for and during the medical treatment of patients, the use of gas appliances burning gaseous fuels, the manufacture, handling, use, storage and transport of explosives or chemically unstable substances, Mineral extracting industries, or during the carriage of dangerous goods.

WHAT IS COVERED UNDER DSEAR?

The Regulations apply to the majority of workplaces, including moveable structures, outdoor areas and domestic premises, where:

• Work is being carried out by an employer (or self-employed person)
• A dangerous substance is present (or is liable to be present or generated) at the workplace
• A potentially explosive atmosphere may occur
• The dangerous substance and/or a potentially explosive atmosphere could be a risk to the safety of people as a result of fires, explosions or similar energetic events

For example, DSEAR covers the following scenarios:

• storage and use of flammable liquids including paints and inks, cleaning products, and fuels
• storage and use of LPG
• storage and use of oxygen
• storage and transport of powders in pharmaceutical and food industries
• storage and display of flammable goods, such as paints in shops
• handling and storage of flammable waste materials
• welding or other ‘hot work’ on tanks and drums that have contained flammable material
• use of flammable gases, such as acetylene, for welding or flame cutting
• use of flammable solvents in laboratories
• transport of flammable substances in containers around a workplace
• deliveries from road tankers, such as flammable liquids, gases and bulk powders
• chemical manufacturing, processing, and warehousing
• Creation of alcohol products
• Creation of dusts during work processes such as wood dust
• Charging of electric FLT

An explosive atmosphere is a mixture of a dangerous substance or substances (gas, mist, dust or vapour) with the air, which has the potential to catch fire or explode. An explosive atmosphere does not always result in an explosion but, if it does catch fire, the flames travel quickly. If this happens in a confined space (e.g. in plant), the rapid spread of the flames or rise in pressure could also cause an explosion.

WHEN IS A RISK ASSESSMENT REQUIRED?

DSEAR requires employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks from materials and mixtures that are categorised under the GB Classification, Labelling, & Packaging (CLP) 2008 Regulations as Flammable, Highly Flammable, Extremely Flammable, or Corrosive, and which are present in the workplace, and to eliminate or control the risks posed by such materials and mixtures.

Ideally, it would be practical to carry out a risk assessment in relation to DSEAR as part of the overall workplace risk assessment required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999. However, in most cases, this is not known or always possible so a standalone DSEAR risk assessment should be undertaken.

The extent, and level of detail of the DSEAR risk assessment is dependent upon the risk posed by such considerations set out below.

Work equipment, COSHH assessment, and other risk assessments would likely include similar hazards to be considered suitable and sufficient, however, the DSEAR risk assessment looks at the premises as a whole.

The DSEAR risk assessment should include all areas where there are dangerous and flammable materials stored and in use, and where there is potential for the presence of an explosive atmosphere.

You should carry out a DSEAR risk assessment regardless of the quantity of dangerous substance present, as it will enable you to decide whether existing measures are sufficient or whether any additional controls or precautions are necessary.

As well as assessing the normal activities within the workplace, you will also need to assess non-routine activities, such as maintenance work, where there is often a higher potential for fire and explosion incidents to occur.

If there is no risk to safety from fires and explosions, and corrosives to metal, or the risk is trivial, no further action would be needed.

The risk assessment should include consideration of:

• The locations where DSEAR risks could be present
• The people who could be affected, and how
• the hazardous properties of the substance (Flammable, Explosive, Oxidising, Corrosive)
• information on safety provided by the supplier, including information contained in any relevant safety data sheet (SDS)
• The quantities stored and used in the workplace
• the circumstances of the work including
  • the work processes and substances used and their possible interactions
  • the amount of the substance involved
  • where the work will involve more than one dangerous substance, the risk presented by such substances in combination
  • the arrangements for the safe handling, storage and transport of dangerous substances and of waste containing dangerous substances
• activities, such as maintenance, where there is the potential for a high level of risk
• the effect of measures which have been or will be taken pursuant to these Regulations
• the likelihood that an explosive atmosphere will occur and its persistence
• the likelihood that ignition sources, including electrostatic discharges, will be present and become active and effective
• the scale of the anticipated effects of a fire or an explosion
  • any places which are or can be connected via openings to places in which explosive atmospheres may occur
  • such additional safety information as the employer may need in order to complete the risk assessment

A DSEAR risk assessment should only be carried out by a competent person, who has the training, experience, skill, and knowledge to allow them to accurately identify the hazards present, assess the risks to people and the organisation, and recommend measures to eliminate or control the risks present.

The level of competence required will vary depending on the hazards present, quantities and durations that these hazards are present, and the organisational and environmental factors involved.

A DSEAR risk assessment does not constitute a comprehensive assessment of all workplace hazards as required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR) 1999, and additional specific risk assessments may be required, for example – COSHH, or manual handling.

REVIEW OF DSEAR RISK ASSESSMENT?

The time between reviews depends on the nature and extent of the risk present, however, it is recommended that you complete a DSEAR Risk Assessment at intervals not exceeding 3 years. If you introduce significant changes to your workplace, such as changing the dangerous substances present or their quantities, or changing the work equipment or processes, you should review your risk assessment. Similarly, you should do this in the event of an incident, including a near miss – for example a release of a dangerous substance without ignition – to determine if the measures you have in place are sufficient.

HOW CAN YOU CONTROL THE RISK?

From the findings of the risk assessment, if a risk cannot be eliminated, DSEAR requires control measures to be implemented in the following order:

• Reduce the quantity of dangerous substances to a minimum
• Avoid or minimise releases of dangerous substances
• Control releases of dangerous substances at source
• Prevent the formation of a dangerous atmosphere
• Collect, contain, and remove any releases to a safe place (for example, through ventilation)
• Avoid ignition sources
• Avoid adverse conditions (for example, exceeding the limits of temperature or control settings) that could lead to danger
• Keep incompatible substances apart

In addition to these control measures, DSEAR requires mitigation measures to be put in place. These can include:

• Reducing the number of employees exposed to the risk
• Providing plant that is explosion resistant
• Providing plant that is corrosion resistant
• Providing explosion suppression or explosion relief equipment
• Taking measures to control or minimise the spread of fires or explosions

ZONING

Where the DSEAR risk assessment determines the presence or potential for flammable atmosphere, these areas shall be classified into a ‘zone’. The type of zone will be dependent on the frequency and duration of an explosive atmosphere.

The zone classifications are:

• Zone 0 (Zone 20) -That part of a hazardous area in which an explosive atmosphere is continuously present, or present for long periods, or frequently
• Zone 1 (Zone 21) – That part of a hazardous area in which an explosive atmosphere is likely to occur occasionally in normal operation
• Zone 2 (Zone 22) – That part of a hazardous area in which an explosive atmosphere is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only

Zones 0, 1 and 2 are used for explosive atmospheres formed of flammable gases, vapours or mists. Zones 20, 21 and 22 are used for explosive atmospheres formed of combustible dusts.

EQUIPMENT

DSEAR sets out the link between zones, and the equipment that may be installed in that zone. This applies to new or newly modified installations. The equipment categories are defined by the ATEX equipment directive, set out in UK law as the Equipment and Protective Systems for use in the Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996.

The following categories of equipment must be used in the zones indicated, provided they are suitable for gases, vapours, mists, dusts or mists and dusts, as appropriate: –

• in zone 0 or zone 20 – Category 1 equipment
• in zone 1 or zone 21 – Category 1 or 2 equipment
• in zone 2 or zone 22 – Category 1, 2 or 3 equipment

For any equipment, in use within any DSEAR zone, or installed for the health and safety of workers, should be inspected, tested, and maintained, as set out in the manufacturers manual to ensure it is in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. Where any equipment has a maintenance log, the log should be kept up to date.

ADDITIONAL CONTROL MEASURES

Additional control measures include:

• Provide Information, Training, Instruction, and supervision to employees
• Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as identified by risk assessment
• Provide Safe Systems Of Work (SSOW) for routine and non-routine activities undertaken
• Introduce a Permit To Work (PTW) system for any work undertaken in DSEAR zones
• Ensure contractors are competent, work to suitable and sufficient Risk Assessment Method Statements (RAMS), suitably insured, and have suitable equipment for any work undertaken in DSEAR zones

KEY ACTIONS

• Identify liquids, gases, dusts, substances that are flammable, explosive, or corrosive to metals
• Where reasonably practicable, avoid the use of such materials or substitute with less dangerous materials
• Do not allow hot work in circumstances which could create danger
• Minimise the quantities of flammable and dangerous substances stored
• Undertake risk assessment in accordance with DSEAR, taking specialist advice as required
• Ensure that there is effective control of the release of flammable and dangerous substances, ignition sources and hot surfaces
• Only allow work on gas appliances using Gas Safe registered contractors
• Implement improvements as identified by the DSEAR risk assessment for the safe storage, use and disposal of flammable and dangerous substances
• Undertake the inspection, testing, and maintenance of control measures
• Ensure there are adequate emergency procedures for spillages, leaks or other foreseeable situations
• Ensure suitable and sufficient insurance is available
• Provide information, training, instruction, and supervision to relevant stakeholders
• Keep records
• If petrol is to be stored for dispensing into motor vehicles including for retail sale, obtain a petroleum storage certificate from the petroleum enforcing authority before the storage takes place

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

Introduction

This H&S Update draws your attention to relevant legislation, the need to manage ill-health risks arising from exposure to Hand-arm vibration hazards in the workplace and gives practical advice and guidance on how to keep people safe and sound and comply with relevant legislation.

What are the risks?

Using vibrating tools and equipment in the workplace can lead to Ill health conditions collectively known as Hand-arm vibration syndrome, or ‘HAVs’.  This term is used to describe a range of ill health conditions including ‘Vibration White Finger’, ‘carpel tunnel syndrome’, and tendonitis. Damage is irreversible and leaves employees with lifelong conditions.

Colleagues could be most at risk when:

• Working in roles that expose them to high levels of vibration, such as highway maintenance, construction, grounds maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and metalworking, etc
• Using high vibration magnitude equipment including, but not limited to breakers, scabblers, impact wrenches, hammer drills, grinders, disc-cutters, sanders, and compaction equipment, etc.
• Smoking, as this reduces blood flow and reduces recovery from vibration trauma
• Having pre-existing neurological (nerve), vascular (circulatory) and musculoskeletal conditions
• Working in cold and damp environments

Management of Risk and Principles of Prevention:

• The employer must ensure that risk from the exposure of vibration to his employees is either eliminated at source or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable
• Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risk at source and an exposure action value is likely to be reached or exceeded, the employer must reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable by establishing and implementing a programme of organisational and technical measures which is appropriate to the activity
• The measures taken by the employer shall be based on the general principles of prevention and shall include consideration of:
  • Other working methods which eliminate or reduce exposure to vibration
  • Choice of work equipment of appropriate ergonomic design which, taking account of the work to be done, produces the least possible vibration
  • The provision of auxiliary equipment which reduces the risk of injuries caused by vibration
  • Appropriate maintenance programmes for work equipment, the workplace and workplace systems
  • The design and layout of workplaces, workstations and rest facilities
  • Suitable and sufficient information and training for employees, such that work equipment may be used correctly and safely, to minimise their exposure to vibration
  • Limitation of the duration and magnitude of exposure to vibration
  • Appropriate work schedules with adequate rest periods; and the provision of clothing to protect employees from cold and damp

Vibration Exposure

Like all ill health hazards, ‘exposure’ is a product of ‘Strength’ x ‘Time’.

Vibration magnitude is measured and expressed as metres per second per second (m/s²).

Manufacturers provide ‘tool data’ within user manuals, and there are many useful sources of information that can be found on the internet.

Strength

Typical vibration magnitudes are:

• Breakers – 12 m/s² +
• Strimmers, hedge Cutters and Mowers – 6 m/s² +
• Wacker Plates – 5 m/s² +
• Sanders – 4 m/s² +

Notes of caution:

• Add a manufactures testing uncertainty value (typically plus or minus 1.5m/s²) to the advertised figures when making calculations
• Figures are quoted for new tools and give little consideration to old equipment, disc or material type as this can significantly vary (e.g. drilling wood or concrete / Hedge cutting laurel or beech / sanding high density or low-density materials)

The HSE has a system in which exposures can be more simply expressed as ‘points’.

Tip: m/s² x m/s² x2 = Points per hour. e.g. a tool of 6 m/s²  (6x6x2)= 71 points per hour.

Time

When making calculations it’s important to note that exposure is dictated by time on the ‘trigger’, and not necessarily the ‘activity’ time.  Trigger time is very difficult to estimate so the best way of quantifying exposure is to employ a specialist to carry out vibration exposure measurements. These measurements can then be used to inform your Risk Assessments.  Where use of tools is limited and not core to the work activity, a ‘desktop’ assessment (estimate) may be all an employer need do.

Legal Exposure Limit Values and Action Values:

The daily exposure limit value is 5 m/s² A(8) – or expressed as 400 HSE Points per day.

This is the figure at which employees should stop work immediately.

The daily exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8) – or expressed as 100 HSE Points per day;

This is the figure at which the employer must take steps to reduce exposure to as low as is reasonably practicable and introduce particular control measures within this guidance.  

Important note:

There is no ‘safe level’ of exposure and employers must apply the principles of prevention and always manage risks to as ‘low as reasonably practicable’.

Safe Systems of Work

1. Risk Assessment

The HSE recommends the following five steps in undertaking a risk assessment:

1. Identify the hazards
2. Assess the risks
3. Control the risks
4. Record significant findings
5. Review the controls

You will need to:

• Identify your tools and processes
• Gather vibration data
• Measure, or estimate the trigger time and calculate the daily exposure (Use the simple HSE Vibration Exposure Calculator, particularly for multiple tool use)

2. Effective Risk Controls

• Provide Vibration awareness training to employees
• Issue relevant information (the HSE Leaflet later referred to in this update, SA47 – Vibration within your H&S manual
• Select equipment of the lowest vibration magnitude
• Understand potential exposure and plan works to minimise exposures
• Maintain tools and equipment
• The single most effective control to deploy is ‘Work / Task rotation’
• Implement a simple system where vibration exposures can be monitored
• Ensure employees receive occupational health monitoring

3. Monitoring

The employers find the biggest challenge is implementing a system where employees can track personal vibration exposures (daily points).  Consider technological solutions for higher risk workers such as wearable HAVs devices which provide real-time monitoring and feedback to the employer.

When used properly, these systems can also signal improper use and tool wear which may require maintenance intervention.

One very practical way of monitoring (counting) and controlling personal exposures might be to express points as daily activity tasks: e.g.

• A scaffolder running fitting nuts with an impact wrench on X number of fittings to reach 100pts
• A grounds maintenance operative refuelling a strimmer X number of times to reach 100pts
• A foundry worker fettling X number of foundry castings to reach 100pts
• Workplace Timers can also be deployed to assist employees monitor vibration exposure,

However, it must be stressed that the duty to monitor and control exposure is on the employer.

4. Importance of Equipment Maintenance

Wear and tear on tools, bearings, blades and accessories can significantly increase vibration magnitudes. Keep all equipment properly maintained.

Consider the most effective methods in reaching the work objective to reduce trigger times.

Simple measures such as ensuring line trimmers on strimmers are present will ensure line lengths (and vibration magnitudes) are not excessively above manufacturers quoted data.

5. Occupational Health

Where vibration hazards and risks exist, employers should implement the following:

• Pre-selection health screening questionnaires and occupational health assessment
• Annual Health Screening questionnaires to employees
• Annual health surveillance appointments with a qualified Occupational Health Practitioner to
  • detect the early onset of any vibration related industrial disease, and
  • to provide assurance of the effectiveness of the safe systems of work in place

6. RIDDOR

Should your Occupational Health Practitioner diagnose., at any time, the onset of HAVs, the employer will need to make an assessment to what extent the ill-health has been caused by work and, where necessary, report all industrial diseases to the Health and Safety Executive (in accordance with RIDDOR 2015).

References:

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013

INDG296 HSE Hand-arm Vibration (A Guide for Employees)

INDG175 HSE Hand-arm Vibration at Work (A Brief Guide)

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

For those working outdoors, there is the added risk of sun exposure. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun can cause skin damage including sunburn, blistering and , in the long term, skin cancer.

UV exposure can occur even on overcast days. Bear in mind that UV radiation is at its peak between 11am and 3pm and efforts should be concentrated at reducing exposure during these times.

Where the environment has a high temperature or humidity, there is an increased risk of heat stress. Heat stress is not only a risk to outdoor workers but also to workers within high temperature workplaces, such as those involving hot industrial processes or where the space is unventilated and naturally accumulates heat, e.g. in attics.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

According to the latest available statistics:

• There
  are around 16,700 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year, that’s
  46 every day (2016-2018)
• There
  were 2,341 deaths from melanoma skin cancer in the UK between 2017-2019
• Over
  the last decade, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by around
  a third (32%) in the UK. Rates in females have increased by more than a quarter
  (27%), and rates in males have increased by almost two-fifths (38%)
  (2016-2018). 86% of melanoma skin cancer4 cases in the UK are preventable.
• Melanoma
  skin cancer is the 5^th most common cancer in the UK, accounting for
  4% of all new cancer cases (2016-2018)
• Melanoma
  skin cancer is the 20^th most common cause of cancer death in the UK,
  accounting for 1% of all cancer deaths (2017-2019)

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• The
  Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
  require that a ‘reasonable temperature’ should be maintained inside buildings
  used as workplaces
• The
  Approved Code of Practice (L24) goes on to provide that,
  where reasonable comfort cannot be achieved, e.g. because of hot processes,
  ‘all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a temperature which is as
  close as possible to comfortable’
• The
  Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 – places a duty on every
  employer to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety,
  and welfare at work of all their employees. ‘Health’ includes mental health
• The
  Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as
  amended) require that employers select, provide, and maintain suitable PPE for
  employees and that they should instruct staff in how and when to use it. PPE
  worn by employees, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at Work Regulations
  require employers to consider the work environment such as the weather, if the
  work is outside
• The
  Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
  also require that indoor construction site temperatures be ‘reasonable’
• The
  Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 –
  place a duty on employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the
  risks to health and safety to which employees are exposed whilst they are at
  work.

The regulations also require that workplaces should be adequately thermally insulated which, although in most cases is a reference to retention of heat, could be construed in extreme environments as providing insulation from heat. Furthermore, regulations require that the excessive effects of sunlight on temperature must be avoided.

No upper limit of temperature is given, though, based on industry and HSE guidance, anything above 24°C is not regarded as comfortable.

SUN EXPOSURE

UV exposure can occur even on overcast days. Bear in mind that UV radiation is at its peak between 11am and 3pm and efforts should be concentrated at reducing exposure during these times.

Clothing can be purchased with sun protection factors assigned, although HSE’s general advice is that a fine weave will provide more protection than a loose weave. This should be taken into account when specifying corporate clothing for outdoor workers.

Sunglasses should be provided where needed to protect workers from the hazard of UV radiation. This is especially the case for those working around water or on snow. Ultraviolet light is intensified and potentially more damaging to the eyes and visual system when it is reflected off the surface of water or snow. Sun exposure has been connected with eye diseases including cataracts and macular degeneration, dry eyes, corneal growths and keratitis or sunburn to the cornea. Sunglasses provided for workers should meet BS EN ISO 12312-1:2022.

HEAT STRESS

To protect those working out of doors, employers need to consider, in their risk assessments, protection from the sun and whether workers need protection from heat stress.

Heat stress is not only a risk to outdoor workers but also to workers within high temperature workplaces, such as those involving hot industrial processes or where the space is unventilated and naturally accumulates heat, e.g. in attics. It is also a concern where work is strenuous and involves wearing protective clothing and for outdoor workers in hot environments. Where the environment has a high humidity, there is an increased risk of heat stress.

What is Heat Stress?

Heat stress occurs when the body is forced to work hard to control its core temperature. This can occur when:

• Sweat
  evaporation is restricted by the type of clothing and / or the humidity of the
  environment
• Heat
  will be produced within the body due to the work rate and, if insufficient heat
  is lost, core body temperature will rise
• Core
  body temperature rises causes the body to react by increasing the amount of
  sweat produced, which may lead to dehydration
• Heart
  rate also increases which puts additional strain on the body
• If
  the body is gaining more heat than it can lose the deep body temperature will
  continue to rise
• Eventually
  it reaches a point when the body’s control mechanism itself starts to fail

As deep body temperature rises, the body reacts by increasing the amount of sweat produced, which may lead to dehydration. The heart rate increases placing additional strain on the body. Eventually it reaches a point when the body’s control mechanism starts to fail. Typical symptoms are:

• An
  ability to concentrate
• Muscle
  cramps
• Heat
  rash
• Severe
  thirst – a late symptom of heat stress
• Fainting
• Heat
  exhaustion – fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, clammy skin
• Heat
  stroke – hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions, and eventual loss of
  consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in permanent
  brain damage or death if not detected at an early stage

Treatment of the early symptoms, by removing the individual to a cool environment, it is essential to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

If managers are worried that an employee is showing signs of excessive stress, they should encourage them to see the GP, or refer them to the organisation’s occupational health service where available.

Risk-assessing Heat Stress

When carrying out a risk assessment, the first aspect of the assessment is to understand the degree of hazard involved. The factors that need to be considered are the:

• Air temperature – this is the temperature of the air surrounding the body
• Radiant heat – thermal radiation is the heat that radiates from a warm object and can be present even if there are no heat sources. Radiant temperature has a greater influence over air temperature on how we lose or gain heat from the environment. Examples of radiant heat are sun, fire, ovens, molten metals, and dryer machinery.
• Air velocity –  the speed at which air moves across the employee to keep them cool, if the air is cooler than the environment. Instances where air velocity is an important factor to thermal comfort include still or stagnant air in an indoor environment that is artificially heated, which can feel stuffy. Also phycisal activity increase air movement, so air velocity may be corrected to account for a person’s level of physical activity.
• Humidity – when water is heated and evaporates into the surrounding environment, the resulting amount of water in the air will provide humidity. Relative humidity is the actual amount of water vapour in the air and the maximum amount of water vapour that the air can hold at that air temperature. Relative humidity between 40% and 70% does not have a major impact on thermal comfort. In workplaces which are not air conditioned, or where the weather conditions outdoors may influence the indoor thermal environment, relative humidity may be higher than 70%. Humidity in indoor environments can vary greatly and may be dependant on whether there are drying processes (paper mills, laundry etc) where steam is given off. High humidity environments have a lot of vapour in the air, which prevents the evaporation of sweat from the skin. In hot environments, humidity is important because less sweat evaporates when humidity is high (80%+). The evaporation of sweat is the main method of heat reduction. When non-breathable vapour-impermeable personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn, the humidity inside the garment increases as the wearer sweats because the sweat cannot evaporate. If an employee is wearing this type of PPE (e.g. asbestos or chemical protection suits etc) the humidity within the PPE will be high.
• Levels of physical work – the more physical work a person does, the more heat they will produce. The more heat produced; the more heat needs to be lost so they don’t overheat. The impact of metabolic rate on thermal comfort is critical. A persons physical characteristics should always be borne in mind when considering their thermal comfort, as factors such as their size and weight, age, fitness level and sex can all have an impact on how they feel, even if other factors such as air temperature, humidity and air velocity are all constant.
• Clothing insulation – the amount and type of clothing being worn (impervious clothing impedes heat loss and is said to cause heat stress at temperatures as low as 21°C if activities are strenuous). Wearing too much clothing or PPE may be a primary cause of heat stress even if the environment is not considered warm or hot. It is important to identify how the clothing contributes to thermal comfort or discomfort. By periodically evaluating the level of protection provided by existing PPE and evaluating newer types of PPE it may be possible to improve the level of thermal comfort. Where PPE is uncomfortable it will also encourage workers to remove them and therefore change the risk of exposure or protection from hazards – which would be a detrimental consequence.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Actions that an employer can introduce to help manage working in the sun and heat include:

• Scheduling
  indoor jobs for the middle of the day and outdoor tasks to the start and end,
  to avoid peak exposures
• Rotating
  staff to limit exposure times
• Providing
  shelter either for the work or, where not practicable, for breaks
• Encouraging
  or requiring staff to cover up and wear sunglasses
• Providing
  hats that shade the neck, face and ears
• Providing
  SPF 15+ sunscreen
• Include
  sun exposure and heat stress within risk assessments as appropriate to the work
• Consult
  with workers when undertaking risk assessments and before introducing new ways
  of working
• Provide
  cool drinking water and encourage workers to drink plenty of water regularly to
  prevent dehydration
• Increase
  the number of rest breaks in cool / shaded locations. Av cooled rest area may
  be required indoors
• Ensure
  that contractors are also aware of the risks and are taking preventative
  actions
• Give
  sun protection / heat stress advice to staff and managers
• Take
  account of sun and heat stress risks in first aid provisions
• Consider
  the risks of heat stress when selecting clothing and PPE
• Take
  action to reduce exposure to a safe level, e.g. by the timing of work, managing
  exposure times, providing shelter
• Provide
  training for your workers, especially new and young employees telling them
  about the risks of heat stress associated with their work, what symptoms to
  look out for, safe working practices and emergency procedures
• Defining
  safe systems of work and training managers and staff in them (in industries
  with a significant heat stress issue these should ve based on medical
  assessment and advice)

Actions that an employee can introduce to help manage working in the sun and heat include:

The HSE has produced a sun protection six-point code for workers:

• Keep
  your top on so you do not expose unprotected areas; clothing forms a barrier to
  the suns harmful rays, especially tightly woven fabrics
• Wear
  a hat with a brim or flap that covers the back of the neck and ears to avoid
  sunburn
• Stay
  in the shade whenever possible, especially at lunchtime
• Use
  a high factor sunscreen of at least factor SPF15 on exposed skin. Apply as
  directed on the product
• Drink
  plenty of water to avoid dehydration
• Check
  your skin regularly for unusual spots or moles that may have changed. See a
  doctor immediately if you see anything that has changed in shape, size, colour,
  or is itching or bleeding
• Remember:
  those with pale skin, freckles, moles, a family history of skin cancer or those
  who work outdoors have increased risks of skin damage
• Ensuring
  they behave responsibly to themselves and others to minimise pressures and
  demands
• Reporting
  concerns to their line manager
• Request
  welfare meetings – to have opportunities to express any concerns
• Considering
  opportunities for counselling when recommended
• Ensuring
  they are meaningfully involved in the stress risk assessment process
• Seeking
  advice from Human Resources, Occupational Health, or their GP when needed
• Being
  supportive of their colleagues as far as they are able

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

From October 2023 until March 2024, the HSE will be inspecting manufacturing businesses that use metalworking fluids or coolants in their machining processes.

Inspectors will be focussed on how employers are ensuring workers are protected from exposure to fluid or mist generated by computer numerical control (CNC) machines and that regular health checks are in place.

There are 3 areas where manufacturing companies, particularly smaller companies, commonly fall down on compliance:

• Not having Local Exhaust Ventilation
  (LEV)
• Not completing regular fluid quality
  checks
• Not providing regular health checks
  for lung and skin conditions

Be prepared for inspection

Metalworking fluid is a hazardous substance that comes under COSHH regulations (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002).

Exposure to metalworking fluids can cause harm to lungs and skin through inhalation or direct contact with unprotected skin; particularly hands, forearms, and face. Breathing in the mist generated by machining can lead to lung diseases such as occupational asthma and occupational hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

To reduce exposure, you need control measures in place. LEV should be fitted on CNC machines to carry away any harmful metalworking fluid mist, which is difficult to see in normal lighting.

Fluid quality should be regularly checked, focusing on concentration, pH, bacteria, and contaminants. Fluids systems can become highly contaminated with harmful bacteria.

Where there is exposure to fluid or mist, it is a legal requirement to carry out health surveillance even when preventative controls are in place. You will need to involve an occupational health professional and workers should be encouraged to report any health symptoms that occur.

Some helpful links that will provide more information include:

• Metal Working
• Health
  Surveillance

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMISOH OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

Around 12,000 people die every year in the UK from lung diseases linked to past exposure to hazardous substances at work.    Wood dust can cause serious health problems. It can cause asthma, which carpenters and joiners are four times more likely to get compared with other UK workers. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 require that you protect workers from the hazards of wood dust. Hardwood dust can cause cancer, particularly of the nose.  Settled dust contains the fine particles that are most likely to damage the lungs.  HSE Inspectors are visiting woodworking businesses across Great Britain to ensure duty holders know the risks associated with woodworking, including wood dust, and have adequate controls in place to keep workers safe and protect their health.  They will be looking for evidence that employers have considered the control measures required to reduce workers’ exposure to wood dust; workers understand that exposure to wood dust can damage their long-term respiratory health; and that adequate and effective control measures are in place to protect workers from harm.   Full guidance on Health & Safety in the Woodworking Industry can be found here, but below is a brief overview:     Both hardwood and softwood dusts have a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) which must not be exceeded. ·       The WEL for hardwood dust is 3mg/m3 (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average). ·       The WEL for softwood dust is 5mg/m3 (based on an 8-hour time-weighted average). ·       For mixtures of hardwood and softwood dusts the WEL for hardwood dust of 3mg/m3 applies to all wood dusts present in that mixture. Adequate control of wood dust is achieved when: ·       The eight principles of good control practice are applied as set out in Schedule 2A of COSHH. ·       Exposure is below the relevant WEL; and ·       Exposure is reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. ·       Provide dust extraction (also known as local exhaust ventilation or LEV) at woodworking machines to capture and remove dust before it can spread. ·       Ensure LEV has been examined by a competent person within the last 14 months and you have also considered if DSEAR is applicable to your business.  The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (DSEAR) (hse.gov.uk) Safe collection of wood waste: Prevention of fire and explosion wis32(rev1) (hse.gov.uk) ·       As breathing in wood dust can cause asthma, it is important for businesses to identify any health effects early. This can be done by having a suitable health surveillance programme in place. Health surveillance would cover areas such as respiratory and audiometry although various other testing maybe required based on the hazards associated with your processes. ·       Be sure to consider new starters before exposure, or within 6 weeks to provide a baseline. ·       Schedule ongoing testing, normally on an annual basis, but take advice from your occupational health professional. ·       Maintain employees’ health records and promote reporting of symptoms between testing. ·       Where you need to use RPE you should: select the right mask and cartridge ensure it fits properly by having it ‘face fitted’, and by being clean shaven, look after it / change it regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. ·       Ensure a clean working environment is maintained using an M Class vacuum – never brush or use compressed air ·       Ensure you review the materials you are using for example there may be a potential for the release of formaldehyde or other binders when working with some MDF products, although provided it is sourced from a reputable UK/EU supplier it should be at low levels. https://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/faq-mdf.htm ·       Some woods are also classed as “toxic” ensure you have the correct management controls in place to manage this in your business. ·       Ensure an inspection schedule is in place to ensure machine guarding is utilised and is in good working order, being used by all operators Inspectors will be considering other things, such as braking, tooling, working at height and transport, so be sure to have these issues well considered and documentation up to date.   What are the HSE Inspectors typically looking for? Find out here

Written by Daniel Prosser, MSc CMIOSH OSHCR
Safety, Health and Wellbeing Professional

LinkedIn

You must ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations as a business owner. A failure to comply may result in severe fines and penalties, as well as creating an unsafe working environment.

It is important to be aware of a few key things in order to keep your business compliant.

• You must have a comprehensive health and safety policy in place. This policy should outline the specific measures you take to protect your workers and the consequences for violating the policy. You should ensure that all of your employees know the procedure and understand their roles in upholding it.
• You need to ensure that your workplace is free from hazards. This means regularly assessing the workspace and taking steps to address any potential risks.
• You should also provide your employees with proper safety training and equipment to safely perform their duties.
• Finally, you must have procedures for dealing with incidents and accidents. This includes documenting all incidents, investigating their causes, and taking appropriate corrective action.

Following these steps can help keep your workplace safe and compliant with health and safety regulations.

What Is Health and Safety Compliance?

Health and safety compliance refers to following the rules and regulations related to health and safety in the workplace. Among these are wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), using safe work practices, and understanding emergency procedures. Compliance is important because it helps to protect workers from injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. In addition, it helps to create a safe and efficient work environment.

By following health and safety procedures, businesses can avoid liability issues, reduce insurance costs, and improve employee morale. When everyone understands and complies with the health and safety guidelines, it benefits everyone involved.

The Benefits of Health and Safety Compliance

Compliance with health and safety standards offers a wealth of benefits for businesses, employees and customers. Perhaps most importantly, compliance helps ensure employees’ safe working environment. Companies can help protect their workers from serious injuries by minimising potential risks and hazards. In turn, this can lead to increased productivity and morale and reduced absenteeism and turnover. Compliance with health and safety standards also helps businesses avoid costly fines and lawsuits.

Furthermore, it can improve their reputation and make them more attractive to prospective customers and clients. In today’s increasingly competitive marketplace, those seen as being committed to the health and safety of their employees are likely to have an advantage over those not. Ultimately, compliance with health and safety standards is good for businesses, employees, and customers.

How To Achieve Health and Safety Compliance

Compliance with health and safety standards is essential for any business. However, it can be challenging to know where to start. Therefore, all companies should take a few key steps to ensure compliance:

1. Assess the risks associated with your specific business and industry. This will help you to identify the areas where compliance is most important.
2. Develop policies and procedures to address these risks.
3. Ensure that all employees know these policies and procedures and understand their role in maintaining compliance.
4. Regularly monitor compliance levels and make changes as necessary.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your business is meeting all relevant health and safety standards.

The Consequences of Not Achieving Health and Safety Compliance

The consequences of not achieving health and safety compliance can be significant. Fines and penalties are common, and businesses that do not follow regulations can be closed down. Additionally, employees who are injured or become sick due to unsafe working conditions may sue the company for damages. This can lead to substantial financial losses and damage to the reputation of a business.

Finally, the individuals responsible for health and safety compliance may also be personally liable. Therefore, businesses must ensure that they comply with all relevant regulations.

How To Develop a Health and Safety Compliance Plan

Every business should develop a health and safety compliance plan. Understanding the relevant regulations is the first step in developing this plan. Next, to ensure the safety of their workplace, companies should establish policies and procedures to ensure compliance. Training employees on safety protocols is also essential to ensuring workplace safety.

Companies can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries by letting employees know the hazards at work and how to protect themselves. Lastly, companies should regularly inspect their workplace for hazards and take steps to correct any conditions that may be hazardous. In taking these steps, businesses can ensure a safe working environment for their employees and help avoid costly legal penalties.

What Is a Health and Safety Compliance Plan, and Why Do You Need One?

The health and safety compliance plan is a document that outlines a company’s policies and procedures for ensuring a safe workplace. The plan should be tailored to the company’s and its employees’ particular needs and should be reviewed and updated regularly. Incorporating a health and safety compliance plan can result in various benefits. 

• First, it can help managers and employees communicate more effectively about issues related to health and safety. 
• The second benefit is that it provides a framework for identifying and reducing potential workplace hazards. Finally, promoting a shared commitment to safety can also improve the overall safety culture in the company. 
• Overall, a well-crafted health and safety compliance plan can protect employees from injury and illness and lower workers’ compensation claims and related costs.

Developing a Health and Safety Compliance Plan

Every business must comply with health and safety regulations. A health and safety compliance plan describes the policies and procedures that should be in place to comply with these regulations. Identifying potential hazards through a compliance plan and taking steps to mitigate these risks is possible. Business owners can protect their employees and create a safe and productive workplace by developing a comprehensive health and safety compliance program.

Businesses must follow health and safety regulations to ensure the safety of their employees. A health and safety compliance program can provide companies with several advantages, including reduced insurance costs, increased productivity, and reduced liability. However, complying with health and safety regulations can seem complicated. A professional can assist in making this task easier. Businesses must safeguard their employees by complying with health and safety regulations. Failing to do so can have serious repercussions. 

Are you looking for more information on achieving health and safety compliance? Contact us today for more details.

Do you believe that health and safety are not essential aspects of the workplace? If so, think again. Occupational health and safety advisors ensure the health and safety of employees. In addition, they develop policies and procedures to prevent injuries, illnesses, and accidents.

Health and Safety Advisors (Health and Safety Advisers) are professionals who assist organisations in maintaining healthful and safe work environments. They provide employees and employers with safety advice, training, and support.

Health and Safety Advisors play a crucial role in helping ensure that workplaces are safe and that employees are aware of the risks associated with their job. Health and Safety Advisors typically have a background in safety management. As a result, they must understand complex safety information and communicate this information in a way that is easy for employees to understand.

Health and Safety Advisors typically work with a range of organisations, including local authorities, the construction industry, environmental health bodies, safety consultancies and manual handling specialists. They may also be employed by large companies or work as self-employed safety consultants. In short, a Health and Safety Advisor is responsible for promoting and ensuring safety in the workplace (e.g. occupational safety).

This includes creating and implementing up to date health and safety policies, investigating accidents and incidents, conducting risk assessments, and providing training to employers. If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a Health and Safety Adviser or safety consultant, keep reading to learn more about the role and the skills you need to succeed.

Health and Safety Advisor Responsibilities

• Promote and ensure safety in the workplace.

As a Health and Safety Advisor, you’re responsible for helping to keep your company safe for everyone who works there. This includes developing programs to prevent injuries, conducting inspections of equipment and building structures, investigating accidents and incidents, providing training about health and safety dangers, addressing unsafe work behaviours or other concerns. You’ll also take steps to make sure that your workplace complies with all relevant local regulations regarding safety procedures.

• Create policies related to health and safety industry issues within the organisation.

Developing health and safety policies and guidance is one of the key responsibilities of a Health and Safety Advisor. Your policies should be made available to employees at all times and should be regularly reviewed. It’s essential to make sure that they’re comprehensive enough to cover general safety concerns and specific hazards in the workplace.

• Investigate accidents and incidents, conduct risk assessments, and provide training for employees

In the course of your work as a Health and Safety Advisor, you’ll investigate any accidents or injuries that occur within the organisation. You’ll also review danger reports to determine possible risks that need addressing. If necessary, you’ll recommend changes to build structures, equipment, operations procedures or other areas of concern to eliminate hazards. As part of your role at an organisation, you’ll provide relevant training so that employees know what behaviours can keep them safe on the job.

Safety Qualifications Health and Safety Professionals Need

There aren’t specific degree-level qualifications required to work as a health and safety advisor. That being said, you should have a solid understanding of workplace safety legislation and health and safety laws and be committed to learning more about the latest industry trends. It’s helpful if you have a strong knowledge of health and safety regulations in your area or within your industry. You should also be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills. Safety advisers should have excellent customer service skills. They must investigate accidents, incidents and near misses, keep records of these incidents and write reports.

• Educated in occupational health and safety

You don’t need an advanced degree to become a Health and Safety Advisor. If you’re already qualified as an occupational health and safety professional, then that’s all the training that you’ll need. However, if your experience is more generalised, you might consider completing a program designed for professionals who are new to the field of OHS. Such courses will provide information about relevant legislation governing workplace health and safety methods for conducting risk assessments. You’ll also learn how to educate employees about hazards in the workplace so that they can take preventative action.

• Familiarity with risk management practices

Successful Health and Safety Advisors need to be familiar with various risk management practices to determine how best to deal with health and safety concerns within their organisation. For example, you’ll need to know about hazard identification and control, incident investigation techniques, accident analysis. This will enable you to accurately identify the root cause of accidents or injuries in your workplace.

• Skilled at communicating

As a Health and Safety Advisor, you’ll spend much of your time training employees about important health and safety hazards that they might not necessarily be aware of or fully understand.

You’ll also play an important role in investigating incidents, so it’s critical that you’re able to communicate effectively with everyone involved—your employer, employees who were involved in the incident or suffered an injury.

Comfortable with conflict resolution Disagreements about health and safety issues can sometimes arise among employees or between employees and management. As a Health and Safety Advisor, you’ll need to handle these types of conflicts professionally so that they don’t escalate into more significant problems. Resolving such issues quickly will help ensure the continuation of a positive work environment for everyone involved.

• Detail-oriented 

Many health and safety incidents can be caused by small details that were overlooked or ignored. As such, a Health and Safety Advisor needs to remain detail-oriented in order to identify these issues early on. Attention to detail will also help you while conducting incident investigations—if you’re not careful, you could miss something important!

• Good time management skills

Health and Safety Advisors need to be good at managing their time since they often have multiple responsibilities throughout the day. You might often find yourself balancing your time between performing risk assessments, communicating with employees about health and safety concerns and investigating incidents. In addition to doing all of this work quickly and efficiently, you should make sure that it’s all completed in a timely manner.

• Organised

In addition to maintaining a level of detail while conducting investigations, Health and Safety Advisors should also be organised to avoid missing anything or losing track of important information. For example, you might have access to sensitive company information as well as personal health and safety details from employees, so it’s important to keep everything organised and secure at all times.

• Ability to work under pressure

As a member of management or leadership, you’ll often find yourself under pressure due to your multiple responsibilities. For example, you might need to address an emergency health and safety issue within your workplace immediately after completing another task, such as conducting a risk assessment. In each case, you should be able to remain calm and handle the situation in a timely manner.

• Accountable

Health and Safety Advisors must be held accountable since you’ll often have access or control over sensitive information about your employer or employees. Your actions will directly affect other people, so it’s essential that you always maintain a high level of accountability to avoid causing unnecessary harm or damage. This is especially true if you accidentally overlook any health and safety issues during risk assessments.

• Discreet

Being discreet as a Health and Safety Advisor is important because much of your work will involve private or personal employee information. You might also regularly deal with sensitive company information such as budgets and customer lists, so you shouldn’t share anything you shouldn’t be sharing.

• Good written and oral communication skills

Employees will often come to you with their health and safety concerns, and it’s your job to address them professionally. If you cannot communicate this information effectively or if an employee does not fully understand the situation, then a lack of resolution might lead to further problems down the line. To avoid such situations, it’s critical that you develop strong written and verbal communication skills since they’re essential for anyone working in management or leadership roles.

• Collaborative

As a Health and Safety Advisor, you should always try to collaborate with other employees when conducting risk assessments or dealing with any issues that arise from these assessments so that you can get multiple perspectives. Even if one person caused an issue, many other factors might have contributed to the situation—for example, another employee might not have checked that everything was safe before starting their shift which led to the problem. You should always try to consider all of these perspectives when dealing with health and safety issues so that your decisions are well-rounded.

• Ability to work under pressure

As a Health and Safety Advisor, there will be times when you’ll need to act quickly to keep employees, customers or equipment safe. This often means that you won’t have time for much planning or preparation before doing something—you need to react, adapt and overcome the situation in real-time. Even your day-to-day tasks such as conducting risk assessments should be handled in a timely manner.

• Good decision-making skills

You might find that you’re required to make important decisions on behalf of your organisation, whether it’s related to health and safety or not. For example, you might need to choose a supplier for a new piece of equipment, affecting all other areas of business operations. You should always try to gather as much information as possible before making a decision so that you have the knowledge necessary to make an informed choice—if you cannot solve the problem yourself, then seek advice from someone else with the relevant expertise involved.

• Creative

A Health and Safety Advisor needs to be creative since there are a number of different things that a Health and Safety Advisor might have to do from one day to the next. You’ll have to think outside of the box to solve problems or overcome challenges, so having a creative mindset is important.

• Good at multitasking

Since you might have many different projects going on simultaneously as a Health and Safety Advisor, being good at multitasking is key. You need to be able to remain organised and focused enough to don’t lose track of what needs your attention most urgently while also being attentive enough to understand why a given individual has brought up a particular health and safety concern.

• Respectful towards others

Being respectful towards other people is essential when working with employees, customers and suppliers. Maintaining good relationships is always helpful since they’ll be more willing to work with you if they like or understand you. No one wants to get on the bad side of their Health and Safety Advisor since that could lead to a number of problems down the line in terms of conducting business effectively.

• Unbiased

It’s important for a Health and Safety Advisor to remain unbiased since they need to consider all health and safety concerns without favouring any specific group of people. Even if a certain individual caused an issue, it’s not your job to punish them—instead, try to find out what happened so that you can prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Your aim should always be to improve health and safety standards, not to blame or punish people.

• Able to work on own initiative

You might find yourself with many responsibilities as a Health and Safety Advisor, which means that you’ll have a lot on your plate from day-to-day. To stay productive, you need to be able to work on your own initiative to handle everything required by the organisation effectively. Even if someone else has been assigned the task of carrying out a certain assignment, it’s still important for you to follow up since there might be additional steps involved or information required before they can start working properly.

• Good at public speaking

At some point as a Health and Safety Advisor, you’ll probably be called upon to speak in front of an audience to train staff about health and safety measures. This means that you’ll need to feel comfortable speaking in public so that you can give a professional presentation without becoming too nervous or anxious. If necessary, try practising in front of a mirror so that you know what it will look like when someone is recording your presentation or taking notes.

Safety advisers work

Health and Safety Advisors play a crucial role in the working environment of any organisation, ensuring that everyone is safe. If you want to be successful in your new career as a Health and Safety Advisor, it’s important to take the time to learn about how this profession operates so that you can start making an impact right away. When working with employees or customers, always remain respectful while maintaining good relationships at all times. You’ll need to have a creative mindset, which means thinking outside of the box when solving problems or overcoming challenges.

If you’re looking for a new and exciting career, becoming a Health and Safety Advisor could be the perfect next role for you. This profession is essential for any organisation, ensuring that everyone is safe at all times. To be successful in this field, it’s important to take the time to learn about how it operates so that you can start making an impact right away. When working with employees or customers, always remain respectful while maintaining good relationships at all times.

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