12 Oct October

In this month’s newsletter we cover the following:

• Working with metalworking fluids – The mist produced during machining is harmful to workers health when inhaled. LEV should be fitted to CNC machines where operators are exposed to mist. Water-mix metalworking fluid, or white water, stays in the machine and deteriorates over time. It becomes contaminated and bacteria may start to grow. Poor fluid quality also affects the performance of the machine and the quality of the parts. To maintain safe and effective fluids, you need to regularly check and correct concentration, pH, and bacteria levels.
• Common misconceptions around working at height – Have the HSE have banned the use of ladders on building sites? No, this isn’t the case. Ladders and stepladders can be a sensible and practical option. They can be used for work at height when the use of other work equipment is not justified because of the low risk and short duration (short duration means working on a ladder for no more than 30 minutes at a time); or when there are existing workplace or site features which cannot be altered.
• Manchester company director fined after obstructing HSE investigation – At North Staffordshire Magistrates Court on 24 August, Amro Construction Ltd of The Junction, Rolls Crescent, Hulme, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,587. David John Taylor of Clarendon Street, Hulme, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 33(1)(h) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,935. Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Rob Gidman said: “This type of proactive prosecution should highlight to the construction industry that HSE will not hesitate to prosecute companies for repeated breaches of the law, and that directors will also be prosecuted where they intentionally obstruct our inspectors.