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Health and Safety |
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The HSE
and the Cleaning Industry are working in partnership through the
Cleaning Industry Liaison Forum (CILF). The Forum
comprises representatives from trade associations, trade unions
and key industry stakeholders who have agreed a priority plan.
HSE has a specific section of its website specifically for the
cleaning industry.
Click Here
for more information |
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HSE’s
new cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI), will come
into force on Monday (1 October).
Under The
Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, those who break
health and safety laws are liable for recovery of HSE’s related
costs, including inspection, investigation and taking
enforcement action.
The many
businesses that comply with their legal obligations will
continue to pay nothing.
In
addition, practical advice, tools and case studies for
controlling common risks and ensuring compliance with health and
safety law can be found in the
Health and Safety Toolbox
on HSE’s website
Detailed guidance for businesses and organisations is available
on HSE’s website along with operational guidance for inspectors
such as dealing with multiple dutyholders.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/hse-ffi-begins.htm
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Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) Change - 6 April 2012
As of 6
April 2012, RIDDOR’s over-three-day injury reporting requirement
has changed. The trigger point has increased from over three
days’ to over seven days’ incapacitation (not counting the day
on which the accident happened).
Incapacitation means that the worker is absent or is unable to
do work that they would reasonably be expected to do as part of
their normal work. Employers and others with
responsibilities under RIDDOR must still keep a record of all
over-three day-injuries – if the employer has to keep an
accident book, then this record will be enough.
The deadline by which the over-seven-day injury must be reported
has also increased to fifteen days from the day of the accident.
A new leaflet Reporting accidents and incidents at work[1]
explains the change.
Click Here |
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"Safe use of portable ladders and water-fed Pole Systems " DVD |
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Safe
use of portable ladders and waterfed pole systems is
the title of a new
Safety training DVD. It shows the
importance of a thorough inspection of the site and of the
equipment. Moreover the importance of safety in securing
the ladder and its correct use….with an emphasis on the
potential consequences. Waterfed
poles - Traditionally, window cleaners have used all manner of
ladders and platforms to reach the higher windows, but the
introduction of new technology and the Working At Height
Regulations in 2005 have shown us that if it’s not essential to
work at height…then don’t!
Using telescopic poles might seem like the ultimate
solution, but they’re not without their dangers. In this
short video, we’ll aim to show you how to get the most out of
your water-fed pole system and how to keep you and the people
around you safe.
Available from the Federation at a price of
£10.00 for Members - £25.00 for Non-Members.
Click Here to email your order, or call: 0161 432 8754 |
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"Cleaning
Windows Safely" - Accredited Training Course |
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A one-day IOSH
accredited Safety Course covering both the use of
Water fed poles and portable ladders. Written by window
cleaners for window cleaners. No nonsense - hands on
practical and theory course with an IOSH accreditation at the end.
Giving you an industry recognised qualification for the price of £135.00
plus vat for members; and £185.00 plus vat for Non-members.
Click Here
for
more information on training courses
Click Here
to
email your booking.
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"Risk Assessment" -
Accredited Training Course
for Window Cleaners |
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This one-day IOSH
accredited Health and Safety Course is aimed at everyone within
the window and specialist cleaning industry and specifically
self-employed, employees, supervisors, managers and safety
officers. For more on this course
Click Here |
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What is a Health and Safety Policy?
A health and safety policy sets out your
general approach and objectives (your vision) and the
arrangements you have put in place for managing health and
safety in your business. It is a unique document that says who
does what, when and how. It shows your staff, and others, your
commitment to health and safety and simply describes how you
will implement and monitor your health and safety controls.
Click Here
for Example Health and
Safety Policy
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What
is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in
your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up
whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to
prevent harm.
Click Here for
Risk-Assessment Template
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Further information and advice on risk assessment can be found
at:www.hse.gov.uk/risk
Safety
in Window Cleaning Using Waterfed Pole Systems and Portable
Ladders |
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In recent years many window cleaners have
adopted the use of waterfed pole systems that facilitate the
cleaning of windows up to 60ft/20 metres high from ground
level. Avoiding the need to work at height is an obvious
immediate attraction; however, there are various considerations
to be taken into account.
Click Here For full guidance on this. |
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HSE Shattered Lives Campaign - Are you height aware?
Last year 45 workers died
following a fall from height and 3750 were seriously
injured. Reducing this unnecessary injury toll is a
priority and Shattered Lives is the HSE's latest
campaign. Find out what happens when workers are put
at risk and what you can do to stop falls from
height in your workplace by
Clicking here
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This Health and Safety section contains
awareness articles: either click the relevant link or:
Click Here
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Don’t
let a dodgy ladder shatter your life.
Falls from height
continue to be the main cause of death in the
workplace and one of the main causes of serious
injury. Around a third of all 'falls
from height' accidents are as a result of a fall
from a ladder
The Ladder Exchange
campaign 2012 is a scheme
which allows "dodgy" ladders
to trade them in for new
ones at a discount.
2012 is the Exchange's sixth
year and runs from 1st
September until 30th
November, during which time
any ladder user can trade
their ladder in at a local
ladder exchange trade-in
partner. Further detials on
the scheme can be found at
www.ladderexchange.co.uk
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Take a look at the guidance on
ladder safety |
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Access the STEP tool to learn more about managing slip and
trip risks:
Click Here |
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Top Tips
for Ladder and Stepladder Safety [38KB - PDF Format]
Click
the image to view
This
toolbox
talk
[307KB -
PDF format] is to help ladder users recognise the risks and work
safely. This is supported by a
pocket
card
[38KB -
PDF format], which provides useful information on safe ladder
use in a handy size for users to keep with them
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The Work at Height
Regulations 2005
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 [92KB - PDF Format] This link takes you to the
detailed article describing the work at height regulations that
came into force on the 6th of April 2005.
Click the image
to view
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Ladders are not banned – but they should be used
sensibly
Click the
image
to view the HSE Press Release |
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Using Access Equipment Safely in building maintenance
This leaflet is mainly aimed at employers, so they can make
sure their workers have the right skills and experience to use
access equipment safely and to identify gaps in knowledge and
decide what level of supervision is required, or where a worker
may need some training. There are sections covering
specific pieces of access equipment, from ladders to cherry
pickers.
Click the image to view |
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