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'Surfboard' Saves Falling Window Cleaner

01/05/2008

Officials in New York are trying to work out how a window-cleaner survived a 47-storey fall from a skyscraper.
They think 37-year-old Alcides Moreno clung on to a piece of his platform as he fell - and it acted as a surfboard in the air, slowing his fall.

He remains in critical condition in hospital but has been able to move his arms and legs and open his eyes.
Dr Sheldon Teperman, at Jacobi Medical Centre in The Bronx, told the New York Post: "Fifty per cent of people who fall four to five storeys die.
"By the time you reach 10 or 11 storeys, just about everyone dies. This guy absolutely should have died."

Mr Moreno's brother Edgar, 30, died in the same fall.
The pair, working for City Wide Window Cleaning, were on top of the Solow Tower, a luxury apartment block in the city's Upper West Side.
Officials suspect their cables were not secured properly and they were either dragged or fell off the top of the building.

The pair would have fallen at a speed of about 124mph, the speed at which gravity pulling someone down is balanced by upward air friction.
But Alcides Moreno was clinging on to a 1,250lb piece of scaffolding, called a Louisville Ladder, which may have slowed his fall.
His landing position could also have made a difference in helping to save him when he hit the ground, experts said.
He suffered numerous broken bones, collapsed lungs, blood clots on the brain, damaged kidneys and other internal injuries.

But Stefan Bright, safety director for the International Window Cleaners Association, told the paper Mr Moreno was lucky.

He said: "Window washers have fallen six feet and died."

Compnaies fined £30, 000

20/04/2008

 companies fined £30,000 plus costs

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned businesses to make sure that workers and contractors are properly trained to carry out risk assessments and operate safe systems of work, as two companies were fined after a worker lost the tips of two fingers at a paper recycling plant in Greenwich.

RCP Macpress (UK) Ltd, of Bridges Business Park, Horsehay, Telford, was fined £15,000 with costs of £2,496, after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. SCA Recycling UK Ltd, of New Hythe Lane, Aylesford, Kent, was also fined £15,000 with costs of £3,042 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Loraine Charles, the HSE Inspector who investigated the case, said: "This incident demonstrates the importance of ensuring that employees are properly trained to carry out risk assessments and to properly operate permit-to-work systems - not just how to fill in forms. Risk assessments and permit-to-work systems are worthless unless companies make sure that employees are aware of what the hazards actually are and, therefore, carry out their work accordingly."

On 23 July 2004, James Adams, and another engineer from RCP Macpress engineers, were at SCA Recycling UK Ltd’s premises in Herringham Road, Greenwich, London to repair a large waste paper recycling machine, known as a shredder or hogger. The shredder had been damaged when the fork of a forklift truck was inadvertently loaded into it hidden within a load of waste paper. Although the engineers filled in their company’s risk assessment form before starting the job, they had only been instructed on how to fill in the form, and not how to actually make an assessment of the risks. When the panel of the shredder that allowed access to the damaged area failed to open as easily as the engineers had expected, they resorted to attempting to push the panel open using a hydraulic jack able to exert a force sufficient to lift 25 tonnes – the estimated weight of the panel being approximately 100kg. The panel opened suddenly, but immediately shut again, trapping Mr Adams’ right ring finger and little finger resulting in the loss of the tips of both fingers.

Loraine Charles continued:

"A properly implemented permit-to-work system would have ensured that there was a detailed methodology for the work to be undertaken on the shredder, including how access was to be gained to area that was damaged. RCP Macpress (UK) Ltd, should have told the engineers that the permit remained valid only as long as the work proceeded according to this methodology. Had this happened, as soon as the access panel failed to open as expected, the engineers would have been compelled to return to the permit issuer, and both companies would have had the opportunity to evaluate what steps were needed to be taken to ensure that the work could be done safely."

The HSE investigation revealed that SCA Ltd had a number of types of permit-to-work documents and a permit was issued to the RCP Macpress engineers. But SCA had failed to ensure that employees who issued permits had been properly trained and did not have a clear understanding of how the permit-to-work system should have been operated.

Notes to Editors
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that "it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees".
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that "it shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety".

Entertainment industry working at heights

13/03/2008

Industry

The Event Safety Guide (HSG 195): Medical, Ambulance and first aid management
With changes in legislation and practices over time, it is inevitable that some areas of guidance will become out of date. We are currently engaged in a market research exercise as part of the process of revising and updating the Guide. However we’ve recently been asked whether we could clarify the position of paramedics and ambulance technicians.

We are aware that the Guide defines paramedics as members of NHS ambulance services registered with the Institute of Health Care and Development (IHCD) while this has now been replaced by the Health Professions Council (HPC).

The Event Safety Guide is guidance and you can comply with the law and good practice in others way if you wish. This includes areas where the guide has become outdated and new legislation or guidance is available that can be used to help you comply with the law.

There is no legal requirement on event organisers to use only NHS providers of medical cover, and HSE would have no objections to provision by a private contractor of paramedics registered with the HPC.

Similarly we would have no objection to the provision of ambulance technicians by private contractors as long as they were suitably qualified and equipped, etc.

Safety when working at height

06/02/2008

construction deaths up

05/02/2008

28% Growth in construction deaths

Stephen Williams, HSE Head of Construction

Last year the number of deaths in construction rose by a massive 28% to a total of 77 workers. Although this figure is still lower than five years ago, worryingly it is the first time in five years that the downward trend in deaths has been reversed, and most of these deaths were in the refurbishment sector.

Last year alone 39 workers died in refurbishment, accounting for just over half of all construction deaths and representing a 61% rise from 24 deaths in 2005/06.

Throughout February our inspectors will be carrying out a rigorous ‘Falls and Trips inspection initiative’ focused directly at refurbishment construction sites across the UK. Inspectors will arrive unannounced and take enforcement action where they find unacceptable and unsafe work practices taking place.

In Summer 2007, during another similar inspection initiative, we carried out over 1586 inspections and the results were startling. We took enforcement action at nearly one in three sites inspected and 244 prohibition notices were served, stopping work on site instantly. We certainly do not wish to see the same level of bad practice this time around, however, if we do, we will not hesitate to take firm action against those who flaunt safety precautions.

Work at height remains our biggest concern and falls from height will be the focus of inspections. Over half of the enforcement action taken during the summer inspection initiative was against dangerous work at height, which last year killed 23 workers and was responsible for over 1000 major injuries.

Inspectors will also expect to see good site order to lower the risk of trips, which accounted for over 1000 major injuries.

If you are a principal contractor, you should:

Have a system for the procurement and control of contractors that includes arrangements to check the competence of workers
Actively monitor the work of your subcontractors
Ensure their safety standards are the same as yours
All duty-holders need to

Identify jobs that involve work at height and ensure that appropriate safety precautions are in place

Have procedures for the selection of correct equipment and ensure that the selected equipment is actually used

Communicate risk control measures to the workforce

Ensure workers are competent to use the equipment that has been correctly installed / assembled

Arrange inspection and maintenance of equipment as appropriate

Have a risk assessment in place that applies the Work at Height Regulations hierarchy available on the HSE website.

Plan how the site will be kept tidy

Traffic routes should be segregated from pedestrian routes

The logistics of material supplies and movements should be considered (what is to be delivered, when, and where it is to be stored), alongside waste control
Walkways and stairs should be kept free of tripping hazards such as trailing wires and loose materials. This is especially important for emergency routes
Work areas should be kept as clear as possible of unnecessary materials, equipment, debris and other hazards

21% of accidents reported to the Electrical Contractors Association by members were caused because of a slip or trip. Good order is an issue all contractors can work together to improve.

My advice to all duty holders, and especially site managers and contractors, is to plan work carefully; use competent workers; if working at height use the right equipment; use it safely and keep walkways on site clear of obstructions.
Everyone on site should look out for the hazards they encounter and take a moment to help manage the risks sensibly.

A fall could be fatal or change lives forever.

HSE guide to the new working at height regulations.

23/01/2008

In 2005/06 falls from height accounted for 46 fatal accidents at work and around 3350 major injuries. They remain the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury.

This document is written for employers, the self-employed and anyone who works at height. It tells you what you need to do to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, as amended by the Work at Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007. The Regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury.

For more details, please download the entire guide from the HSE here: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

The latest injury statistics show that 40% of all worker deaths in construction are caused by a fall from height and in the last 5 years there have been 13 such deaths involving construction workers in the Eastern Region. In addition, hundreds of major injuries have involved a fall from below head height or tripping over materials on walkways.

In a bid to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by falls and trips the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be carrying out targetted inspections of construction sites throughout Bed, Bucks, Herts and Cambs during July. During the visits inspectors will provide advice and will take robust enforcement action where there is a serious failure to comply and control the risk to those working on site.

HSE inspectors will focus on making sure the correct precautions are taken during work at low and high heights to prevent the risk of a fall. They will also be checking that sites are kept in good order. Employers must ensure that workers are competent and have access to the right equipment. Sensible measures like keeping walkways on site clear must be taken to see an improvement in safety.

The HSE website contains guidance material on falls and good order prepared specifically to help duty holders take action to deal with these issue.

Notes

1. Trips and falls in construction 2007, continues HSE's enforcement led inspection activity and follows on from the Fit Out Campaign in 2005 and the Watch Your Step initiative in 2006.
2. Reducing the number of injuries and deaths from trips and falls is a priority for HSE to help the construction industry meet its accident target by 2010. HSC published its Strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond on 23 February 2004. The strategy aims to promote a vision of health and safety as a cornerstone of a civilised society and to achieve a record of workplace health and safety that leads the world. The strategy is available at: hse.gov.uk/aboutus/hsc/strategy.htm
3. During this inspection period and to coincide with HSE’s 'Ladders Exchange' initiative, HSE is working in partnership with ladder retailers and equipment hire companies to offer a ladder exchange facility. Information is available at hse.gov.uk/falls/ladderexchange.htm

HSE’s InfoLine 0845 345 0055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG

Further information on work at height is available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm.

HSE Accident Statistics for 2005 - 2006

14/12/2007

Ill health

• 2.0 million people were suffering from an illness they believed was caused or made worse by their current or past work.
• 523 000 of these were new cases in the last 12 months.
• 1969 people died of mesothelioma (2004), and thousands more from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.

Injuries

• 212 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.7 per 100 000 workers.
• 146 076 other injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, a rate of 562.4 per 100 000 employees.
• 328 000 reportable injuries occurred, according to the Labour Force Survey, a rate of 1200 per 100 000 workers (2004/05).

Working days lost

• 30 million days were lost overall (1.3 days per worker), 24 million due to work-related ill health and 6 million due to workplace injury.

Revitalising Health and Safety targets: progress to 2005/06

• Ill health: on track to meet the ten-year target, and falling in 2005/06.
• Fatal and major injuries: not on track to meet the ten-year target, but falling in 2005/06.
• Days lost per worker: probably on track to meet the ten-year target, and falling in 2005/06.

Enforcement

• 1012 offences were prosecuted by HSE.
• 332 offences were prosecuted by local authorities (2004/05).

BSI British Standards has published a new British Standard: BS 8411:2007 Code of practice for safety nets on construction sites and other works.

This key publication provides essential guidance and recommendations on the safe use, erection and effective maintenance of safety nets on construction sites and other works where there is risk of a fall.

Falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries and mainly involve roofs, ladders, scaffolds and raised platforms. In 2005/06 there were a total of 59 fatal injuries to workers in the construction industry*.

For more information and to buy BS 8411:2007 please click the link below

www.bsi-global.com/bs8411

Falling from height

24/11/2005

Falling from a height continues to be the most common kind (type) of accident, accounting for 19% of fatal injuries to workers in 2006/07

Over the last decade there has been steady and significant reduction in fatal injuries due to this type of accident. Being struck by a moving or falling object, and being struck by a moving vehicle, are the next most common kinds of fatal accident.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Rt Hon. Peter Hain, has convened a Construction Forum to focus specifically on the house building and domestic repair/refurbishment sectors. By inviting a small group of influential organisations/people with lead roles throughout the supply chain, he is seeking to agree action to address the increase in fatal injuries in these sectors.

Further information will be provided following the event.

For more details of the Construction Fatal Injury Statistics 2006/07 please follow the link below.

Fatal Injury Stats 2006/07

Summary of the fatal injury statistics for 2006/07

• The provisional figure for the number of workers fatally injured in 2006/07 is 241, and corresponds to a rate of fatal injury of 0.80 per 100 000 workers. In 2005/06, the finalised figures were 217 and 0.72 respectively; these were the lowest annual figures on record.
• Although a long-term downward trend is still clear, the rate of decrease has slowed over the last 15 years and there has been very little change in the overall rate over the last five years.
• Of the main industrial sectors, agriculture and construction have the highest rates of fatal injury. Together these two sectors account for 46% of fatal injuries to workers.
• Falling from a height continues to be the most common kind (type) of accident, accounting for 19% of fatal injuries to workers in 2006/07. Over the last decade there has been steady and significant reduction in fatal injuries due to this type of accident. Being struck by a moving or falling object, and being struck by a moving vehicle, are the next most common kinds of fatal accident.
• There were 90 members of the public fatally injured in 2006/07 (excluding railways-related incidents). The number of member of the public incidents reported has not shown any significant change over time.

Worker fatalities by main industry

• In agriculture there were 34 fatalities and the rate of fatal injury was 8.1 deaths per 100 000 workers. The rate of fatal injury to workers has fluctuated in recent years with no statistically significant trend.
• In construction there were 77 fatalities and the rate of fatal injury was 3.7 deaths per 100 000 workers. Over the last 15 years there has been a statistically significant downward trend in the rate of fatal injury to workers; on average a 3.9% year on year decrease. However, the higher number and rate for 2006/07 changes a pattern consistent with continued reduction up to 2005/06 into one of no change since 2002/03.
• In manufacturing there were 35 fatalities and the rate of fatal injury was 1.1 per 100 000 workers. The rate of fatal injury to workers has fluctuated in recent years with no statistically significant trend.
• In the services sector there were 85 fatalities, and the rate of fatal injury was 0.35 deaths per 100 000 workers. Since 1998/99, the trend in the rate of injury in this sector has remained relatively unchanged.
• Statistics of Fatal Injuries 2006/07 [PDF 150kb]
• Latest six month fatal injuries for 2006/07 (1 April 2006 to 30 Sept 2006)