Are you a self-employed worker?

Are you self employed?

If you are a self-employed worker then your health and safety (H&S) duties might be changing! Firstly what is the definition of a self-employed person in H&S terms? A self-employed person is an individual who works for gain or reward otherwise than under a contract of employment, whether or not they employ others. Currently H&S…

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Control of Substances Hazardous To Health Regulations (COSHH) ACoP

New Hazard warning signs. Globally Harmonized System

The HSE has released a new guidance document and ACOP supporting the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, as part of its ongoing work to make the semi-legal documents more comprehensible. The new ACOP (L5) is aimed at management, supervisory staff, safety representatives and technical specialists and has been revised to clarify and simplify…

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Fit Testing of Face Masks (RPE) Training

A national targeted inspection focusing on health risks for construction workers which has just been completed by the HSE has resulted in enforcement action being taken at one in six of hundreds of sites visited. During the two-week period of proactive inspections, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) demanded improvements, and in some cases put…

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Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations ACoP

Gas mask and Respirator.

The Regulations have not changed, the associated ACoP (L24), incorporating the Regulations, has been revised to include various updates to Regulations introduced since 1992 and to make the HSE’s advice clearer. A paragraph has been added to the Guidance to regulation 3 in an attempt to explain the duty of host employers and others in…

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Controlling Legionella Bacteria in Water Systems

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revised the Legionnaires’ disease Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) (L8), removing the technical Guidance, which has been published separately online. The ACOP is aimed at Dutyholders, including Employers; those in control of premises; and people with health and safety responsibilities for others. The ACOP provides greater clarity for…

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Revocation Of Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPS)

SWMPs were introduced in 2008 and were required to be in place before construction work began for projects with an estimated cost in excess of £300,000. A more detailed SWMP was needed if the estimated construction cost was above £500,000. The Plan had to include how to identify the waste likely to be produced on…

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Do you know the difference between ACOP/Guidance?

A glossy green sphere and a bright blue cube sit on opposite ends of a gray board which is balanced on a red question mark. Isolated on white.

What is the difference between approved codes of practice & guidance & what is their legal status? Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) An ACOP is approved by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), with the consent of the Secretary of State. It describes the preferred or recommended methods (by HSE) that can be used, or…

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New Health & Safety Law Poster

The “new” Health & Safety Law Poster replaces the version published in April 1999 and must be displayed from 5 April 2014 REMINDER TO DISPLAY NEW H&S LAW POSTER The “new” Health & Safety Law Poster replaces the version published in April 1999 and must be displayed from 5 April 2014. As well as a…

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Managing & Working With Asbestos

Asbestos is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK; the HSE estimates that asbestos-related diseases account for around 4,500 deaths a year. On average, 20 tradespersons die from asbestos exposure every week. The Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 have not changed, the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) and Guidance has been…

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