Health & Safety

Anyone caught using their handheld device while driving could face a fine of up to £1,000 as well as 6 points on their driving license or a full driving ban. The meaning of ‘using’ a phone will be expanded to cover the following:

• Illuminating the screen.
• Checking the time.
• Checking notifications.
• Unlocking the device.
• Making, receiving, or rejecting a telephone or internet-based call.
• Sending, receiving or uploading oral or written content.
• Sending, receiving or uploading a photo or video.
• Utilising camera, video, or sound recording.
• Drafting any text.
• Accessing any stored data such as documents, books, audio files, photos, videos, films, playlists, notes or messages.
• Accessing an app.
• Accessing the internet.

Government make it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving ‘under any circumstance’ – SHP – Health and Safety News, Legislation, PPE, CPD and Resources (shponline.co.uk)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published the third edition of its free-to-order Fire safety in construction book, which includes an added focus on eliminating or reducing fire risks at the design stage. The revised HSG168 publication, which is aimed at those responsible for procuring, designing, developing and managing construction sites, including clients and designers, explains how they can comply with their legal duties in relation to fire risks. The revision highlights specific guidance that covers the elimination and/or the reduction of fire risks at the pre-construction stage, which is required by the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.

HSE guide targets designers to eliminate fire risks at pre-construction phase | IOSH Magazine

Scrap metal recycling firm Alutrade Ltd has been fined £2 million after admitting the corporate manslaughter of an employee. Three company directors have also been fined. Alutrade was ordered to pay £105,514 costs on top of its £2 million fine. £2 million corporate killing fine imposed on metal recycler for ‘incident waiting to happen’ | IOSH Magazine

Sainsbury’s failed to organise orderly queuing at the company’s Newbury store which  left a customer facing life-changing injuries. On 21 June 2020, Patricia was visiting the store on her mobility scooter and didn’t see the black and white baler twine strung between the two posts and she drove straight into it, ’The red and white plastic tape normally used was always breaking so it was replaced with black and white baler twine. £1 million fine for Sainsbury’s following Covid queuing accident | IOSH Magazine

A lorry driver who was sacked after refusing to wear a facemask inside his cab on a client’s site was fairly dismissed, a judge has ruled. The case is believed to be the first time a tribunal has ruled on facemask refusal.

Deimantas Kubilius brought a claim for unfair dismissal against his employer, Kent Foods, after he was summarily dismissed in June 2020 over an incident at Tate and Lyle’s (T&L) Thames Refinery site. Deimantas had refused to wear a face covering when asked, prompting T&L to ban him from the site for breaching health and safety rules. 

Finding in favour of Kent Foods, Judge Barrett said that Deimantas had failed to comply with his employer’s drivers’ handbook, which stipulates that: ‘customer instruction regarding PPE requirements must be followed’. It was therefore reasonable for his employer to fire him for misconduct.