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HSE opens asbestos consultation
Agency seeking views on proposals to enhance worker and public protection from exposure.
RICS offers insight paper on flooding and property
Paper focuses on growing challenges and responsibilities associated with flood risk across the UK.
United Infrastructure named Building a Safer Future Champion
Property services group recognised for outstanding commitment to safety leadership and culture.
Free flood risk tool launched
Property owners, developers and managers under increasing pressure to prepare for growing risks.
It’s getting hot in here
Or cold. Majority of office workers regularly find their workplace an uncomfortable temperature.
Gold medal for Atlas Workplace Services
RoSPA award follows five consecutive years of receiving top-level recognition.
RoSPA Gold for OCS utilities team
Tower painting contract takes third consecutive Gold Award for Health and Safety.
Sodexo team takes best-in-sector award
Health & Care team at Wythenshawe Hospital achieves double recognition.
BESA launches building safety research
Goal is to measure how well the MEP sector is adapting to the new building safety regime.
Aramark scoops RoSPA trophy
Aramark UK is the first foodservice and hospitality company to win the Sir George Earle Trophy.
EMCOR UK launches Health and Safety Academy
Jointly developed with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents , initiative will focus on training apprentices.
Safety Alliance offers golden thread tools
The Building Safety Alliance has published detailed guidance around the golden thread concept.
Fusion21 confirms suppliers on new framework
£800m framework covers building safety and compliance services.
Sodexo hauls in the RoSPA medals
Commitment to health and safety recognised with seven gold medals, four of which are President’s Awards.
Calls grow for men’s sanitary bins
March is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, heightening awareness of the need for bin access.
Clients ignoring building safety, says BESA
Construction clients are failing to engage with the new building safety regime, research finds.
Retrofitting: ventilation must be part of the plan
Building retrofit programmes to improve energy efficiency must also include appropriate ventilation, argues a new report.
Building Safety Act awareness rising
Awareness of implications growing across the building services sector.
BCC calls for minimum cleanliness standards
Industry body wants to see national rules for minimum standards in UK workplaces.
What exactly does ‘wellbeing’ mean?
Lack of an agreed definition is holding employers back from supporting workers better.
A false sense of safety?
Public trust in fire safety precautions may not always be well placed.
ISS partners with Totalmobile
Safety solution rolled out for the FM group’s lone and isolated frontline staff.
HSE spot checks: most businesses could fail
Lack of data proving that fixed and moveable assets are managed and maintained to required standards is too common.
New IAQ chair at BESA
Adam Taylor has been elected as chair of the Indoor Air Quality group of the Building Engineering Services Association.
H&S workloads never more demanding
New legislation and an increased focus on best practice are leading to more pressure on property and facilities managers.
Compliance: the key concern in building maintenance
Survey finds 70% of maintenance professionals saying that staying compliant is the most significant problem in their business.
New guidance to ‘revolutionise’ IAQ
BESA has launched a new specification for ventilation hygiene.
International safety award for Anabas
The corporate office FM specialist has secured the British Safety Council award for the second year in a row.
Building control deadline extended
New mandatory competence assessment deadline extended by 13 weeks.
FM crucial to better health
Custodians of indoor air quality will have a greater influence on human health and wellbeing than the medical professions.
Amulet partners for rail safety training
Amulet is the first security firm to partner with Rail Safe Friendly, a network dedicated to improving rail safety in schools.
Lone worker protection alerts surge
Growing risks and hostile environments are driving up the number of alerts.
Water: sensing technology takes a leap forward
Cambridge-based start-up Infersens has launched its first commercially available risk management and water waste solution.
New safety course for security and facilities staff
London Fire Brigade has created an online fire safety training package to equip service providers with greater knowledge.
BESA: every building is high risk
Against a background of changing regulations, that’s the way to think says the hard services trade group.
Stormy Britain: tips for buildings and grounds safety
Following 10 named storms in the UK in the 2023-24 season already and no doubt more to come, some timely advice.
HSE: new forward-looking asbestos campaign
Keep people safe from future dangers of asbestos, the regulator warns.
The mental health challenge in FM
Survey shows overwork is a major issue for the sector.
Compliance Group grows with ARA buy
The specialised water treatment services provider has become the latest business to join the group.
Novus marks wellbeing milestones
Novus Property Solutions is celebrating a trio of milestones in its campaign to support and improve wellbeing and health.
Security: mental health event announced
The event, the second this year, will address the stigma around mental health in the industry.
Building Safety Alliance looking for input
The cross-sector group is focusing on the building occupation phase and inviting input on golden thread tools.
Welcome for indoor air quality standard
The Building Engineering Services Association has praised the creation of the first British Standard for health and wellbeing in buildings.
OCS team pioneers MudCam
New system addresses legislative and safety concerns for construction sites and mitigates the multi-million-pound risks of site shutdowns.
Integral partners to deliver defibrillators
The hard services specialist is currently installing defibrillator units at 154 train stations.
Contractors charged following serious fire
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is prosecuting six companies for failing to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
PAC slams slow progress on Parliament refurb
The Public Accounts Committee laments that, after decades of broad consensus on the need for repairs and restoration, progress has been painfully slow.
VIVO links up with mental health charity
Marking the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, VIVO Defence Services has become a company supporter of Lighthouse.
International Workplace highly commended
The training and consultancy firm was recognised in the Safer Logistics category at the SHE Awards for its work with DPD.
SPIE UK in fire and security win
The hard services specialist has been appointed to provide fire and security maintenance services to Edinburgh Leisure.
EMCOR UK scoops RoSPA industry awards
The service provider has been named winner of the Facilities Management Industry Sector Award and Water Industry Sector Award.
Three selected for safetytech sandbox
Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall and Heathrow Airport will take part in the world’s first regulatory sandbox for industrial safetytech.
Maintenance challenges see costs rise
New research has revealed the extent to which maintenance issues can impact the smooth running of a facility.
Funds committed for delivery of building safety
Funding has been announced for recruitment and training of building control inspectors and fire inspectors working with the Building Safety Regulator.
International Workplace shortlisted for award
The learning specialist, along with its client DPD, has been shortlisted for the prestigious SHE Awards.
Growth opportunity for safety tech specialists
UK technology companies with game-changing safety tech products are being invited to get involved with a new Health & Safety Executive-backed initiative.
H&S sector calls on government to avoid deregulation
Seven top health and safety bodies have issued a ‘call to arms’ for the government to scrap the arbitrary deadlines of the EU Retained Law Bill.
Back pain trend rises with homeworking
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational illnesses, with back pain topping the list.
IWFM: update fire safety knowledge
With changes to fire safety starting to come into force from 23 January, the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management is urging the profession to get up to date.
Hybrid workers worry about indoor air quality
New research reveals more than half of UK hybrid workers are concerned poor air quality and ventilation will impact their health.
Asbestos: a problem for energy renovation plans
Extensive asbestos remediation work is still needed on more than 100,000 UK buildings, according to a new report.
SPIE gains Legionella accreditation
SPIE UK has secured ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for the management of Legionella risks.
Awareness day to champion ventilation
An international awareness campaign to promote the critical role of better building ventilation has been launched.
EHS software market grows
The environment, health and safety software market will continue to grow this year, in parallel with and potentially overlapping ESG activities.
Classroom air quality a 'national scandal'
The Building Engineering Services Association has described the state of indoor air quality in UK classrooms as “scandalous”.
BESA warns on critical fire damper safety issue
The Building Engineering Services Association has issued an urgent warning about a potential fire safety weakness in a large number of building ventilation systems.
Sodexo extends infection prevention partnership
The partnership delivers a successful Environment, Cleaning and Decontamination programme for professionals.
InferSens welcomes Governor of Queensland
The leading-edge AI and machine learning sensor technology business was recently visited by Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM.
Eurest and 14forty in charity donation
Compass Group’s workplace caterer and facilities management provider have donated £21,000 to Mental Health UK.
BESA backs ventilation change
The Building Engineering Services Association has thrown its weight behind a report calling for the imposition of higher ventilation standards.
Clean Air Day focus on building ventilation
June 16th is National Clean Air Day and the key role played by mechanical ventilation systems in making buildings safer and healthier will be a central theme.
RoSPA award for Sodexo’s April Harvey
April Harvey has been recognised for her role as health, safety and risk lead in the mobilisation of the first Covid quarantine facility and Covid-19 test centres.
Unions push for indoor air quality pledge
Trade unions and scientists want employers to sign a pledge to protect the health and wellbeing of their employees by improving workplace conditions.
Elior UK supporting allergy clinical trial
The contract caterer is backing The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation’s first clinical trial to help achieve its mission ‘to make allergies history’.
IOSH warns on asbestos
Any plans for the removal of asbestos from public and commercial buildings must include detailed information on how people will be protected and how it will be disposed of.
BESA launches ‘safe havens’ blueprint
New guidance from the Building Engineering Services Association will help owners and managers protect occupants from airborne health risks.
ISS celebrating awards success
The facilities services company has won a string of RoSPA awards and in catering there’s ‘rising star’ recognition.
Lift alert: report reveals impact of digital switch
As the UK telecoms network continues to evolve, the end of analogue telephone services is in sight. The future is fibre optic.
Airmec renews water safety deal
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust has awarded its water hygiene services contract to Airmec Essential Services.
BCC warns on staff burn-out
The British Cleaning Council reports worries that cleaning staff in healthcare, hospitality and other sectors are facing burn-out due to increased workloads.
Atalian Servest signs mental health commitment
Created by the charity Mind, the Mental Health at Work Commitment defines six fundamental standards for a business.
British Safety Council advises extra care
Employers should consider what extra precautions they should take in the run-up to Christmas, the council says.
HSE launches mental health campaign
Work-related stress and poor mental health risk becoming a health and safety crisis for Great Britain’s workplaces, the regulator has warned.
Sign blindness: the next post-Covid challenge
With more people making their way back to the workplace, academics and H&S experts are warning about ‘sign blindness’, a side-effect of over-exposure to new rules, warnings and safety notices.
Air quality: vacuuming makes a real difference
Against a background of growing concern about indoor air quality, one provider of sophisticated cleaning equipment launched research into whether vacuuming could be a ‘hidden’ weapon in the quality arsenal.
New air cleaning guidance from CIBSE
Two new pieces of guidance on reducing Covid-19 transmission through ventilation and air cleaning technologies have been issued by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.
BESA offers air quality guide
The removal of most Covid restrictions has increased calls for practical guidance and the setting of specific indoor air quality targets to support the health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Trade bodies call for caution
Two engineering services bodies have stepped up their health & safety advice with the arrival of ‘freedom day’.
BSC launches new Five Star Audit for 2021
The British Safety Council’s Five Star Occupational Health and Safety Audit has been revised and updated.
Call for urgent action on ventilation
Good ventilation in public buildings and on transport systems is essential to reducing the risk of Covid-19 and other infections, according to a new report from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Ventilation revolution needs funding
Public funding is urgently needed to ensure buildings benefit from improved awareness around mechanical ventilation systems and airborne disease risk.
BESA calls for new ventilation standards
The Building Engineering Services Association is supporting a campaign to have current building ventilation regulations completely rewritten.
9 in 10 fans want greater focus on safety
A survey of sports fans’ attitudes about returning to stadium-based events has uncovered both enthusiasm and concerns.
Corps to provide female staff with free security protection
Corps Security is giving all its female employees free personal security protection to keep them safe following a rise in concern around women’s safety.
Sodexo and IUF commit to H&S priorities
The group has joined a global trade union federation for workers throughout the food chain in signing a declaration of intent on health and safety.
Fire safety: government threatens unlimited fines
Building owners could face unlimited fines following new measures being brought in to strengthen fire safety.
Pinnacle to support Stoke-on-Trent testing
The facilities services company is to assist with a new Covid-19 testing initiative at a site it already manages.
Chief inspector of buildings named
The Health and Safety Executive has announced the appointment of Peter Baker to establish and lead the new Building Safety Regulator.
Majority do not feel safe in buildings
Over 70% of the UK workforce does not feel completely safe working in their employer’s buildings.
Businesses spending more on healthy buildings
An independent survey of more than 800 building decision-makers shows a clear shift to increased investment in healthy building trends and technologies.
HSE to lead Covid-19 research programme
The Health and Safety Executive study will focus on the transmission of the coronavirus in environments including workplaces, transport and other public settings.
BESA updates Covid H&S guidelines
The Building Engineering Services Association has published new guidance to help engineering and construction firms keep their staff safe in the light of new government restrictions.
Q3 buys disinfection business
Q3 Services has purchased the Channel Islands-based business Biofog Limited.
Compass names Totalmobile for safety initiative
The field service management software specialist has been selected to develop a mobile app to power Compass Group's digitised Safety Walks programme.
Covid-19: health and safety climb the agenda
The great pandemic work-from-home experiment has proved, broadly, a success. But a quarter of such workers express some concern about their mental wellbeing.
BSI publishes third update to Covid-19 guidance
The standards organisation has refreshed its 'single-source' safe working guidance, coupling it with a planned webinar on implementation.
Going up: BCO lift and escalator guidance
The British Council for Offices has published new guidance for the safe use of escalators and lifts, as the country begins to return to the workplace.
What future for face-to-face events?
Conferences, exhibitions and networking events have always been an important and popular feature of the FM scene. For many people, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed all that.
Return to work must be gradual, says CIPD
The Prime Minister's call for employers to begin bringing people back into the workplace in August has drawn another cautious response.
JLL to introduce cleaning certification
The property services group is collaborating with a leading inspection, testing and certification company to help building owners and occupiers confirm their spaces are clean and safe.
Mitie joins in Covid-19 testing pilot
The pilot, to evaluate the effectiveness of testing for people without symptoms of the virus who work in high-contact professions, is underway now.
Research into managing virus transmission funded
Design and engineering consultancy Arcadis has been awarded £50,000 to help in developing advice on the return to work.
Pest control: advice for FMs offered
National trade body the British Pest Control Association has issued a new guide to help facilities managers re-open premises as lockdown restrictions ease.
Amey launches C-19 innovation competition
The company's Bounceback Innovation Challenge aims to develop solutions that will help the industry better cope with challenges posed by the coronavirus.
Brabin scoops top safety award
Matthew Brabin, CEO at ISS UK & Ireland, has been named the Overall CEO Winner in the British Safety Council 2020 International Safety Awards.
Sodexo introduces hygiene verification
The group is partnering with Bureau Veritas, the testing, inspection and certification specialist, to introduce a hygiene verification label for its procedures and services.
Covid-19: free risk training app offered
The engineering services group Ramboll has launched an interactive training app to help businesses prepare for returning to the office.
Covid-19: mitigating water system risk
Two industry bodies have come together to offer guidance on the water safety issues involved in re-opening buildings after lockdown.
Engineering services bodies update C-19 guides
BESA and ECA have released a joint sector guide on work-related travel and updated their guides on working in close proximity and in areas of increased risk.
BSI publishes safe working guidelines
The UK's National Standards Body has published new safe working guidelines to help businesses manage the return to work and the reoccupation of their facilities.
Sodexo introduces new Medical Advisory Council
Sodexo is committing to a clinically-informed approach to the development of new protocols and standards, supported by the newly appointed council.
Sodexo supporting students' mental wellbeing
Sodexo has boosted its health and wellbeing commitment to students to include access to a purpose-designed, NHS-approved app.
Honeywell offers real-time 'healthy building' solution
With the prospect of a return to the workplace nearing a reality for many, support strategies of all shapes and sizes continue to emerge from product and service suppliers.
BESA warns on false claims
There is a lot of smoke and mirrors being used to drive demand for particular HVAC technologies in the Covid-19 crisis, according to the chair of an influential industry group.
Axis Group signs C-19 Business Pledge
The security, cleaning and front-of-house services provider is supporting the pledge's goal for businesses and universities to help employees, customers and the community during the pandemic.
Bellrock rolling out wellness app
The property and facilities management services company is deploying a new mobile app to track the health and wellbeing of its remote workforce during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.
Businesses urged to take caution with water supply
As many of the UK's businesses consider reopening their doors, the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme is encouraging them to consider the risks posed by their water systems sooner rather than later, to avoid health risks.
Churchill launches Covid symptom tracker
The soft services group has added a new app to its digital platform, designed to monitor signs and curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Corps launches thermal imaging service
Corps Security has joined the return-to-work services market with the introduction of new tools to support organisations as they look towards 'business as usual'.
Mitie offers post-lockdown guidance
As the lifting of some lockdown restrictions is reviewed by government, Mitie has published a return-to-work guide for facilities managers.
NJC launches coronavirus support hub
The independent cleaning and support services company has developed an online hub to share information in support of a return to the workplace.
Engineering groups issue site safety guides
Leading engineering services sector bodies BESA and ECA have jointly developed two new guides to help contractors to manage coronavirus-related issues on-site.
Churchill launches swab testing service
The soft services provider has developed a Covid-19 swab testing service to help organisations safely manage buildings and protect occupants pre- and post-lockdown.
Does coronavirus spell the end of hotdesking?
Workplace design experts are predicting the pandemic could prove a major challenge to the future of hotdesking.
Cleaners need access to testing, BCC says
The British Cleaning Council is calling for all cleaners to be included in the expanded first wave of testing for coronavirus for essential workers.
C&W launches post-covid recovery service
Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield has formed a Recovery Readiness Task Force to assist clients with post-covid-19 returns to the workplace.
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Sodexo offers virtual support for students in lockdown
The Student Living by Sodexo team has launched its residential living programme as a virtual service for students at Sodexo-managed university accommodation sites across the UK.
Coronavirus: IWFM offers advice
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management has published a round-up of advice for FMs faced with issues raised by covid-19.
Facilities Event postponed
The annual NEC event will be held in September, as it becomes the latest item on the FM calendar to be derailed by concerns around the coronavirus.
The health & safety traps in outsourcing
A new study by Cranfield University investigates the workplace safety and health challenges that arise specifically from outsourcing.
Coronavirus: MIPIM postponed
The property world's major European event, due to open on 10 March, has been rescheduled to June.
Calls for new safety regulator to have more power
As the board charged with implementing the new Building Safety Regulator meets and government begins to frame its legislation, a leading construction body has called for enhanced powers for the Regulator.
Fire safety consultation opens
The International Fire Safety Standards Coalition is seeking the views of industry experts on the development of the first global standard on fire safety.
Compass backs mental wellness programme
Compass Group UK & Ireland has joined forces with Hospitality Action to support the industry charity's major new mental health awareness programme.
OCS launches hidden disabilities initiative
The facilities services provider has introduced its new hidden disabilities initiative at centre:mk in Milton Keynes.
BESA working on new healthy building standard
The plan is to develop a new British Standard designed to establish performance benchmarks for healthier buildings.
Home Office opens fire safety consultation
The call for evidence seeks views and evidence on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for England in workplaces and the parts used in common in multi-occupied residential buildings.
ISS Ireland secures H&S accreditation
The facilities services group's Irish business has achieved ISO 45001:2018 accreditation, the international standard for occupational health & safety.
Sodexo prisons get five-star BSC rating
All five prisons operated by Sodexo have achieved the British Safety Council's integrated Five-Star Safety, Health and Environmental Audit.
Mental health guidance for employers offered
Mental Health First Aid England has launched best-practice guidance for employers on how to implement mental health first aid in the workplace.
Bin it, but be careful when you do
New research indicates that waste collection systems used throughout the UK could be causing significant long-term musculoskeletal issues for workers.
Parliament to focus on mental health in the workplace
Debate is expected today around the concept of mental health first aid in the workplace. This could be the start of significant change.
ISS takes top Irish safety award for third year
ISS Ireland has been awarded a Distinction for the third year running at the National Irish Safety Organisation Safety Awards, presented last month.
100% Hackitt campaign launched
An industry initiative to encourage the government to deliver all of the recommendations contained in Dame Judith Hackitt's report has been launched with the backing of two key industry bodies.
Hackett worries about another Grenfell
The author of an independent review into fire safety and building regulations has warned it is impossible to rule out another "catastrophic event" like the Grenfell Tower tragedy if changes aren't made to the regulatory system.
Global response to need for fire safety standards
More than 30 organisations from around the world have joined a project to develop landmark industry standards to address fire safety in buildings.
Safety experts criticise lack of action following Grenfell
Marking the anniversary of the tragic fire, the safety community has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister stating that the need for action is now urgent.
Call for combustible cladding moratorium
The Construction Industry Council, the broad-based group for built environment professionals, is calling for an industry-imposed moratorium on the use of combustible materials in high-rise cladding systems.
BIFM plans fire safety accreditation
The British Institute of Facilities Management has announced plans to develop a new certified accreditation and a suite of training courses for facilities managers in charge of life safety in buildings.
Industry bodies largely positive on Hackitt Review
The Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, initiated in response to the Grenfell tragedy, reached a culmination with the publishing of its final report last week.
Salisbury Group scoops innovation award
The FM services provider has been named winner of the Outstanding Innovation category at the 2018 Global Business Excellence Awards.
Meeting the H&S challenge in the Middle East
It is World Day for Safety and Health at Work this Saturday, which may be fairly incongruous given that most of us will be relaxing at home; but is an important date in the H&S calendar nonetheless. Alex Davies reports from Abu Dhabi.
IOSH welcomes launch of ISO 45001
The new global standard for health and safety has been labelled a "landmark" that will encourage "much-needed solutions" by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Campaign focuses on air pollution in construction
The construction industry group The Considerate Constructors Scheme has launched a campaign aimed at reducing poor air quality after a survey revealed that nearly two-thirds of respondents feel the industry is not doing enough on this issue.
New global health and safety standard due
ISO 45001, the new international standard for occupational safety and health, is set to be published in March.
Mitie lands highways safety deal
The group's security business has been awarded a two-year contract with Highways England to provide up to 50,000 road workers with a health & safety passport.
Roof safety: tell us how you handle it
Safety is a critical aspect of all facilities management policy and practice, of course, but nowhere more so than on a building's roof. Heights, edges, tripping hazards: it's a dangerous place up there. So what's the best solution?
IW shortlisted for Learning Technologies Award
The training and consultancy business International Workplace has been confirmed as a finalist at the Learning Technologies Awards 2017 for the latest version of its bestselling online health and safety course.
Grenfell inquiry must be fire safety "watershed": IOSH
The Grenfell Tower public inquiry must be "a watershed for fire safety", the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has declared.
LGA demands building regs review
The Local Government Association has called on central government to launch an "urgent and immediate" review of building regulations.
Open letter to PM draws widespread support
More than 700 organisations and individuals have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May challenging health and safety deregulation in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze.
IOSH reports steep rise in H&S fines
The largest UK fines for health and safety incidents have increased substantially in the past year, according to new research.
Wellbeing is the new health & safety
It's not much of a stretch to see the negative side of H&S, illness and accident statistics, as also the negative side of workplace wellbeing.
HSE unveils new health and work strategy
The Heath and Work campaign is launched at a time when stress and musculoskeletal disorders account for around 80% of all working time lost due to illness, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
It's official: commuting is bad for you
New research from the Royal Society for Public Health concludes that the average time spent commuting in the UK has increased in recent years to almost an hour a day: longer commutes are potentially shortening lives, it says.
Sodexo China employee tops NEBOSH competition
A Sodexo employee from China recently travelled to the UK to receive the Best Candidate award for achieving the highest score of some 35,000 students in the International General Certificate in Occupational Safety & Health.
Carillion pioneers Legionella monitoring project
Carillion has teamed up with SPICA Technologies to roll out a pilot Internet of Things project for remote Legionella monitoring across a series of building society branches in Central London.
Health & safety changes due in February
The most dramatic changes in health and safety enforcement since 1974, including new sentencing guidelines for offences, come into force next month. Compliance, BSRIA says, is more critical than ever.
BIFM offers winter weather guidance
The BIFM has published a Good Practice Guide to winter maintenance, in partnership with the specialists at GRITIT.
Building guidance confounds fire experts
The Fire Sector Federation and Construction Industry Council are calling for change to Building Regulations guidance, as complex and inconsistent language has left even the experts confused.
MEFMA and IW team up for H&S training
The Middle East Facility Management Association has announced a new partnership with learning and development specialist International Workplace that will see MEFMA expand its range of courses in the GCC region and beyond.
Mental health training for centre team
Incentive FM has partnered with a UK charity to train staff on mental health awareness and suicide intervention.
Putting H&S on the strategic agenda
Health & safety policy and practice is a standard part of the facilities management remit, as well as wider corporate operations, but it's all too easy to relegate it to the 'routine'.
PAT answers: why safety and cost-cutting don't mix
Portable appliance testing is a straightforward concept that would probably draw universal support if put to a vote. But it's also a concept marked by confusion about requirements and disagreement about appropriate practices.
Salt? Grit? What's the difference?
'Calling out the gritters' might be a well-known phrase in FM circles, but facilities professionals don't necessarily know their grit from their salt, according to winter risk management expert GRITIT.
Unpredictable winter weather to hit FM budgets
The UK is experiencing increasingly unpredictable winters, according to a recent joint study by climate experts from the Met Office and University of Sheffield.
December and talk turns to winter
Somehow it seems to have become December more quickly than expected, and that raises the question of just how prepared FMs are for the inevitable bad weather.
Winter: a risky business
The cost of people experiencing injuries on business premises in winter and of related employee ill health is vast in financial terms.
Aramark scoops Order of Distinction
Aramark's offshore team has been presented with the RoSPA Order of Distinction, after it received a fifteenth consecutive Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety.
BIFM offers health & safety guide
The BIFM has published a new guidance document specifically aimed at facilities managers in light of their responsibility for health and safety in the workplace.
HSE opens CDM consultation
The Health & Safety Executive is seeking views on its proposal to replace the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and withdraw the Approved Code of Practice.
Poor hygiene costing billions
New research has put the cost of poor hygiene in the workplace at nearly £14bn. UK plc could save that money simply by improving standards.
Refining the 'reasonably practicable' test
Amongst all the change over the past year or two in health and safety law has been a shift in the concept of 'strict liability', the principle that left employers with all but no defence against some claims.
RIDDOR regs revised
Changes to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 came into effect with the arrival of October.
Climb your way to good health
A new initiative has been launched, backed by the Department of Health via the Small Business Research Initiative, with the aim of tackling obesity and strengthening the hearts of office workers and commuters.
MITIE first with IOSH endorsement
The outsourcing company has become the first FM business to achieve accreditation for its own management training course from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
HSE invoices £1m in first six months
A freedom of information request made by business law firm DWF has revealed that invoices issued under the Health and Safety Executive's fees for intervention scheme have passed the £1m mark.
H&S goes top secret
MI5 is looking for a Health and Safety Advisor; but don’t bother asking any questions about the job.
ASFP launches fire risk app
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has launched a new Android-based fire risk assessment app.
PHS warns on water claims
PHS Waterlogic, Europe's largest supplier of mains-fed water dispensing and purifying systems, has issued a warning about some of the purification claims being made in the water vending market.
HSE looking at COSHH and legionella
The Health and Safety Executive has launched three consultations on changes to the content of Approved Codes of Practice.
Testing times
Procedures for and timing of testing of electrical equipment in the workplace must generate as much discussion in FM as many of the industry's 'big issues'.
Wales threatens law on asbestos
The UK Asbestos Training Association has welcomed the move by a Welsh Assembly member to bring forward a bill that would see businesses and insurers take on £2 million in asbestos costs.
Cleaning jobs linked to asthma risk
Researchers at Imperial College London have linked adult onset asthma to the cleaning industry.
Workplace Law surveys the year
The experts at Workplace Law have assembled a series of interviews looking back over the past 12 months and forward to see how events may shape and influence the next 12.
H&S advice: spoiled for choice
Two leading organisations have both launched new access to health & safety advice, targeting smaller businesses.
WPL takes on DSE
Specialist advisor Workplace Law has set out to determine if the Display Screen Equipment Regulations, which date back to 1992, are still fit for purpose.
Keeping up with compliance requirements
The pace of change in regulations and obligations around the big topic of health & safety shows little sign of slackening.
HSE warns on legionella risk
The Health and Safety Executive has issued a second safety notice targeting the most common sources of significant outbreaks based on a review of data going back 10 years.
Health and safety inspections to be cut
Thousands of businesses are to be exempt from health and safety inspections under new rules to be introduced by ministers in April 2013.
BSIA offers guide on lone workers
The British Security Industry Association has published a 'quick' guide to purchasing lone worker protection products and services to aid employers in choosing the right product to protect their staff.
Olympic lessons for health and safety
Innovative communication techniques that helped to prevent worker deaths during the Olympic build could be harnessed to benefit other projects, a research study has found.
HSE moves ahead with changes
Following on from a prolonged period of review and assessment in the health & safety arena, the HSE has opened consultation on proposals to revise its Approved Codes of Practice.
Practical approach to best practice
New research has found that young architects develop the best understanding of health and safety through detailed application rather than abstract study. There are lessons here for all professions.
Legionnaires cases rise
A man in his 50s has died while being treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh as the number of cases of Legionnaires' disease in Scotland continues to grow.
HSE slams wasteful PAT regimes
Unnecessary electrical safety tests cost office-based businesses an estimated £30m a year, according to the Health & Safety Executive.
BSIA puts lone worker guidance online
The British Security Industry Association has added a new page to its website, offering lone workers and their employers a central point of information on health and safety, legal obligations and quality standards.
ISS safety films scoop international awards
A set of four staff safety films, produced by ISS UK, has won two prestigious international television and film awards in recognition of their quality and innovative approach.
Safety solution set for global platform
The award winning anti-entrapment safeguard developed by access specialist Nationwide Platforms is set to be showcased at Intermat 2012, giving a global audience sight of the pioneering system.
RIDDOR rules change
From 6 April employers no longer have to report injuries which keep workers off normal duties for seven or fewer days.
New date for HSE fee scheme
The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed that its controversial cost recovery scheme will go ahead but will now not start in April as originally planned.
Legionnaires failure brings fine
Lanarkshire Health Board has been fined £24,000 for a breach under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, which led to a legionella outbreak at Hartwoodhill Hospital.
Flexible working portal launched
A Government-backed consortium has launched a website to help businesses adopt flexible working practices.
Managing supply chain H&S issues
Outsourcing may be a great thing but it does bring with it some risks, which multiply with the length and complexity of the supply chain.
Lofstedt report published
The Lofstedt report has been published today, making 19 recommendations for the reform of health and safety, which the government has accepted.
Getting to the real story on H&S competence
Training in health & safety is critical for everyone involved in FM. But how much, when and how are still controversial questions.
HSE infoline now closed
The Health & Safety Executive's telephone information service has shut up shop, as the agency moves to shift everything online.
H&S reform on the right track?
These are uncertain times for this key discipline as reviews seem to come and go, with at least some proposed change apparently driven by cost cutting and a dread of 'red tape'.
FSG and British Waterways team up on H&S
The Facilities Services Group and its client British Waterways have developed a joint online programme providing a consistent approach to the delivery of health and safety training.
RIDDOR reporting moves online
From today, statutory reporting to HSE of work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) will move to a predominantly online system.
Compliance check-up
Workplace safety expert PHS Compliance has launched a new service that promises an instant safety needs analysis report to facilities managers at no charge.
Consultation opens on HSE cost recovery scheme
The HSE has today opened a three-month consultation on how cost recovery for intervention will work, having already agreed the underlying principle with Government.
73% of employees unaware of H&S procedures
Three-quarters of employees questioned in a recent survey claimed to be 'unaware' of the health and safety procedures within their workplace.
FMs want a common sense approach to H&S
Health & safety is in the spotlight again, as the Government turns its sights on the 'right' balance of legislation and regulation.
i-FM in Brief hits the stands
The fourth edition of i-FM in Brief, our regular newsletter designed to bring readers a round-up of recent news, features and market insights, is available on the site now.
Best practice guide to fire safety
The Fire Industry Association has published a new guide to fire safety in commercial premises.
Atkins leads on good H&S practice
Suddenly, health & safety seems to be on every agenda: from the government, which hopes to slim the regulatory environment down, to RICS, which has published new advice.
New RICS guidance tackles health & safety
RICS has launched what it calls 'the first guidance note of its kind', designed to ensure consistency in the approach to health and safety procedures across the construction sector.
IOSH makes the business case for H&S
British businesses are losing their competitive edge because of a failure to tackle the risks of injury and illness in the workplace, IOSH research indicates.
Businesses tied up in H&S 'yellow tape'
UK businesses concede that workplace health & safety is important, but the volume of regulation and its ambiguity means it is often misapplied, according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce, which has dubbed the situation 'yellow tape'.
Hotel owners sentenced for breach of fire safety regs
The owners of Newquay's Penhallow Hotel, scene of a disastrous fire in August 2007, have been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £62,000.
RoSPA calls for tougher approach to RIDDOR
In its response to consultation on the future of RIDDOR, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has urged a more radical approach to how incidents are recorded.
Terms of reference for H&S review published
The draft terms of reference which will govern the independent review of health and safety legislation announced last month have been published.
HSE offers two steps forward
The Health & Safety Executive has launched a pair of web-based initiatives designed to make it easier for organisations to implement good practice.
Workplace safety inspections to be cut by a third
Work and Pensions Minister Chris Grayling MP has announced a package of changes to Britain's health and safety system, including a huge cut in health and safety inspections.
Tougher penalties for unnecessary lift call-outs
Councils and businesses will face tougher penalties for unnecessary non-emergency lift call-outs, the London Fire Brigade has said.
Company fined after fatal roof fall
A Fife papermaking firm has been fined £260,000 after a worker fell almost 50 feet through a fragile roof to his death.
First corporate manslaughter conviction
Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings has become the first company to be convicted of the new offence of corporate manslaughter.
Mental health finds a place in the workplace
In January, MITIE signed up the community interest company MHFA to offer free mental health first aid training courses to its own staff as well as staff at its clients.
Asbestos still a priority, says HSE
The Health and Safety Executive has hit back at recent news stories declaring the end of its 'Hidden Killer' campaign which is focused on the dangers of asbestos in buildings.
Kier rejects ladder ban 'myth'
This is the sort of story that highlights what sensible health and safety practice is up against.
Stoke pays the price of ladder ban
This is the sort of story that gives health & safety a bad name. A ban on the use of ladders has left Stoke Council with extra costs of over £1m.
H&S tops list for new ODA Chief Exec
On his first day as Chief Executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority, Dennis Hone launched a new safety campaign for the Olympic Park site.
Taking the risk out of risk assessment
Health & safety policy and practice have been in the news regularly over the past six months as the coalition government considers whether the system needs streamlining.
Health & safety is good for business
Companies with a positive attitude to health and safety tend to have a healthier, more motivated workforce, two factors that contribute to growth on the bottom line.
H&S is not holding business back
Headline writers love the health and safety red-tape angle, but most businesses questioned by a major City law firm regard the 'administrative burden' as a non-issue.
Firms urged to grit premises and keep evidence
As disruption caused by snow and ice continues, employers are being advised to take steps to prevent slips and falls on their property and to keep evidence of the precautionary steps they have taken.
Protect workers health and safety in uncertain times, IOSH says
The Government needs to be clearer on how a drive to cut red tape combined with spending cuts will not put people at greater risk of injury or illness at work, the leading health and safety body has said.
Stress tops safety concerns
Stress, bullying and harassment, back strains, slips, trips and falls, and overwork top the list of workers' safety concerns, according to the TUC's latest biennial survey of safety reps.
Common sense to be health and safety theme
The title of Lord Young’s much anticipated report, 'Common Sense, Common Safety', says it all in terms of new government policy; though it may be easier said than done.
Young backs registration for H&S
Speaking at the recent IIRSM annual members luncheon, held in Westminster, Lord Young has labelled the prospect of clients being advised by an unqualified health and safety consultant a 'disgrace'.
MoD censured for asbestos exposure
The Ministry of Defence has received a formal Crown Censure from the Health and Safety Executive for the potential exposure of workers to asbestos fibres. FM partner Interserve has been fined for the same offense.
Cooling towers investigated in Legionnaires outbreak
Public Health Wales, in collaboration with the HSE and Environmental Health Officers from eight South Wales local authorities, is continuing to investigate an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease clustered around the Heads of the Valleys corridor.
Don't cut H&S, says TUC
A new report from the TUC argues that moves to cut business regulation by reducing health and safety requirements are misguided.
Asbestos remains key concern
The Health and Safety Executive's crusade to enforce the law on asbestos remains high on the agenda, with the month of August alone seeing fines imposed on three firms.
Accreditation scheme for safety consultants to be launched
A new UK scheme to accredit safety consultants is due to be announced in the coming weeks, it has been confirmed.
Workers not receiving health and safety inductions
A new survey has found that over a third of people questioned who suffer work accidents or injuries have not had health and safety inductions.
IOSH sees good practice as route to savings
Simply improving health and safety at work can shave billions of pounds off the nation's debt, according to the group's President-Elect.
IOSH welcomes health and safety debate
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has welcomed Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement of a review into the growing risk aversion and fear of being sued in this country.
Environment is part of health and safety managers role
New research suggests that more than half of health and safety managers are now responsible for managing environmental issues at work.
Call for formal accreditation of safety consultants
Professional body the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health is renewing its call for health and safety consultants to be subject to a formal programme of accreditation.
Survey reveals attitudes to health and safety
A new survey commissioned by IOSH has found that health and safety is not the top priority for many workers.
HSE launches 'do your bit' campaign
Employers are being encouraged to get their staff more involved in health and safety in a bid to reduce injury and ill health.
Stiffer sentencing still not enough, IOSH declares
While stiffer fines and punishments are now in effect for organisations found guilty of corporate manslaughter, the leading body for health and safety professionals believes new sentencing guidelines don’t go far enough.
Make sprinklers mandatory, says insurance group
The cost of fire damage now stands at a record level according to research published by the Association of British Insurers.
Asbestos awareness campaign launched
The HSE has launched a £1.2m, month-long campaign to warn Britain's 1.8m tradesmen about the dangers they face from asbestos.
Corporate manslaughter fines should be £500,000+
Companies and organisations that cause death through gross breaches of care could face fines of more than £500,000 and be forced to make a statement about offences on their website.
New risk assessment tool from HSE
The Health and Safety Executive has developed new electronic tools which it promises will help businesses with their compliance requirements and save them time and money, too.
Health and safety risks to cleaners highlighted
The importance of cutting down on work-related ailments among cleaners has been highlighted during European Week for Safety and Health at Work.
High heels get the risk assessment treatment
TUC Congress delegates have backed a motion requiring some employers to carry out risk assessments on staff footwear.
Beware the custard cream, Britain's most dangerous biscuit
A third of adults have seen their workday tea or coffee break end in disaster as a consequence of a biscuit-related incident. The most common complaint is scalding while dunking.
Strict obligations in forthcoming asbestos survey guidance
Revised HSE guidance for asbestos surveys is set to be introduced in the autumn.
Step-change: the future of high heels in the workplace
The TUC's four-day Congress in September will tackle a wide range of issues in these days of recession-hit economy. One could see a particular group of specialists putting their foot down.
HSE calls for high standards in legionella testing
The Health and Safety Executive is warning companies responsible for carrying out legionella surveys on water systems of the need to ensure that their work is thorough and accurate.
HSE warns on bogus law poster
The Health and Safety Executive is warning businesses not to be duped into buying unnecessary and overpriced copies of its health and safety law poster.
Firms still unaware of Corporate Manslaughter implications
Research released today by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health highlights that businesses' understanding of the possible implications of a prosecution under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act is worryingly low.
HSE launches new strategy as businesses consider cuts
On the day that the Health and Safety Executive unveiled its new strategy, it also revealed that more than a quarter of business leaders say they will face pressure to cut spending on health and safety this year.
Businesses fear HSE prosecution
Positive health & safety practice has the explicit backing of most UK businesses, but there is considerable worry about the time and cost involved in regulatory compliance.
Safety culture: what it is and why it pays
Health and safety is a discipline plagued by irony: legislation and practice are well developed, and policies and procedures are queried in every tender, but implementation on the ground is often left to take care of itself.
Recession cutbacks start to hit health & safety
New research from the British Safety Council finds that one in 12 workers Ð about 8% - now feel under pressure from their boss to take risks with peopleÕs safety in order to save money.
IOSH offers practical flu advice
As headline-writers vie for the most dramatic impact, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health - the worldÕs largest body for health and safety professionals Ð says there is no need to panic. But a little preparation would be a good idea.
HSE tells directors 'to lead by actions'
Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Health & Safety Executive, has called on company directors to get out of their offices and be seen making a real commitment to good health and safety practice.
HSE plan falls short, says IOSH
Europe's largest health and safety professional body has called on the Health and Safety Executive to beef up some of the strategic goals contained in its new strategy.
HSE to target refurbishment sites
Health & safety inspectors are planning to visit 1500 sites across Britain this month, beginning with London.
You cannot outsource responsibility, HSE warns
The Health & Safety Executive has warned companies that they cannot outsource their duty of care responsibilities to a consultant or service provider.
Insurance companies get tough on asbestos threat
Employers will be under more pressure than ever to prove that they are managing asbestos safely following a landmark court judgment, compliance experts Connaught report.
IOSH launches guide for LAs
A new guide highlighting the health and safety responsibilities of local councillors has been unveiled by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Companies warned to avoid safety 'own goal'
Compliance specialist Connaught has warned that skimping on health and safety to save money during the recession could backfire in a big way.
Third of companies ignore fire regs
Over one-third of UK companies are still ignoring the requirements of new fire regulations introduced two years ago.
New health and safety law in force today
The Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 is now effect, marking the end of the days when unscrupulous employers could get away virtually scot-free with injuring, maiming and making their staff ill.
IOSH warns on new H&S legislation
With new laws ten days away, the President of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has warned of tough times for companies that 'play' at health and safety.
Benn unveils new flood alert centre
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced the development of a new warning centre to help protect people and businesses from flooding.
Budget cut safety
With staff resources under pressure and budgets growing tighter, where should you look to make cuts?
HSE asks for views on new strategy
The Health and Safety Executive believes it is time for a new H&S strategy and has launched a consultation exercise seeking input on the direction forward.
Has anyone explained the continuity plan?
Less than half of UK workers have been advised what to do in the event of their workplace becoming inaccessible, according to business continuity professionals.
Battling through the smoke of new fire regs
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order became law in England and Wales in October 2006 with its Scottish equivalent following soon after - and if you are still confused, you are certainly not alone.
Building a positive safety culture
Health and safety action is always on the agenda, not least because of increasing regulation - and FMs are best placed to ensure both compliance and high standards.
HSE: toothless and inviting more workplace disasters?
Health and safety enforcement in Britain is 'withering away' and Scotland has been hit particularly hard, researchers have suggested.
H&S week targets accident reduction
This is European Week for Safety and Health at Work. Campaigners are targeting risk assessment as the key to reducing workplace accidents and illnesses.
HSS sees dodgy ladder success
HSS Hire, the national tool and equipment hire company, has reported a big increase in ladder sales, as part of a joint ladder exchange campaign with the Health and Safety Executive.
Risk assessment requires risk assessment?
Exeter firefighters and paramedics were called to rescue a man after he fell from a ladder onto a flat roof while carrying out a risk assessment yesterday. Bad luck or what?
Would you blow the whistle on H&S violations?
If the answer is no, you're in good company. Less than a third of people would blow the whistle on their employer if they broke health and safety laws, a new study has found.
GSH pitches in on asbestos campaign
GSH Group has committed to an active role in backing the Health and Safety Executive's campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos and how to identify and manage it safely.
HSE offers free briefing for FM
The Health and Safety Executive is planning a free half-day seminar in September covering key workplace issues facing facilities managers.
HSE lays down the law on asbestos
Following on from the successful prosecution of two Essex companies for asbestos law violations, the Health and Safety Executive says it will not hesitate to seek penalties in any similar situation.
Move to accredit safety practitioners
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has welcomed a government announcement supporting accreditation of health and safety professionals.
Cider firm fined for Legionnaires' outbreak
Water treatment contractor Nalco and cider maker HP Bulmer have both been fined over a fatal outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, which caused two deaths.
Risk assessments awareness campaign launched
A two-year European campaign to raise awareness of the need for workplace risk assessments is due to start next week (24 June).
Turns out safety really does pay
Organisations adopting a proactive approach to health and safety management tend to be more profitable and have lower accident rates, according to new research.
HSE gets tough on refurb sites
The Health and Safety Executive has made 15 unannounced visits to construction sites across Sefton, Merseyside - and served enforcement notices at 13 of them.
NICE guidance on workplace health
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence says people are not active enough to stay healthy. They have published guidance for employers on how to encourage more physical activity.
IOSH calls for tougher penalties
The president of Europe's largest health and safety professional body has backed a proposal that would see rogue employers face a quadrupling of fines and an increased threat of jail if it becomes law.
Health & safety enforcement - time to tighten up
A wide-ranging report from the Commons Work and Pensions Committee praises and damns the Health & Safety Executive in about equal measure.
Corporate manslaughter law hailed as 'new dawn'
The president of Europe's largest health and safety professional body has said that the long-awaited Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act, which comes into force this weekend, marks 'a new dawn for corporate accountability in the UK'.
H&S bodies come together
If you were never quite sure how the Health and Safety Commission was different from the Health and Safety Executive, don't worry. They have now merged.
IOSH calls for single H&S body
A unified health and safety inspection agency is needed to improve the consistency of health and safety enforcement in the UK, says the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
HSE issues wake-up call on asbestos
The Health and Safety Executive is to hold a special leadership summit later this month focusing on ways to make improvements in reducing ill-health caused by work with asbestos.
Busy time for smoking inspectors
Employers are being urged to double-check their smoking policies are complete after new inspection figures were released by the government.
Fire experts unhappy with law changes
Brian Robinson, President of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, has used the group's annual lunch at the Palace of Westminster to challenge implementation of revised fire laws.
Fire professionals unsure about new law
Fire safety professionals remain uncertain about their responsibilities under last year's Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.
Major review of H&S law underway
Chancellor Alistair Darling has launched a major review of business health and safety laws.
New guidance on asbestos removal
ARCA, the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association, has published new guidance notes for asbestos removal in confined spaces.
New fire safety guide for schools
The government has launched a new guide intended to deliver enhanced fire safety in school buildings.
Directors get H&S guidelines
The Health and Safety Commission and the Institute of Directors have joined forces to publish practical health and safety guidelines for company directors.
HSE warns on asbestos after fines
The Health and Safety Executive has warned employers to ensure they take proper precautions over the management of asbestos in their buildings after a South London NHS Trust was prosecuted and fined.
Work is 'cure as well as cause' of illness
New research into musculoskeletal disorders has found that most sufferers recover more quickly by staying at work rather than taking time off.
Safety representatives prove value
The Health and Safety Executive has published research evaluating the effectiveness of involving safety representatives in delivering health and safety initiatives in the workplace.
IOSH slams inspection cuts
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has warned that proposals to limit on-the-spot safety inspections could result in increased workplace deaths and injuries at a time when the figures overall are rising.
Barrow launches internal review
Barrow Borough Council, the local authority at the centre of a Legionnaires' disease outbreak that killed seven people, has opened an internal inquiry into the incident.
Legionnaires on the increase
The number of cases of Legionnaires' disease reported in England and Wales in the first six months of this year has risen by a third.
Train more in first aid, Red Cross says
The British Red Cross is calling on public and private sector organisations to train more staff in first aid - and its backing the call up with a cut in the cost of its training courses.
Compliance: whose job is it?
Compliance is a major feature of the business world - and therefore of FM, too. But who takes the lead on this, and should you expect 100% success?
Safe with OCS
OCS has won accreditation from the SAFEcontractor scheme, a programme that recognises high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors.
Buncefield investigators issue recommendations
The Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board has published its latest report, covering emergency preparedness for, response to and recovery from a major industrial incident.
Learning to lift the safe way
With industrial jobs on the decline and office-based work increasing, why has the number of Britons suffering injuries through moving and handling things continued to grow? That is one question the British Red Cross would like to find an answer for.
Keep risk in proportion, says HSC
Health & Safety Commission Chairman Bill Callaghan has told safety professionals that their job is not to eliminate risk but to manage it sensibly and responsibly.
HSE plans inspections blitz
In a bid to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by falls and trips The Health and Safety Executive has announced that it will carry out over 1000 inspections nationwide during June and July.
New guidance on asbestos management
Asbestos solutions provider Thames Laboratories has published a newly updated report to help property owners and managers understand the basics of asbestos management and their legal requirements under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
FM stars in H&S awards
Ninety facilities management companies have been honoured at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Occupational Health and Safety Awards.
Is it safe to climb the corporate ladder?
The Health and Safety Executive has launched Ladder Exchange, a campaign that aims to remove 4000 damaged or broken ladders from workplaces in Great Britain.
Smoking ban? No big deal, businesses say
Maybe it's because they've watched it happen in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. With a ban on smoking only 4 weeks away, organisations across England are claiming it will have little impact on their business.
Barrow Legionnaires story rolls on
Gillian Beckingham, Design Services Manager at Barrow in Furness and the council employee at the centre of Legionnaires disease legal action, is reported to have left her job taking early retirement on medical grounds.
£100,000 fine follows death of worker
The Health and Safety Executive has warned businesses that they must ensure the safety of all employees after a construction company was ordered to pay more than £100,000 in fines and £33,000 costs by the Central Criminal Court, London.
England is next for smoking law
With less than two months to go until the smoking ban takes effect in England, the government is launching a national advertising campaign to remind businesses and the public about the July 1st deadline.
CIC endorses new CDM regs
The Construction Industry Council, which represents a wide range of built environment organisations including the BIFM, has come out in support of the revised CDM regulations that came into force on 6 April.
England not prepared for smoking ban
As Northern Ireland became the latest part of the UK to introduce a smoking ban, new research has revealed that businesses in England are unprepared for their turn, which arrives July 1st.
Chronic health issues common for UK office workers
Over three-quarters of workers suffer eye fatigue and backache, and the majority also get headaches according to new research. And it's not just a problem for the older generation: about 80% of 16 to 24-year-olds complain of eye fatigue and backache.
Barrow: avoidable tragedy, report says
The Barrow Legionella outbreak, which killed seven people in 2002, could have been avoided if the risks had been properly managed. Instead, there was a long period of 'negligence'.
Half UK companies face new H&S risk
Over half of UK companies risk fines under the impending Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act that will make it easier for organisations to be convicted of manslaughter for work-related deaths and injuries, according to research by Croner.
UK organisations neglect to protect staff and infrastructure
Many UK organisations admit they are failing to prepare for disruption, despite recording a dramatic increase in the level of upheaval caused by extreme weather conditions and high levels of people and skills loss.
New pandemic guidance for government
The Department of Health has published a new paper setting out the government's strategic aims for responding to an influenza pandemic - something Whitehall regards as 'one of the most severe natural challenges likely to affect the UK'.
Office workers warned on DVT risk
Deep vein thrombosis, normally associated with long distance air travel, has been exposed as a risk in the office, especially for people who sit for lengthy periods - for example, in front of a PC. So, finish reading this, then get up and move around.
HSE warns NHS about property maintenance
The Health and Safety Executive has warned the NHS to maintain its properties effectively following the death of an elderly man, who fell during a visit to hospital.
Let them get off the phone, BMA says
Welcoming increased penalties for mobile phone use while driving, the British Medical Association has also called on employers not to put pressure on staff to keep their phones always on.
New business continuity good practice guidance
The Business Continuity Institute has updated its Good Practice Guidelines.
Only half of City firms ready for pandemic
New research has revealed that 52% of City firms have no plans in place to deal with the outbreak of a pandemic, something that is widely regarded as inevitable. The government rates a flue pandemic as one of the leading threats to the UK.
New fire regs rated 6 out of 10
The Passive Fire Protection Federation has welcomed new fire regulations due to come into force in April - but they don't go far enough, it says.
Businesses urged to prepare for smoking ban
Public health minister Caroline Flint has told businesses that they should be preparing now for the ban on smoking in public places in England that comes into effect July 1st.
Podcast guidance on new asbestos regulations
FMs can download a free podcast offering expert advice on the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.
New pandemic guidance for FMs
The International Facility Management Association has published a new guide to help businesses plan for, control and respond to pandemics.
Insurer offers weather advice
Winter seems to have arrived, which has led commercial insurer Royal & SunAlliance to offer businesses advice to coping with cold and the potential chilly effects on the bottom line.
TfL staff to get continuity training
Transport for London has appointed Garrison Continuity to develop and deliver a comprehensive business continuity training programme for up to 800 staff.
Workplace allergies labeled 'tip of the iceberg'
Amicus, Britain's biggest private sector union, is calling for action from government to combat workplace allergies.
More fire safety changes revealed
Late in December the government announced a series of changes to fire safety measures that will feed directly into revised Building Regulations.
Continuity specialists offer flu guidelines
Survive, the business continuity professionals group, has compiled new guidance on preparing for a flu pandemic, as the weight of opinion moves towards not 'if' but 'when'.
Businesses still unprepared for pandemic
Calling pandemic influenza 'inevitable', insurance giant Aon is worried about creeping complacency.
UK business better prepared for disruption
British businesses are becoming better prepared for disruption or disaster, according to the British Standards Institution.
Home Office security website relaunched
The Home Office security website has been redveloped with a new look and structure, more sections and more links to other sources of information.
The plain FM's guide to business continuity plans
An up-to-date business continuity plan is one thing every organisation should have - but if disasters can be frightening, so can the process of creating the plan.
Fire specialists warn on self-certification
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has issued a warning about self-certification schemes for passive fire protection work.
Revised asbestos regs in force today
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 come into force today (13 November), strengthening overall worker protection by reducing exposure limits and introducing mandatory training.
FSA publishes business continuity practice guide
The Financial Services Authority, acting on behalf of the financial sector, has launched a 'self help' package to assist firms in improving and strengthening business continuity.
Public hearing on Barrow Legionnaire's outbreak
Two public meetings on the Barrow Legionnaire's disease outbreak in 2002, in which seven people died and 180 were made ill, will be held in December.
EMCOR backs missing children initiative
A major initiative to help the police find the thousands of children who go missing in the UK has been unveiled with the launch of the Taking KidSafety to the Street initiative.
Businesses could feel the heat of new fire rules
Many companies are still unaware of, and unprepared for, the new fire safety regulations that came into effect on 1 October, warns facilities services group MITIE.
Falls from height 'not falling'
Businesses are still failing their staff when it comes to managing work at height, a fact confirmed by insurance claims being made against employers.
TUC unmasks 'killer conkers' and other H&S myths
To coincide with European Health and Safety Week the TUC has unveiled a list of the most common health and safety myths.
Buncefield task group calls for immediate action
The task group reviewing the lessons from last year's Buncefield disaster has called for industry to take immediate measures to implement eight key action points at major petroleum storage facilities.
H&S: keep it simple
The Health and Safety Commission and Health and Safety Executive have published a simplification plan as part of their commitment to better, smarter regulation to help business improve health and safety performance.
Employees getting burned by poor fire safety
A fifth of UK businesses are unprepared for a fire-related incident according to a new survey by health and safety company Croner.
Employers urged to start on smoking ban now
Employers in England are being urged by the TUC not to wait until next summer before banning smoking in their workplaces.
New fire safety laws now in place
The Department for Communities and Local Government has issued a reminder that anyone responsible for business premises in England and Wales must take action from to comply with new fire laws which came into effect October 1st.
New H&S initiative launched for contractors
The Electrical Contractors' Association and the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association have launched an initiative to help contractors meet health and safety standards.
Insurance giant warns on electricity risk
New research from Zurich Risk Services concludes that almost three-quarters of UK employees are potentially at risk from exposure to electricity in the workplace.
UK H&S strategy faces challenge
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health fears a court case being heard in Luxembourg could turn the health and safety clock back 40 years - potentially endangering lives and leaving companies swamped under red tape.
Maintenance industry warned on asbestos
The Health & Safety Ecutive has launched a new campaign aimed at alerting maintenance companies and staff to the dangers of asbestos.
Barrow launches Legionnaires inquiry
Barrow Borough Council is carrying out its own inquiry into the 2002 Legionnaires disease outbreak that left seven dead.
Get real about risk
Focus on real risks and stop concentrating efforts on trivial health & safety issues - that's the new message from the Health and Safety Commission. And the Health and Safety Executive has launched a set of key principles to back it up.
Union warns on HSE job cuts
Prospect, the union representing 1,750 inspectors, scientists and other professionals in the Health and Safety Executive has condemned an announcement that government spending restrictions will force the safety body to axe up to 350 posts.
We're ready for disasters, HE sector says
Almost nine out of 10 UK higher education institutions say they have disaster recovery policies in place and they are ready for almost anything. Closer questioning reveals that may not be the case, however.
New asbestos regs moving forward
The Health and Safety Commission is to recommend approval of revised asbestos regulations.
Action urged on new fire regs now
Fire Minister Angela Smith has called on organisations to start preparing now for new fire safety regulations that come into force in October.
Lessons to learn from the Barrow case
With the second trial of Barrow Council architect Gillian Beckingham now over, expert witness Greg Davies of health, safety and environmental consultancy ems says there are a series of lessons to be learned.
Legionnaires jury rejects manslaughter case
The jury in the Barrow Legionnaires' disease case has found council design services manager Gillian Beckingham not guilty on seven charges of manslaughter.
How safe is your off-site storage?
Last week, a six-storey document warehouse in East London was destroyed by fire. It was good fortune that no one was injured, but the effects on business could be felt for some time.
Health & Safety at Work Act works - official
Since the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act in 1974, injuries requiring more than three days off work have fallen by 67%.
HSE simplifies risk assessment guidance
The Health and Safety Executive has told businesses to spend less time 'dotting i's and crossing t's' and more time on putting practical risk management actions into effect.
Plan for two days' recovery time
Most UK businesses would be out of action for at least two days if they were hit by a major incident.
Why you should know your neighbours
Business continuity plans that are developed and tested in isolation run the risk of failing or even disrupting the plans of other businesses nearby, especially in high density city areas, according to an industry specialist.
Half of fire safety guides published
The ODPM has now published half of the new fire safety guides it had committed to producing before the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order on 1 October 2006.
Barrow Legionnaires retrial underway
The scene is set for the retrial of Gillian Beckingham, the council architect accused following the deaths of seven people after a Legionnaires' disease outbreak at the Forum 28 Art Centre in Barrow.
JLL advises on real estate impact of flu outbreak
Property and FM adviser Jones Lang LaSalle has issued a paper that provides strategies to help businesses and property owners prepare for a possible pandemic outbreak.
Workplace inspections row rumbles on
Health and Safety Executive figures show workplace inspections are at a new low, and the TUC is up in arms over the danger it believes this represents to people at work.
Bird flu checklist: are you ready?
All organisations should adopt robust and flexible generic business continuity management plans, the government says. To help in preparing for a possible flu pandemic, it has produced a tailored checklist.
IFMA finds FMs relaxed about bird flu
The International Facility Management Association has surveyed its membership to assess the level of concern about a communicable disease outbreak - and found that FMs are generally pretty relaxed about such a threat.
Buncefield report cites safety system failures
The third report from the Buncefield investigation team identifies a series of safety system failures that led to massive explosion and fire.
HSE launches consultation on staff involvement
The Health & Safety Executive has opened consultation on options for increasing the quality and quantity of staff involvement in health and safety risk management, whether that's through voluntary initiatives or stronger legal requirements.
Government appoints first health and work tsar
Professor Dame Carol Black, President of the Royal College of Physicians, was today named as the government's first ever national director for health and work.
Smoking ban rules confuse employers
New research reveals widespread confusion among employers over next summer's smoking ban in England, which could catch out almost one in four, according to UK health & safety experts Croner.
New noise regulations due this week
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 come into force this week, replacing the simpler old 1989 requirements.
H&S is rising up the agenda, new report says
According to research published by the Chartered Management Institute and Workplace Health Connect, health and safety is rising up the agenda in the workplace, but training is lagging behind.
Plan now for bird flu: new tool offered
Modelling the potential impact of a flu pandemic on an organisation is now considered an essential aspect of business continuity planning.
Asbestos: why you need to keep records for 40 years
New regulations came into effect nearly two years ago imposing a legal requirement for documented asbestos management plans for all non-domestic premises where the now-banned material may be present.
HSE promises to turn up the heat
Minister for health and safety Lord Hunt has warned companies who ignore their obligations that they 'will feel the heat' from the government.
Quarter of London firms don't have the money to cope with bird flu
More than a fifth of firms do not have sufficient working capital in place to enable them to survive an outbreak of avian flu lasting 12 weeks, the typical length of time that a pandemic lasts.
Fire costs UK business over £2m every day
Fire is burning into the profits of British businesses at a record rate according to figures released by the Association of British Insurers. The cost of business fires in 2005 for the first time ever topped £2m a day.
Fire safety reform now scheduled for October
New fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises in England and Wales will come into force on 31 October, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has announced.
Global HR consultant launches bird flu advice site
Mercer, one of the world's biggest HR specialists, has established a dedicated website offering information and advice to employers on preparing for a bird flu pandemic.
Insurance institute takes appropriate precautions
The Chartered Institute of Insurers has set the right example, in response to health and safety requirements and insurance guidelines, with a deep clean of its catering installations and equipment.
Let that be a lesson to you: concerned, of Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has permanently lost online survey data collected as part of a local consultation exercise, following a fire that destroyed the host company's offices and data centre.
HSE updates progress on Buncefield investigation
The Major Incident Investigation Board, set up to supervise the investigation into the Buncefield oil depot incident on 11 December has published a progress report on its new dedicated website.
Asset Skills unveils online risk assessment programmes
Asset Skills, the sector skills council for FM, has launched Asset Secure, an online resource designed to help companies to implement health and safety risk assessments.
Barrow Legionnaires appeal date set
Gillian Beckingham, the local council architect found guilty of health and safety breaches last year, has been given a court date for her appeal.
Most organisations now make H&S a board-level issue
Research carried out for the Health and Safety Commission shows that the extent of board-level direction of H&S in large private and public sector organisations has climbed steadily in recent years.
VoIP: an opportunity and a threat to business
Voice over Internet Protocol technology is seen as both a threat and an opportunity by business continuity specialists.
Productivity rises with wellness programme, research says
Significant increases in the workload don't necessarily harm employee performance. The downside can be offset via a tailored health and wellness programme.
IOSH launches new guidance for directors
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health has launched new H&S guidance targeted at directors.
Flu pandemic: plan now
The government is investing considerable resources in contingency planning for a potential flu pandemic in the UK. Organisations are being urged to make their own plans now.
Stick this on your wall, says Red Cross
The British Red Cross has produced a new range of posters to help people deal with accidents in the workplace.
'Low level' legionella outbreak at university
Sussex University has been forced to purify its entire water system following the discovery that it contained legionella bacteria, the cause Legionnaires disease.
Government dithers over fire safety reform
The far-reaching changes to fire regulations, originally due to come into effect in April, have been put off for an indefinite period. The government says this is to give business and fire safety experts more time to get ready.
Storm damage forecast site launched
University College London professor Mark Saunders has developed and launched a groundbreaking online weather service providing real-time forecasts up to five days ahead for European winter storms and their localised potential wind damage.
New poll finds wide support for smoking ban
The first poll to question the general public in all four countries of the United Kingdom has found strong support for a new law to end smoking in all workplaces.
Government urged to commit to 'the year of the healthy workplace'
The Work Foundation has warned that government strategy on health and work lacks cohesion and will have little impact on the real issues unless changes are made.
HSC orders Buncefield investigation
The Health and Safety Commission has requested the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to investigate the disaster at the Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead.
Cautious welcome for corporate manslaughter law report
A report from the Home Affairs and Work & Pensions Committees on the government's proposed corporate manslaughter legislation has drawn a broadly positive response from employers groups and trade unions.
New fire safety law will bring new responsibilities
There is a timely reminder this week that new fire safety legislation due to come into effect in England and Wales in April will directly impact on employers and virtually all of those responsible for non-domestic premises - owners, occupiers and FMs.
AMEC wins DuPont safety award
International project management and services company AMEC has won a DuPont safety award in the 'innovative approach' category.
EU to target safety of young workers
An EU-wide campaign will run throughout 2006 focussing on the safety of young people at work - who are 50% more likely to be hurt on the job than older workers.
TUC says occupational cancer greatly underestimated
Britain is facing an occupational cancer epidemic that could be killing up to 24,000 people every year, four times official estimates, according to a TUC report published last week.
IOSH to focus on business case for good H&S practice
New Institution of Occupational Safety and Health president Neil Budworth has declared that gaining increased recognition for the work of practitioners is at the top of his agenda.
RoSPA opens golden jubilee H&S awards programme
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has launched the latest round of its occupational health & safety awards, a scheme now in its 50th year.
Business continuity guidelines for flu pandemic to be developed
Business continuity group Survive is working with Pharmaceuticals giant Roche Products to address the specific issue of business continuity during a global flu pandemic.
New website highlights business benefits of better H&S standards
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has launched a new website to provide businesses with good practice information on occupational safety and health at work.
HSE provides revamped RSI database
A new Health and Safety Executive database provides expanded and updated information on important Court judgments in repetitive strain injury cases.
Companies housing mission critical equipment in unsuitable premises
Data centre provider Global Switch says that new research has found that many businesses across Europe are putting themselves at risk by housing their IT infrastructure in unsuitable buildings.
Consultation opened on asbestos regs and code of practice
The Health and Safety Commission has published a consultative document seeking comments on proposed amendments to its asbestos regulations and the Approved Code of Practice.
New accredited safety qualifications come on stream
British Safety Council Awards has launched two new qualifications designed to make workplaces healthier and safer through up-to-date and structured training.
8,500 targeted to get workplaces healthier and more active
A two-year programme to test ways of making workplaces healthier and more active has been launched involving more than 8,500 staff at 47 workplaces across England.
Beckingham to appeal against H&S conviction - again
As a June 6th retrial date was announced for the Barrow council architect at the centre of legal action following an outbreak of Legionnaires disease in 2002, it emerged that she plans to appeal against her H&S conviction for the second time.
Government unveils business health and wellbeing strategy
Two government departments and the Health & Safety Executive have joined forces in a partnership committed to improving the health and wellbeing of UK plc employees.
Number of H&S offences down, but fines are up
The Health and Safety Executive's Offences and Penalties Report 2004/5, released last week, shows the number of prosecutions for H&S offences in the UK has dropped. However, the average fine offence has gone up.
Partnership is the way forward, HSE decides
The Health and Safety Executive and a local authorities regulatory group to launch a 'large organisation project pilot' designed to find effective ways to improve health and safety.
One more item for London disaster planning: flooding
A new report by the London Assembly Environment Committee concludes that fragmented responsibility for maintaining flood defences and lack of clarity over planning are putting London at risk of severe flooding.
HVCA and ECA join up on H&S
The Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association and the Electrical Contractors' Association have signed up to a commitment to maximise joint working on health and safety.
Many companies still unprepared for disruption
Nearly two-thirds of mid-sized UK businesses have no provision for staff to work from home in the event of disruption or disaster. Less than a third have updated their business continuity plans since 7 July.
Hotel group fined £400,000 following lift death
The Ramada Jarvis hotels group has been fined £400,000 by a Scottish court after a guest fell to his death from a faulty lift.
Watch your step, says HSE
The Health & Safety Executive will launch a new national initiative in October focusing on raising awareness about the financial and personal costs of slip and trip accidents at work.
Appeal deadline passes on Legionnaires case
Barrow Council design services manager Gillian Beckingham looks set to face a retrial after the deadline for an appeal passed without action.
EC Harris issues timely warning on H&S law
Proposed reforms to corporate manslaughter laws have serious implications for companies, especially in high-risk industries such as construction, but many organisations are still unaware of their potential impact.
Sainsbury's to vet suppliers on continuity plans
Sainsbury's has launched a programme to ensure that key suppliers have business continuity plans in place.
New guidance on PPE published
The Health & Safety Executive has published revised guidance for employers who supply personal protective equipment for their staff.
HSE launches new performance index
The Health and Safety Executive has launched a web-based tool to help large organisations manage and track their health and safety performance against other businesses.
Balfour Beatty admits health and safety breaches
Engineering firm Balfour Beatty has admitted that it breached health and safety standards before the Hatfield train disaster.
New health and safety group pledges to make a difference
The Strategic Forum for Construction has set up a new health and safety group to ensure that promises made by the industry at the Health and Safety Summit in February are turned into action.
Smoking ban would bring £4bn pay-off
A new report from the Royal College of Physicians makes a strong case for the government to enact comprehensive legislation to make all workplaces and other enclosed spaces smoke-free.
HSE says consultation is key to safe working
A Health and Safety Executive report published yesterday confirms evidence of a link between the appointment of safety representatives and levels of health and safety awareness and performance in the workplace.
Beckingham to appeal against health and safety charge
A council architect who faces a re-trial for failing to prevent a fatal outbreak of Legionnaires Disease is to appeal against her health and safety conviction.
MacLellan cleans up at RoSPA awards
Facilities services provider MacLellan International has won the RoSPA Training Award for 2005, as well as a remarkable 17 Gold Awards for excellence in occupational health and safety performance.
Asset Skills to launch cleaning risk assessment tool
Asset Skills is set to launch its DVD-based Risk Assessment for Cleaning Services early in June.
Five plead not guilty in Cardiff Legionnaires case
Two people died of Legionnaires Disease after staying at a Cardiff hotel because a buffet unit had not been installed correctly, Cardiff Crown Court heard recently.
School fined £14,000 over asbestos
The top-rated St Albans School ignored reports identifying asbestos in its buildings putting employees at serious risk, according to a report in the Herts Advertiser.
Legionnaire's case to go to re-trial
The jury in the Barrow Legionnaire's Disease trial has failed to reach a verdict on manslaughter charges against a council officer.
Barrow Legionnaires case: guilty of H&S offence
The Council architect accused of failing to prevent an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease at the Forum 28 arts centre in Barrow has been found guilty of a health and safety offence.
Project Height gets off the ground
Project Height campaign goes live with the launch of Work at Height Regulations 2005.
HSE launches work at height regulations
The Health and Safety Executive has launched a new Work at Height guide, setting out what must be done to comply with regulations that come into effect today.
Corporate manslaughter law to focus on organisations
The Home Secretary has announced a draft corporate manslaughter bill that will update the existing laws on corporate killing.
Clean air becomes a marketing tool
In the US, often a trendsetter in these things, a growing number of building owners and managers are taking steps to improve indoor air quality in order to boost property value.
Zut! Paris landmark riddled with asbestos
The Montparnasse Tower, one of Europe's tallest skyscrapers and a tourist attraction since its construction in the `70s, is reported to contain asbestos on all 60 of its floors.
New safety at work qualifications offered
The British Safety Council has introduced two new professional qualifications designed to make UK workplaces healthier and safer.
Healthier workplace programme launched
A two-year programme to test ways of getting England's workplaces healthier and more active is to be launched by the British Heart Foundation.
Risk group in £25m buy-out
National Britannia Group, one of the UK's leading safety, health and environmental risk management specialists, has been acquired by its senior management team and private equity backers for £25m.
Legionnaire's council: manslaughter charges dropped
The judge in the Barrow Legionnaire's disease trial today ordered the jury to find the borough council not guilty of manslaughter. But local authority architect Gillian Beckingham still faces the charges.
What makes companies comply with H&S law?
The answer is pretty basic - they're worried about what people will think of them if they don't.
Health & safety bill misses the point, says IoD
With the Health and Safety (Directors' Duties) Bill due for its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, the Institute of Directors has voiced its concern at proposals to create new rules.
Health & safety scam back in the news
Scam operators are contacting unwary businesses again across the UK.
HSE launches business case offensive
The Health and Safety Executive has launched a campaign to persuade businesses that health and safety management is not only beneficial for staff but good for the bottom line too.
Asbestos training and information scheme launched
A new scheme aimed at reducing asbestos-related incidents in the workplace is targeted at facilities managers, managing agents and contractors.
CIOB backs accountability law
The Chartered Institute of Building has thrown its weight behind the proposed ‘Director Duties' Bill which will hold company directors accountable for negligent health and safety practices.
HSE launches new system to test H&S performance
The Health and Safety Executive has introduced a new web-based tool to assist companies in tracking and assessing how well they are managing their own health and safety performance.
Metronet fined after cleaner is trapped
Metronet Rail has been fined almost £15,000 after a contractor was trapped in an escalator and injured.
HSE publishes stress standards
The Health and Safety Executive has launched its new 'management standards for work-related stress'. These are intended to help employers and employees to manage risk.
HSE funding becomes an issue
The government's disinclination to increase funding to the Health and Safety Executive has led a public sector union to express strong concern.
Directors must pay for corporate negligence, poll says
Tougher laws should be in place to make senior executives personally responsible for occupational safety failures, according to more than nine in ten health and safety professionals polled by business information specialist Croner.
Smokers come under fire - again
Smoking in public places, including workplaces, is becoming a hot topic. Calls for a ban, in one form or another, are growing - increasing the challenge for FMs.
Smoking ban coming bit by bit
Central government may be shying away from the concept of an outright ban on smoking in the workplace, but it looks like steps are going to be taken at the local level anyway.
New website clarifies business benefits of H&S policies
The Health and Safety Executive has launched new website pages that set out the business benefits of tackling health and safety issues.
HSE issues warning on risk assessments after massive fine
The Health and Safety Executive has warned of the need for effective risk assessments after a £250,000 was levied against a company over the death of a crane operator.
HSE issues guidance for homeworking
The Health and Safety Executive has published a report on homeworking that provides good practice case studies and offers practical assistance for employers and homeworkers.
HSE warns again on asbestos
The Health and Safety Executive has issued another warning to employers that they must take proper precautions when staff are working in buildings where asbestos may be present.
Eight principles of a safe workplace
The US National Association of Safety Professionals has compiled a list of the principles underpinning safe workplaces - basic stuff, but good ideas nonetheless.
Businesses face risk of rising arson rates
Businesses across the UK are risking their premises, employees and even their existence by not taking measures to minimise the threat of arson, new research says.
HSE urged to double number of inspectors
The Chartered Institute of Building has leant its support to a recent report by the House of Commons Work and Pension Committee that says the number of field health & safety inspectors should increase by 100%.
New guidance on accident investigation available
The Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance on how to investigate accidents and incidents, including near misses.
Inspection service aims to ensure compliance with equipment regs
A new PC-based system from Strata Technology automatically alerts facilities managers when items of equipment are legally in need of independent inspection and certification.
Still need for action one month after asbestos regs
Companies must act upon the new asbestos 'duty to manage' legislation that came into force last month, warns risk management specialist Line International.
UK companies warned not to wait for smoking ban
Businesses in the UK should not wait for the government to impose an Irish-style smoking ban but instead should act now to head off problems, a leading adviser on health and safety legislation says.
Initial UK cleaning win gold ROSPA
Rentokil Initial UK Cleaning has achieved a gold award at Occupational Health and Safety Awards, organised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accident (RoSPA) for the third year in a row.
HSE reveals new targets
Back hurts? At least you're in good company: back disorders are the most common form of ill health at work, says the HSE.
EHS wins one and appoints one
Environmental Health and Safety company EHS has been appointed to provide onsite support to West Yorkshire's Kirkgate Engineering. It has also appointed a new client manager, David Holmes.
Third RoSPA order of distinction for Atkins
Atkins Asset Management has been awarded its third RoSPA order of distinction in recognition of its safety record over the past 16 years.
New fire website provides free information
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has just gone ‘live' with its new website.
MacLellan cleans up at RoSPAs
MacLellan has won 9 RoSPA Gold Awards for Occupational Health & Safety in 2004 as well as an award from the HSE during European Week for Safety.
NAO weighs into H&S debate
The construction industry and government organisations influencing the procurement of construction work could do more to improve health and safety, according to the National Audit Office.
H&S system 'not working', says union
The GMB union argues that health and safety issues have changed in the UK, but the regulatory framework has failed to keep pace.
HSE faults designers, warns of bogus H&S firms
Building designers are still not doing enough to design out risk, the Health and Safety Executive says.
HSE staff plan strike
There will be no HSE inspectors carrying out health and safety checks on Monday (29 March) as civil servants join a day of action following the breakdown of pay talks.
Companies ignore stress; executives ignore flexibility
Management standards established by the Health and Safety Executive to reduce stress levels in UK workplaces are being ignored by many firms, even though enforcement is due later this year.
If you want safe workplaces, involve your staff
Consult your workers if you want a workplace that conforms to H&S standards of best practice said the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) today.
Government launches 'radical' new H&S policy
More legislation and more threats of enforcement action are not the way forward, government policy-makers have decided. A better solution for health and safety is partnership.
Employers warned to maintain legal minimum workplace temperature.
Contrary to poular opinion there is no legal maximum workplace temperature but there is a minimum and employers are being urged to ensure their workplaces don't fall below it.
FM industry reacts to Legionnaires' disease charge
The news that a council official has been charged with manslaughter in connection with an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, has sent a tremor through the facilities management profession and industry.
Investigation launched into Carillion deaths
Police and Health & Safety Executive investigations have been launched into the deaths of four men working for Carillion group company Carillion Rail on the West Coast mainline project.
Manslaughter charges over Legionnaires' outbreak
A council official at Barrow borough council was charged with manslaughter this week in connection with the outbreak of Legionnaires' disease which caused seven deaths in 2002.
H&S pays - and HSC to be investigated
The Health & Safety Commission says new research clearly makes the business case for good health and safety management. At the same time, MPs' plans to investigate the effectiveness of the HSC have been announced.
HSE slated for 'flawed' inspections in Scotland
Two occupational health experts have blamed the Heath & Safety Executive for a lax approach to Scotland's semiconductor industry, where more than 10,000 people are employed.
Unison issues contracting out safety warning
Unison, the UK's largest union, has called on local authorities and health trusts to ensure that the health and safety of the workforce is taken into account when awarding contracts to private contractors.
HSE warns on control of dangerous substances
Following a court case in which an industrial cleaning company was fined £250,000 plus £400,000 in costs, the Health & Safety Executive has warned that storage and control of dangerous substances must be taken seriously.
Researchers to investigate pre-work warming up
The Health and Safety Executive has commissioned an ergonomics consultancy to test whether Japanese style morning exercises might reduce musculoskeletal disorders amongst the UK's workforce.
Designers targeted in safety drive
The Health & Safety Executive is leading a collection of industry groups in targeting designers to help in reducing risks during building works, whether that is construction, maintenance or demolition.
Herefordshire Legionnaires' cases rise
Since last Monday (10th November) the number of confirmed cases of Legionnaires' Disease in Herefordshire has risen from seven to twenty-two.
AMEC teams with OSHA in US
Multi services and construction management firm AMEC has formed a national partnership with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration intended to promote safety and prevent injuries on job sites.
Walking on building sites is dangerous, HSE warns
The biggest single cause of accidents on construction sites is simply getting to the workplace. Walking across the site and handling materials present the two greatest risks, according to new research.
Report claims safety is a postcode lottery
A new report published by the Centre for Corporate Accountability and UNISON, claims that location determines the level of health and safety enforcement undertaken by local authorities.
Most businesses unprepared for new asbestos law
New research from Zurich Risk Services reveals that 66% of companies in the UK still have no plans in place to manage the risks associated with asbestos in the workplace.
London becomes HSE focus
Health and Safety Executive inspectors served 47 enforcement notices after visiting almost 500 London workplaces in recent weeks. One in ten were found to be failing to prevent falls from height, the subject of a major H&S campaign.
Legionnaires scare for Inland Revenue
Staff at the Inland Revenue's Longbenton complex were today recovering their composure after a Legionnaires' disease scare late last week.
Back aches? You're not alone
In the UK, over a million people a year suffer from aches and pains caused or made worse by work. Now, the Health and Safety Executive has launched two initiatives aimed at reducing that toll.
Training centre goes smoke-free
Woodland Grange, one of the UK's leading providers of health, safety and environmental training, has found a solution to the problem of passive smoking - in the form of two purpose-designed 'smoking stations'.
Kier achieves OHSAS 18001
Kier Group has achieved corporate certification to Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 for its occupational health & safety management system.
Outside workers need free sunscreen
80% of businesses are worried about the risk to employees of skin cancer from sun exposure, but in reality, few are doing anything about it, says a new survey.
HSE offers new advice on stress
The Health and Safety Executive has published new research on stress prevention and rehabilitation which, it says, represents best practice.
More firms report on safety
Recent increases in the number of companies reporting publicly on health and safety performance, and in the number where health and safety is directed at board level, are being cited as success by the Health and Safety Commission.
Building sites failing safety checks
Over one hundred building sites in the east of England have been checked by HSE inspectors for safety compliance - and a quarter have failed.
Profectus launches health and safety service
Business services and consulting firm Profectus is offering small and medium sized enterprises a web-based subscription service for health and safety support.
HSE updates advice on falls and computers
The Health & Safety Executive has published new research identifying the underlying factors in falls from height, one of its key campaign areas. At the same time, the agency is offering revised guidance in a near-universal work area: computer use.
HSE reports high price of work-related illness
An estimated 33 million days were lost due to work-related illness in 2001/02, says the Health and Safety Executive in its latest detailed look at the statistics.
HSE targets London
A new London-wide inspection campaign is underway, with inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities working together to check on compliance with regulations.
Put accident data on the web, says RoSPA
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has challenged organisations to prove they take health and safety seriously by publishing relevant information on their websites.
New Legionnaires guidance from HSE
The Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance on Legionnaires' disease aimed specifically at providers of residential accommodation.
Corporate killing law back on the agenda
Home Secretary David Blunkett has told the House of Commons that the government intends to develop legislation for a new offence of corporate killing, resurrecting an argument that has been on-again, off-again for years.
Most firms failing to comply with H&S laws
Employment law firm Peninsula questioned over 2500 employers and found that an amazing 72% do not fully comply with health and safety regulations.
Designers fail CDM test
According to the Health and Safety Executive, one third of all designers have little or no understanding of their responsibilities under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994.
HSE offers updated RSI guides
The Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance on avoiding musculoskeletal disorders such as backaches and repetitive strain injuries.
Revised COSHH guidance offered
The Health and Safety Executive has published an updated guide to compliance with revised regulations, as well as new requirements that come into effect at the end of this month.
HSE targets City...don't know why
Health and Safety Executive inspectors will be targeting the City of London at the end of April, concentrating on sites where people are working at height. Construction sites will be a primary focus.
HSE issues alert on confined space working
Following four deaths in the past four weeks, the Health and Safety Executive has issued a reminder to employers about the dangers of working in confined spaces.
Canary Wharf lands Euro safety week prize
Property management company Canary Wharf Group has been named 'winner of winners' in the European Week for Safety and Health Awards.
What do H&S managers think of workplace regulations?
The HSE wants to know what those responsible for implementation think of the effectiveness of the EC Workplace Directive.
HSE to target falls
The Health and Safety Executive is planning to launch a new campaign aimed at preventing falls, especially from height in a construction setting. Inspectors are to meet designers and planning supervisors initially in Scotland and the north of England.
Accord achieves accreditation to ISO 14001
Accord - the support services group based in Welwyn Garden City - has achieved accreditation to the International Environmental Management System as well as being awarded five stars in the British Safety Council's Health & Safety audits.
HSE offers new advice on RSI
The Health and Safety Executive has published new guidance for employers on preventing repetitive strain injuries as the latest survey suggests that 400,000 people suffer RSI symptoms.
Minister urges early action to stop asbestos deaths
Health and Safety minister Nick Brown today urged owners and occupiers of commercial and public buildings in Britain to act quickly to stop people dying from asbestos-related diseases.
HSE plans March blitz
Health and Safety Executive inspectors have warned construction employers, in particular, to be ready for surprise visits during March.
HSE warns on electrical safety after firm fined
A Lowestoft company has been fined £3,000 following an accident in which a site electrician sustained serious burns. The Health and Safety Executive says the contributory causes are common.
New optimism on H&S in construction
The Health and Safety Executive says it has found evidence of 'real progress' in meeting goals for improving performance in the sector.
Institute warns on 'hidden menace'
New research from the Chartered Management Institute has found that most organisations have no policies regarding alcohol and drugs. This undoubtedly contributes to the £3.5bn estimated annual cost that misuse brings to UK industry.
HSE provides new guidance on managing asbestos
With new asbestos regulations now in place, the Health and Safety Executive has published fresh guidance on handling the deadly material in existing buildings.
US alliance to tackle ergonomic injuries
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have joined forces in an effort to help reduce workplace injuries.
H&S at work - new statistics reveal performance
New figures published by the Health and Safety Commission show that 249 people were killed in work-related accidents around Britain in 2001/02 and 27,477 major injuries were suffered. An estimated 40.2m work days were lost to illness and injury.
BP company wins Euro H&S award
BP Grangemouth has won European recognition for an innovative programme designed to prevent work-related stress.
British workers say “not enough attention paid to H&S”
About half of Britons think that health and safety at work is not up to scratch according to the first ever survey of social attitudes to include analysis of H&S in our workplaces.
Health trust to hear report on Legionnaires' outbreak
Tomorrow's public board meeting of Oldbury and Smethwick Primary Care Trust will be given a report on this summer's outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the borough.
FM response to firefighters' strike
Facilities managers are reassuring staff, reviewing life safety procedures and revising risk assessments as the firefighters begin their eight-day stoppage.
Health & Safety Executive gets tough on offenders
Fines for exposing workers to risk are up 39% year on year - and construction companies are the worst offenders.
BMA calls for ban on smoking in the workplace
Based on a new report, which concludes that a thousand people die every year as a result of passive smoking, the British Medical Association has launched a campaign targeting the use of tobacco in public places.
HSE to prosecute Carillion unit after sub-contractor burnt
The Health and Safety Executive has fined Carillion unit GT Railway Maintenance (GTRM) £17,500 after a sub-contracted worker received electrical burns.
How likely is your workplace to be HSE inspected?
Just once in the next twenty years, according to a new report. There has been a 41% drop in inspections in the last five years and workers and the public are now seriously at risk"."
Stress problems continue to grow
To coincide with the launch of European Week for Safety and Health (14 - 21 October), the working environment unit at union group Amicus has unveiled the results of an extensive survey focusing on stress in the workplace.
Corporate killing law will not hold directors liable
The Government has dropped plans to make individual directors and managers liable for prosecution under a new law currently being drafted on corporate killing.
HSE launches new ‘work together' guidance
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched new guidance to help clients and contractors work together to meet their health and safety responsibilities.
Eighth case as Sandwell Legionnaires source confirmed
An eighth person has now been confirmed as having Legionnaires disease in connection with the outbreak at Sandwell in the West Midlands.
Further possible Legionnaires' fatality
Another patient involved in the Barrow Legionella outbreak has died, the fifth fatality to date. The woman, in her ‘50s was discharged three weeks ago and authorities have still to determine whether Legionella infection was the direct cause of her death
Testing underway in new Legionnaires' outbreak
Cooling towers and air conditioning systems in and around Oldbury and Smethwick in the West Midlands have been examined following another outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in which one man has died.
TUC calls for maximum workplace temperature
The TUC is demanding a legal maximum for workplace temperatures. While there is a legal minimum temperature, contrary to popular belief there is no upper limit.
Legionnaire's building returned to council
Forum 28, the arts and civic centre suspected of being at the centre of the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in Barrow-in-Furness, has been returned to the control of Barrow Borough Council but is not expected to open to the public until next month.
Breakdown in management systems likely reason for Legionella outbreak
As the local authority at the centre of the Legionnaires' outbreak suspends one of its officers, an environmental monitoring expert says a breakdown in management systems is the probable cause.
Jarvis to delay bonuses pending accident investigation.
The company responsible for maintaining the section of track where the Potters Bar incident happened in May, has said it will not pay bonuses until the cause of the accident, in which seven people died, is known.
Cooling tower suspected in Legionnaires' disease outbreak
Once again a poorly maintained air conditioning cooling tower is thought to be at the centre of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.
New fire safety proposal “could save millions” for UK businesses
The UK's fire safety minister today published a consultation document aimed at making fire safety law simpler, ratified and consolidated.
HSE launches asbestos pack
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an asbestos pack, containing training material for those affected by the proposed asbestos regulation, to be introduced in August this year.
Many lose workplace health services
Five million workers have had their workplace health services taken away from them in the last ten years, despite a rise in sick absence costs to companies.
HSC calls for more disclosure
The quality of health & safety reporting by firms varies greatly with some reporting in detail on their policies and performance against targets, while others only include basic information.
H&S failures cost UK business £6.5bn a year
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has launched an information leaflet and an interactive web site for UK businesses to work out how much work-related accidents and ill-health are costing them.
HSC publishes new H&S guide
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published a new guide, explaining how Britain's health and safety system works.
Bosses ignore safety issues to make profits
Chief executives are ignoring safety issues while rating profits as the main business priority, according to new research.
White asbestos a significant threat, says HSE
HSE has confirmed that white asbestos is a major health hazard and will therefore include it in the new rules due to come into force later this year. These will require those responsible for commercial buildings to manage any asbestos in the premises.
Staff need to know about asbestos exposure, says TUC
In a submission to the Health and Safety Commission on new asbestos regulations, the TUC calls for a public register of the asbestos in British buildings, such as homes, hospitals, schools and other workplaces.
Asthma costing industry billions says TUC
Employers are paying dearly in lost staff, lower productivity and high compensation payouts because they are failing to substitute asthma-causing substances in their workplaces.
New HSE guidance on managing H&S
The HSE has revised its leaflet Managing Health and Safety - five steps to success. The guide aims to help managers, directors and supervisors in small and medium-sized firms.
HSE publishes on-line H&S guide
The Health and Safety Executive has launched a web-based guide to measuring health & safety performance.
HSC publishes new asbestos proposal
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has launched a revised asbestos management proposal, taking into account comments from last year's consultative document.
TUC calls for global ban on asbestos
The TUC has announced that trade unions are increasing their efforts to fight asbestos.
New health & safety plan launched
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) has published its 2001/2004 strategic plan focusing on national targets for reducing work-related injury and ill health.
HSE creates web page for workers
The HSE has set up a new web portal offering health and safety advice to workers as well as employers, who also are provided with information on roles and responsibilities.
Council to invest £1m in asbestos surveys
North Yorkshire Council is to be one of the first councils to carry out asbestos surveys in all its properties, spending £1m on the programme.
New H&S guidance aimed at directors
The Health and Safety Commission has published new guidance, saying company directors and the board members of public sector and voluntary Organisations should be responsible for health and safety.
ISS helps Carlsberg to clean safety record
ISS Food Hygiene, the hygiene experts chosen by Carlsberg Tetley at its Northampton brewery, have helped the company achieve industry-leading safety results.
HSE stress leaflet 'worse than useless' claims Unison
Unison, the public service union has asked employers to bin the latest leaflet from the Health and Safety Executive on stress.
TUC calls for increased workplace safety
Following a survey on workplace safety, the TUC advises the Government and the H&S Commission to put legal duty on employers to plan rehabilitation for injured workers.
TUC and CBI launch H&S brochure
The TUC and CBI have jointly launched a brochure on how to establish partnerships in health and safety between unions and employers.
HSE publishes stress guide
Following the report that stress leads to 6.5 million sick days a year, HSE has published a guide on how to prevent work related stress.
US Labor Secretary announces September deadline for ergonomics plan
Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that she would convene three national public forums on the issue of ergonomics safety in the workplace and that she will identify a final course of action on the issue by September.
This is not a test
A couple of months ago New Scientist reported that, when Seattle was hit by an earthquake, Microsoft staff ignored the tremors as well as the klaxons and flashing lights of the alarm system.
PM quizzed on PFI by ISS staff
The Prime Minister faced some tough questioning from ISS Mediclean staff when he took time off from the election trail to visit the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Greenwich last Friday.
Investigating all workplace incidents could save £1.8bn
The proposal by the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) to introduce a compulsory duty for companies to investigate reported work-related accidents and illnesses, could save society £1.8bn every year,
Security and health & safety advice online
The Centre for Facilities Consultancy, which provides i-FM's Advisor service, has enhanced the checklist available on its website.
HSE launches asbestos guidance
The Health & Safety Executive yesterday launched two new asbestos guidance manuals in a bid to prevent maintenance workers dying from asbestos-related diseases.
Features - Search found 48 features
Building safety: a very mixed picture
Still too little information and too much fragmentation, holding back progress.
Legionella cases are rising – how you can stay compliant
Government data shows a concerning rise in cases of Legionnaires’ disease each year since 2020.
How the past informs the future of winter cleaning
2020 seems like ancient history. But Covid-19 and other airborne illnesses are still present.
Building Safety Act: implications for FMs
April 6th sees the end of the transitional period, with far-reaching implications for projects where Building Regulations apply.
Mental health in security: are we doing enough?
Poor mental health is one of the most pressing issues facing men in the UK today.
Health and safety reporting: power to the people
Health and safety in the workplace is a critical concern for all businesses, regardless of their revenue, location or size.
Five things FMs can do to prepare for winter
Ask most facilities managers which season brings the most challenges and the top answer will likely be winter.
Managing winter’s ‘triple threat’
Steve Rainbow explores how an effective building management system removes the age-old question of when to tinker with the thermostat.
What you need to know about ISO 45003
More and more organisations are, rightly, investing more time and resources into the mental wellbeing of their employees.
Managing fire safety compliance in turbulent times
Building owners who fail to comply with proposed new fire safety measures could be faced with unlimited fines.
Gas detection & monitoring: what FM professionals need to know
Gas monitoring and control is a key part of the role for FM professionals. But it can be a challenge to stay up to date with the latest thinking and technology.
Covid-19 and lift safety
Social distancing must have been one of the most used terms of 2020. Looking ahead to 2021 this same behaviour seems set to be a part of daily life for quite a while to come.
The humble risk assessment
Amongst the many impacts of Covid-19 is this: everyone is talking about risk assessment.
Managing safety and risk in workforce transition
With the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic far from over, facility owners and managers need to stay up to date with the latest information, and stay flexible in their return-to-work planning.
Returning to work post-shutdown
The Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown have caused a massive shift in the way we work. The experts from international law firm Faegre Drinker examine the challenges UK employers are likely to face in the coming months.
What happens after lockdown?
On Thursday 16 April, the UK government extended the lockdown by at least another three weeks. That’s not to say life will return to normal on early in May, of course. But, in the meantime, how should we think about this?
Businesses clean up to fight invisible enemy
With the number of coronavirus cases rising, businesses are more conscious than ever of the need to protect themselves against this invisible enemy.
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The hidden threat to our workforce
FMs put wellness and the protection of the workforce right at the top of the agenda. So why, asks a new report, is no progress being made on the UK's highest reported workplace disease: hand arm vibration syndrome?
Protecting people from an invisible killer
Air pollution is a global environmental health issue with reports increasingly suggesting that poor air quality may be associated with mental health problems. Peter Dyment examines ways FMs can help mitigate the problem.
Why compliance maintenance should be a priority
In order to ensure a safe environment, it is important that all aspects of a building remain compliant and within the law. Property services firm MSL offers some advice on the basics.
Mental health first aiders in action
Bouygues Energies & Services UK has mental health first aiders across its business. Kamil Banse, senior HR manager, told Fiona Perrin about this key initiative to protect colleague wellbeing.
Health, productivity and indoor air quality
As a business, you’re no doubt striving towards giving your customers the best possible experience. As an employer, you’ll be committed to the health and wellbeing of your staff. But something could be impacting your efforts more than you realise.
Technology and safety in pharmaceutical FM
Compliance and safety are paramount to every pharmaceutical business, but the focus for the FM team is especially important. Mike Knapp explains.
Five ways to safeguard your mobile lone workers
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 employers have legal duties to assess all risks to health and safety, including the risk of lone working.
Why E-Permits to Work will replace paper
As on-site health & safety requirements seem to increase exponentially, the challenge for facilities managers in managing contractors grows consequentially.
Gritting: Coming out from the cold
Vicky Lopez explains why gritting services should be considered an important part of the strategic FM job.
The True Cost of a Serious Accident
Keeping employees safe in the workplace can be one of the most important functions of a facilities manager, Rob Burgon writes.
Beware False Economies: Appliance Safety Testing
Jim Wallace encourages a common-sense approach to ensuring the safety of electrical equipment, as cutting corners can carry considerable risks.
Let it Snow!
In contrast to the warmth and security evoked by the lyrical strains of the popular US Christmas song, the first sign of the cold, white stuff tends to send many UK organisations into a panicked frenzy and leaves them very vulnerable.
The End of Strict Liability?
We probably won't see an end to the concept of strict liability for many years to come, but things have changed. Robert Greenfield and Michael Morgan explain.
Risk-based Safety at Work
Amy Lyons looks at the emphasis on risk assessment in the new IET Code of Practice aimed at ensuring the safety of electrical equipment in the workplace.
Compliance Gets Recognition
Rob Greenfield argues that perceptions are finally changing for both clients and service providers.
Name of the Game
This autumn it's all about change as new legislation affecting the facilities management sector is open to consultation or coming into force.
A New Horizon for FMs
The waters surrounding health and safety legislation have been choppy of late. In their wake comes change for anyone responsible for reducing injuries and ill-health in the workplace.
Managing Contractors
Barry Holt discusses the risks and advantages that are associated with outsourcing from a health & safety point of view.
Clean Up and Keep Staff Healthy
A news release issued by the Department of Work and Pensions on 17 February reported that working-age ill health costs the UK economy a staggering 150m lost working days and £100bn every year.
Putting the Case for H&S?
Health and safety has, over the last two years, become heavily scrutinised from a governmental perspective.
Today’s Health & Safety Landscape
The reputation of health and safety has taken a bit of a battering lately.
Risk Assessment Risk
Health and safety has been in the spotlight again, with the Government looking at regulations and policies.
Winning Hearts and Minds
Neil Harrison looks at the persistent challenge of getting people to buy into a safety culture.
The False Economy of Health & Safety Cuts
Rob Greenfield writes: In a difficult economic climate it is inevitable that facilities managers will be asked to look at ways of cutting costs across all areas of their responsibility - and health and safety is no exception.
Competence and Risk Assessment in Fire Safety
Graham Ellicott writes: FMs are increasingly becoming involved in the fire safety equation, either in specifying the fire protection measures that are being installed in the nation's buildings or in the management of the fire systems and equipment.
Safety Challenges and the Industry Response
Jill Joyce writes: facilities managers are in a unique position to influence the toll of injury and ill health at work, as they play a key role in establishing safe and healthy working environments for their organisations.
Total Compliance - Myth or Reality?
Mark Carter asks: is a healthy and safe work environment the holy grail of the modern world - or is it in fact achievable?
Planning a Safe Exit
Paul Moor writes: A systematic approach to evacuation and shelter planning is needed to ensure that staff safety and corporate reputation are protected in the face of today's threats.
Business Continuity Plans - Step by Step
Steven Garrod writes: Be it an art or a science, writing a business continuity plan on a blank piece of paper is almost impossible to get right. Yet this is what many people set out to do when they begin to develop a plan for their business.
Asbestos: The Duty to Manage Explained
Philip Hanna writes: Documented asbestos management plans are a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises, whatever the business, as well as the common areas of domestic premises. This article explains the law and provides tips for compliance.
Do Not Disturb
The long-awaited 'duty to manage' element of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002, places stringent obligations upon those who manage premises, explains Dave Birkin. These need not be a headache if the correct procedures are adopted.
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Future-proofing the business
Martin Lewis reflects on the OCS Group’s first Resilience Week.
The benefits of cutting-edge water monitoring
The nation’s water supply is under severe pressure. In that context, building owners and operators need to take positive action.
Sewing up safety with the digital golden thread
The next deadline in the roll-out of the UK’s new building safety regulations is coming up fast.
Returning to work: are we ready?
Over the next few weeks and months, buildings across the country will start to be reoccupied. A gradual process, this will nevertheless presents enormous challenges to many businesses.
Mental health first aiders: a benefit for us all
Wednesday December 19th will see a debate in the Commons, pushing for the implementation of a mental health first aider in every workplace to help bridge the gap between mental health and physical health care legislation in business.
Facing those winter woes
As the UK faces more frequent bouts of extreme weather, businesses are taking the impact this has on trading and operations far more seriously. Vicky Lopez explains how customer relations have evolved in the winter maintenance sector over the years.
Preparing for the worst
Afraid of the inevitable loss to business revenue and legal action that come with unpredictable snowfall? Vicky Lopez explains why it pays to plan your winter gritting strategy in advance.
Preparing for winter
At what stage do you realise you need to reach out to a specialist? Vicky Lopez has the answers.
UK Health & Safety Culture
Is that a positive one or a negative one, asks David Lummis, CEO at the British Safety Industry Federation.
What Price Mental Health?
MITIE's decision to offer its staff access to mental health training demonstrates a genuine commitment to their well-being and continued development.
Staying in Shape
Despite what you might read in the papers, health and safety is good for Britain and it's good for British business.
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