Jewel Safety Blog - Hull & East Riding of Yorkshire

Why IOSH Virtual Training Online can be a Smarter, More Effective Choice for Modern Workforces

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:27:11 GMT

�� Why IOSH Virtual Training Online can be a Smarter, More Effective Choice for Modern Workforces

Why IOSH Virtual Training Online can be a Smarter, More Effective Choice for Modern Workforces

In today’s fast-paced business environment, efficiency and accessibility are more crucial than ever. IOSH virtual training has transformed how organisations approach health and safety education. At Jewel Safety, we’ve seen firsthand how virtual IOSH courses deliver the same high quality experience as classroom sessions without the added cost and disruption of travel.

The Evolution of Health and Safety Training

Traditionally, IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) training was conducted in physical classrooms. While effective, it required staff to travel, often long distances. This resulted in downtime, accommodation costs, and logistical challenges.

Today, technology allows organisations to receive IOSH training virtually, keeping employees safe, productive, and connected, no matter where they are in the UK.

What Makes IOSH Virtual Training Online So Effective?

Accessibility Without Boundaries

One of the most powerful advantages of IOSH virtual training online is its accessibility. Whether your employees are in London, Manchester, or Aberdeen, everyone can join the same session in real time. This ensures consistent learning outcomes across multiple sites without the need for travel.

At Jewel Safety, we regularly host sessions for companies with teams scattered across the country. Everyone receives the same level of expert instruction without leaving their desks.

Major Cost and Time Savings

Traveling for training can quickly become expensive. Costs for petrol, public transport, hotels, and meals add up. With virtual IOSH courses, companies save both money and time as employees can complete training from home or the office.

This not only reduces costs but also minimises business disruption, allowing staff to return to work immediately after their session.

Consistent Quality of Delivery

Our IOSH accredited trainers at Jewel Safety deliver the same approved materials and assessments used in traditional settings. The only difference is the medium. Each course maintains IOSH standards, interactive modules, and certified outcomes.

Through virtual platforms, we replicate classroom dynamics with live instruction, screen sharing, and real-time Q&A sessions.

Higher Attendance and Engagement Rates

Online platforms’ built-in features like breakout rooms, interactive polls, and chat discussions, encourage collaboration and engagement. Participants often report feeling more comfortable asking questions virtually than in person.

For many learners, the online setting reduces anxiety and enhances participation, leading to stronger retention of key safety principles.

Real-World Example: Jewel Safety’s National Reach

A manufacturing client recently needed IOSH Managing Safely training for teams in three different UK locations. Instead of coordinating travel and accommodation, we delivered the course entirely online.

The result?

✅ 100% attendance rate

✅ No travel costs

✅ Same learning outcomes as classroom training

The client not only met compliance requirements but also saved over £2,000 in travel related expenses.

Overcoming the Myths About Online Safety Training

“Online Means Less Focused” – Debunked

Contrary to popular belief, online training does not reduce focus. Jewel Safety’s trainers incorporate interactive exercises, visual aids, and breakout discussions that keep learners engaged throughout.

“It’s Hard to Interact Online” – Not Anymore

Modern training platforms mimic real classroom collaboration. Group discussions, whiteboard exercises, and shared case studies make sessions dynamic and personal.

The Jewel Safety Advantage

At Jewel Safety, we specialise in IOSH virtual training online that fits around your business, not the other way around.

Qualified Instructors with Real World Experience

Our trainers are industry experts who bring practical experience from transport, manufacturing, and corporate sectors. They understand the real challenges your business and staff face.

Proven Results and Testimonials

Our clients consistently report improved compliance rates, safer workplaces, and stronger safety culture after completing our virtual IOSH programs.

FAQs About IOSH Virtual Training Online

1. Is IOSH virtual training online officially recognised?
Yes. Jewel Safety’s online courses meet all IOSH accreditation requirements and issue the same certificates as classroom sessions.

2. Do participants need any special software?
No. A stable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone are all that’s needed.

3. How interactive are online IOSH sessions?
Extremely interactive. Our sessions include live discussions, group work, and assessments in real time.

4. Can we host private group sessions for our staff?
Absolutely. Jewel Safety offers dedicated corporate sessions for teams of up to 20 students.

5. How are assessments handled?
Assessments are completed digitally at the end of the course.

6. Is technical support available during the course?
Yes. Our team provides full tech support to ensure smooth participation for all attendees.

Conclusion – The Future of IOSH Learning Is Online

As businesses embrace flexible and digital-first operations, IOSH virtual training course has proven to be not only practical but also powerful. With Jewel Safety, you get the perfect balance of compliance, convenience, and quality ensuring your team is trained safely, efficiently, and effectively.

�� Contact us today to get started or request a quick quote.

5 Signs Your Business Needs IOSH Training

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 23:00:04 GMT

�� 5 Signs Your Business Needs IOSH Training

Keeping your employees safe isn’t just a moral responsibility – it’s a legal one too. Yet many businesses, especially the smaller ones, fall behind on health and safety training without realising what the risks are.

At Jewel Safety, we deliver IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely courses to companies across Hull and East Yorkshire, and we often hear the same story: “We didn’t know how much we needed this training until something went wrong.”

If you're wondering whether your business could benefit from IOSH training, here are 5 clear signs that now’s the time to act:

1. You've Had Near Misses or Minor Incidents

These are often ignored because no one was injured, however, that’s a dangerous attitude. A near miss is a red flag that something in your processes or training isn’t working.

IOSH training teaches staff to recognise hazards, report unsafe behaviours, and follow correct procedures, reducing the chance of future accidents. Better still, trained managers can carry out thorough investigations to prevent reoccurrence.

2. Managers Aren’t Confident in Their Health & Safety Duties

If your managers or supervisors aren't clear on their responsibilities under the law, it puts your business at risk of non-compliance.

IOSH Managing Safely gives leaders the tools to understand the Health and Safety at Work Act, manage risks, and promote safe working practices across the business. It also reinforces their accountability, helping you stay legally compliant and ethically sound.

3. Staff Don’t Understand Workplace Hazards

Employees often don't realise the risks around them, or they underestimate them. If you hear phrases like “It’s only a quick job” or “I’ve done it this way for years”, your team needs IOSH training.

IOSH Working Safely is ideal for frontline workers. It raises awareness, changes attitudes, and builds a foundation of good safety practices – from reporting hazards to using equipment correctly.

4. You’re Losing Out on Contracts Requiring Proof of Training

More and more clients now require documented evidence of health and safety training, especially in construction, manufacturing, logistics and care.

Having IOSH-certified staff can give your business a competitive edge. It shows that you invest in your team and operate to recognised safety standards. All of which can help you win new contracts and maintain good working relationships with existing clients.

5. You’re Building a Safety Culture (Or don't have one!)

Safety culture isn’t built with signs and PPE alone, it’s built through education, good leadership, and consistency. IOSH training empowers staff at all levels to take responsibility for safety, creating a workplace where people look out for each other and speak up when something’s not right.

Businesses with strong safety cultures tend to have lower incident rates, fewer absences, and better staff morale.

Is It Time to Act?

If any of these signs sound familiar, your business will benefit from IOSH training. At Jewel Safety, we deliver IOSH Managing Safely and Working Safely in Hull, East Yorkshire, and on-site across the UK. We also deliver online via Zoom.

We’ll make sure the training fits your industry, your team, and your goals.

�� Contact us today to get started or request a quick quote.

What’s the Difference Between IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:56:40 GMT

If you're unsure which IOSH course is right for your team, you're not alone.

At Jewel Safety, we often get asked about the difference between IOSH Managing Safely and IOSH Working Safely, and which one best suits different roles in the workplace.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

�� IOSH Managing Safely

Designed for: Managers, supervisors, team leaders and anyone with an interest in health and safety

Duration: 3 days (over consecutive days or spread over three weeks)

Covers: Risk assessment, responsibilities, incident investigation, and compliance

Key benefit: Empowers leaders to take control of health and safety in their teams

See our IOSH Managing Safely page for full course details

�� IOSH Working Safely

Designed for: All employees, across all sectors

Duration: 1 day

Covers: Basic hazard awareness, responsibilities, and workplace risks

Key benefit: Builds a solid safety culture from the ground up

See our IOSH Working Safely page for full course details.

Both are accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and lead to a recognised certificate.

�� Based in Hull or East Yorkshire? We deliver both onsite at your premises, or online via Zoom.

Need help deciding? Contact us today and we’ll help match your team to the right course.

How IOSH Managing Safely Benefits Your Company – And how Jewel Safety Can Help

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 15:32:55 GMT

How IOSH Managing Safely Benefits Your Company – And how Jewel Safety Can Help

In today’s competitive business environment, health and safety is not just a legal requirement, but a crucial aspect of business success. Companies that invest in high quality health and safety training experience significant benefits. The IOSH Managing Safely course equips staff with essential knowledge and practical skills to manage risks, responsibilities, and resources effectively.

Jewel Safety provide comprehensive IOSH Managing Safely training, helping staff and managers understand how to assess risks, investigate incidents, and drive a culture of safety in a company. This leads to fewer accidents, reduced downtime and improved efficiency. It also helps businesses identify potential hazards before they escalate into serious problems, encouraging a proactive approach to safety that reduces long term costs.

A well-trained leadership team also positively impacts staff morale. Employees feel valued and supported when their managers prioritise safety, leading to increased loyalty, engagement, and reduced turnover. This ripple effect benefits the entire workforce.

Beyond internal benefits, a strong safety record enhances a company’s reputation. In sectors like construction, manufacturing, and logistics, clients and stakeholders value companies that take their responsibility seriously. Managers trained by a recognised provider like Jewel Safety, demonstrate a visible and credible commitment to safety standards.

Legal compliance is another critical aspect. Employees who fully understand their responsibilities are far less likely to make costly errors or fall foul of regulations.The IOSH Managing Safely course gives them the tools to stay ahead of potential issues and Jewel Safety delivers that training with clarity, real-world relevance, and flexibility to suit your business needs.

At Jewel Safety, we don’t just deliver a training course, we help you to build a positive safety culture in your company. With experienced health and safety trainers, engaging delivery methods, and support tailored to your organisation, we ensure your staff and managers complete the training confident, competent, and ready to make a real impact to the business.

HSE Prosecute Fork Lift Truck Driver

Thu, 23 May 2024 15:10:26 GMT

Can an employee be prosecuted?

When your employees are handed the keys to a forklift truck, you have to put a certain amount of trust in them to follow their training. What happens though if they choose to ignore their training and written or verbal instructions? If there’s an accident as a result, will you, as their employer, be held accountable?

A prosecution, which followed an accident involving a forklift truck, suggests that you won’t. In this case, the Health & Safety Executive found that the employer had done what could be reasonably expected of them, however, the employee had not. Gerald Wyatt, who was employed by Eardisley Sawmills, was prosecuted by the HSE after a colleague suffered serious injuries on January 17 2007. Gerald Wyatt pleaded guilty to the offence of failing to take reasonable care of the health and safety of others, as required by section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Gerald Wyatt was personally fined £1,750. No action was taken against Eardisley Sawmills.

The accident. Gerald Wyatt was driving the Forklift truck whilst carrying twelve modular sheds; as he moved forward, these sheds obscured his vision. Gerald Wyatt didn’t see his colleague and the load struck him. The impact caused a fractured pelvis, cuts and bruises.

The investigating HSE inspector said: “It is vital that individuals are aware that they, as well as their employer, have duties under the law to take reasonable care of the health and safety of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.”

What can employers do? Making it clear to employees that they could be personally prosecuted if they act in an unsafe manner can improve compliance in the workplace. Many will be ignorant to the fact that they too could end up in court and face fines. Short safety briefings on the subject should be sufficient to communicate their responsibilities. Signed records of such briefings should be kept along with other training records.

First Aid For Mental Health - What is it and what are the responsibilities

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 11:31:45 GMT

What does a First Aid for Mental Health course cover and what are the responsibilities?

In recent years people have become much more open talking about their own mental health. At work, employers are increasingly looking to support their employees and ensure that they have a happy and productive workplace.

While many people understand the role of a first aid trained individual in a business, they don’t understand the role of the individual who is trained to be the mental health first aider.

It is important to remember that just as the regular first aider isn’t trained to be a nurse or doctor, the mental health first aider isn’t trained to be a therapist or psychologist. They are trained to become a single point of contact for anyone within an organisation suffering with a mental health condition, identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness and engage in supportive conversations. They are also able to signpost individuals toward organisations where they can receive help, support, and guidance.

What does the first aid for mental health course cover?

We offer three levels of the first aid for mental training course. The Level 1 Awareness in First Aid for Mental Health course is designed to increase awareness of mental health conditions and helps to create a positive mental health culture in the workplace.

For a more comprehensive training course we offer the Level 2 First Aid for Mental Health course and also the Level 3 Supervising First Aid for Mental Health course.

Our Level 3 course is designed primarily for managers, supervisors, and other individuals who are empowered to promote change within a business. This course provides the candidates with extensive information of mental health conditions, their causes, how to start difficult conversations and what actions can be taken in a business to improve mental wellbeing.

What are the responsibilities of the Mental Health First Aider?

Employees who have completed the Level 1 Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health training should be comfortable discussing mental health with others and be able to provide them with some basic advice to signpost them towards helpful resources. This half day course will help to remove the stigma attached to mental health and encourage a more accepting working environment.

Employees trained to Level 2 First Aid for Mental Health will often have a more formal role as a mental health first aider within a business. Level 2 mental health first aiders may be expected to act as a point of contact for colleagues who are experiencing a mental health condition and provide guidance to further support. They may also be encouraged to look out for signs of mental health issues in their work area which are affecting colleagues and open a supportive conversation with individuals where necessary.

An employee who has completed the two-day Level 3 Supervising First Aid for Mental Health course may have all of the responsibilities of the Level 1 and 2 but will often be in a position to affect organisational change. They will be responsible for coordinating mental health first aiders in the workplace, identifying the best signposting support for individuals with mental health problems. Another part of this role may be to help a company build policies to support individuals’ mental health at work and help prevent issues from arising in the first instance.

It is highly recommended that at least one employee is trained to Level 3 Supervisor for Mental Health First Aid. It is of paramount importance that all mental health concerns are considered and addressed. The efforts of the mental health first aiders should always be supported and encouraged.

Jewel Safety offer all three levels of first aid for mental health training . Please contact us for further information.

Safe vehicle loading and unloading

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:47:38 GMT

Common problems working with vehicle loading and unloading.

Many businesses have forklift trucks on site. The loading and unloading of vehicles will most likely be one of its main functions. A forklift truck also has the potential to be one of the most dangerous hazards in the business.

The risk of accidents, injuries and fatalities increases whenever forklift trucks and pedestrians share the same working environment. It is therefore vital that the arrival of delivery drivers or pedestrians into loading areas is carefully managed.

Here, we look at some of the most common challenges faced in loading areas and some possible steps for keeping drivers and pedestrians at a safe distance.

Delivery driver too close to the forklift truck.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that many delivery drivers want to have an input on the loading process. It is after all, their responsibility to ensure the loads are secured correctly on their vehicle. They may also have a preferred loading order for unloading at the other end.

Whilst the delivery drivers can specify their loading requirements to enable smooth unloading at the receiving end, they should not be allowed in the loading area and must remain in a safe place whilst the forklift truck is in operation. Drivers may be tempted to try to assist the process by holding back a curtain, steadying a load or directing from alongside, but this puts them in danger should a load slip off or the forklift truck operator lose sight of them. The serious injuries caused by loading and unloading are almost always avoidable because the driver or pedestrian shouldn’t be in the area in the first place.

Such segregation measures are important because even if unsafe operating methods occur, they needn’t cause injuries to waiting drivers or pedestrians if safe distances are maintained. The HSE have lots of information on their website of what they expect in place regarding safe unloading and loading.

Risk reduction tip.

Make sure that there are suitable and sufficient segregation measures in place to keep delivery drivers and other pedestrians safe from forklift truck activity. Physical measures such as barriers can be used, in addition to pedestrian areas and painted walkways.

If safety policies and safe systems of work are in place, delivery drivers and pedestrians should never be in harms way.

No Safe System of Work in place for loading and unloading.

Risk assessments and the resulting Safe Systems of Work play a vital role in ensuring that all hazards associated with tasks such as loading and unloading are eliminated or the risks sufficiently minimised. Though Safe Systems of Work can significantly reduce the number of accidents on site, all too often, companies do not have these in place. Often, companies do actually have them in place but never communicate them to those exposed to the hazard.

Risk reduction tip.

Ensuring your Safe System of Work is established, communicated, and continually enforced by management, will reduce the risk of accidents on your site. Create a clear Safe System of Work for delivery drivers and make sure they are made aware of it when they come to your site. This could include having designated areas for drivers to safely wait or a key control system where drivers hand over their vehicle keys until loading and unloading is complete.

Safe Systems of Work are an important tool to keep your site safe, but are only effective if they are followed and communicated to those concerned.

Poor communication.

Safe Systems of Work may be in place but either they are not followed or not communicated to everyone who may be at risk, including visiting drivers. Managers have a responsibility to communicate Safe Systems of Work to everyone who could be affected, including visitors. This could be via safety meetings, training or signage etc. It is important that the workplace is regularly monitored to ensure adherence to Safe Systems of Work.

Risk reduction tip.

A simple control measure could be raising a hand to aid communication between forktruck drivers and pedestrians. Operators can use this to alert pedestrians if they are coming too close to the truck, and signal to them that they must stop. If they don’t stop, the driver must switch off the forktruck and apply the brake until it is safe to continue.

This is not an exhaustive list of the problems businesses face with loading and unloading vehicles. We suggest that companies take a look on the HSE’s website for further information.

Impact of mental health on business in the UK

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 11:59:04 GMT

What impact does mental health have on business?

The impact of mental health on a business in the UK can be significant. Poor mental health among employees can lead to increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and higher turnover rates. This can ultimately lead to financial losses for the company. A study by the Centre for Mental Health estimated that poor mental health costs UK employers up to £42 billion a year, including costs related to presenteeism (reduced productivity while at work) and absenteeism. This can also lead to additional costs such as recruitment and training of new staff.

In the UK, mental health issues are a leading cause of absenteeism in the workplace. According to the mental health charity Mind, one in six employees in the UK experience common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. These problems can lead to increased absenteeism and reduced productivity.

Anxiety and depression are common mental health conditions that can have a significant impact on an individual's ability to work. Symptoms of anxiety and depression, such as low mood, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, can make it difficult for someone to perform their job effectively. Individuals with anxiety and depression may also experience social withdrawal, which can negatively impact the dynamics of the workplace and relationships with colleagues.

Employers have a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments for employees with mental health conditions, and to prevent discrimination against them. Employers can also implement policies and programs to support employees with mental health conditions, such as providing access to mental health resources, promoting a culture of openness about mental health, and offering flexible working arrangements. Employers can also provide regular mental health awareness training to their employees on how to support their colleagues and themselves, as well as providing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which would provide employees with access to confidential counselling, and other services to support their mental well-being.

In addition to the financial impact, poor mental health can also negatively impact the overall culture and morale of a workplace. It can lead to a decrease in employee engagement, an increase in conflicts and an overall decrease in the employee's well-being.

It is important for employers to recognize the impact of mental health in the workplace and to take steps to address it, such as providing mental health support and resources for employees, promoting a culture of openness about mental health, and implementing policies and programs to support employee well-being. This not only benefits the employees but also the company as a whole by reducing costs and increasing productivity.

Contact us today to see how we can help you reduce absenteeism and improve the mental health of the staff in your business.

Reasons why companies in the UK should manage the mental health of workers

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 13:49:11 GMT

What are some of the reasons that a company should manage the mental health of their workforce?

There are several reasons why it is important for businesses in the UK to manage the mental health of their employees:

Improved productivity: When employees feel supported and have good mental health, they are likely to be more productive and engaged at work.
Reduced absenteeism: Poor mental health can lead to increased absenteeism, which can be costly for businesses in terms of lost productivity and the need to cover absent employees.
Improved retention: Providing support for mental health can help to create a positive work environment and improve employee retention.
Legal requirements: UK employers have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees, including their mental health.
Corporate social responsibility: Many businesses recognize that they have a social responsibility to support the mental health of their employees and to create a positive work environment.
Positive company culture: Supporting the mental health of employees can help to create a positive company culture, which can have a range of benefits including improved employee satisfaction and increased loyalty.
Improved team dynamics: When employees feel supported and have good mental health, they are more likely to work well as part of a team and contribute to a positive work environment.
Enhanced reputation: Businesses that are seen to be supportive of the mental health of their employees may have a more positive reputation, which can be beneficial in attracting and retaining top talent.
Cost savings: Supporting the mental health of employees can ultimately lead to cost savings for businesses by reducing the need for sick leave, improving productivity, and increasing retention rates.

What are the common hazards in a transport business?

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 13:34:36 GMT

What are some of the common hazards in a transport company?

There are many potential hazards in a transport businesses. Some common hazards include:

1. Vehicle accidents: Transport businesses often involve the use of vehicles, which can be hazardous if not operated safely.

2. Loading and unloading: Accidents can occur when loading and unloading goods, particularly if proper safety procedures are not followed.

3. Slips, trips, and falls: Transport businesses may have uneven or wet surfaces, which can lead to slips, trips, and falls.

4. Manual handling: Transport businesses often involve the manual handling of goods, which can lead to injuries if proper lifting techniques are not used.

5. Fatigue: Long hours and demanding schedules can lead to fatigue, which can increase the risk of accidents.

6. Stress: The pressure to meet deadlines and deliver goods on time can cause stress, which can affect an individual's mental health and well-being.

7. Working alone: Some transport workers may be required to work alone, which can increase the risk of accidents and injuries.

It is important for transport businesses to identify and assess the hazards present in their operations and put measures in place to control them. This can help to ensure the safety of workers and others who may be affected by the

business.

Health and Safety Executive fine for a fork truck accident

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 14:27:00 GMT

Fine for ineffective risk control

It is always vital to segregate a forklift truck from pedestrians. Where this isn't possible, an effective safe system of work must be enforced. The following is a write up from a recent HSE investigation into a preventable forklift truck injury.

A company specialising in interior and exterior stonework has been fined after an employee sustained serious injuries when he was struck by a forklift truck.

Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of Tudor Stonework Limited was injured whilst moving stone slabs during a lifting operation. The system of work required two operatives to walk in front of the forklift truck to steady the suspended load. However, during this operation the forklift truck ran over the foot of one of the operatives resulting in an open fracture to his left leg as well as crush injuries to his foot.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the system of work for transporting stone slabs was not safe, as it required the operatives to be in close proximity to the moving forklift truck.

Tudor Stonework Limited of Silver Street, Enfield, Middlesex pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £466 and ordered to pay costs of £5,570.

Speaking after the hearing, the HSE inspector said: “Industry practices should be reassessed where other stonemasons may be transporting stone slabs in a similar way. “Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

What are the causes of stress in our lives?

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 15:26:48 GMT

What causes stress?

There are many sources of stress that can affect how we feel emotionally. During our first aid for mental health courses I ask the candidates to write down the things in their lives that they feel contribute to their stress. Work and family are mentioned by many, along with financial pressure and ill health. There are however other sources that we must consider.

If we break the sources of stress into five categories, below are some of the examples that candidates frequently write down.

Life Changes

Buying or moving home.
Divorce or a change in a relationship.
Getting married.
Having children.
Health scares or illness.
Bereavement.
Legal problems.

Work

Starting a new job or promotion.
Heavy workload.
Poor relationships with colleagues or management.
Redundancy or job uncertainty.

Emotional

Pressure from peers or family.
Coping with uncertainty.
Conflicts in cultural beliefs and values.
Bullying.

Physical

Alcohol or drug abuse.
Bad diet.
Working shifts.
Over exercising.

Environmental

Poor housing
Trouble with neighbours.
Financial pressure.
Social isolation.

This isn’t intended to be an exhaustive list. It does however help us to look at various areas of our lives and assess if we are being subjected to excess stress in any of them. Once we have identified where our stress is coming from, we can then start to work on ways to relieve it.

When I ask candidates to describe how they feel when they’re stressed they use words like overwhelmed, angry, sad, worry, frustration, anxious and racing thoughts are usually mentioned. It is important that we take some time to look inwards and understand how we feel when we are stressed. We can then try to use coping mechanisms to help us deal with it before it becomes a problem.

What are the long-term effects of stress?

We have already seen that many things can cause us to experience the effects of stress. Short term stress isn’t necessarily to be concerned about. However, the effects of long-term stress can put an individuals health at risk.

Some long-term effects of stress include:

Stress can lead to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders.

Cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Immune system problems such as lower resistance to infection and skin conditions.

Excessive behaviours such as alcohol and substance misuse.

Digestive problems such as appetite loss, ulcers and diarrhoea.

If you are experiencing the effects of stress, there are some things you can do to help yourself cope:

Realise when stress is becoming a problem and identify the underlying causes.

Build emotional strength and re-organise lifestyle to tackle the causes.

Eat a healthy diet, avoid skipping meals and try to adopt regular eating patterns.

Make time to relax and socialise with friends and family.

Set goals or challenges to help build confidence.

Avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption.

Helping other people can relieve stress and help to put problems into perspective.

Look for the positives in life, rather than the causes of stress.

It may also be worth having a chat with your GP to see if they can help you with therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), other talking therapies or medication.

Remember, it’s ok to not feel ok. It isn’t ok to not ask for help.

Five Habits for a healthy mind

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 14:27:40 GMT

How can I relieve stress?

We all tend to look after our bodies, whether it's going to the gym, eating healthy, or simply showering. Why is it then that so few of us look after our minds?

The term mental health means how we feel, think and behave. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health problems.

It's important to note that we all have mental health. If we imagine a scale from 1 to 100 with 1 been "I feel brilliant" to 100 been the total opposite. We all fall somewhere on that scale, and that can easily change on a daily basis.

With one in four people in the UK having a mental health problem at some point in their lives, what are some simple things we can do to look after our minds?

1. Be mindful . Stay in the present and don't let your mind keep wandering to stressful situations. Focus on what's happening now, not what happened yesterday. If you find yourself worrying about something that 'might' happen, remember that you can't predict it, and can't control it. Most of the time, the things we worry about turn out not quite as bad as we thought. Check out our Mindfulness and Meditation page for m ore information.

2. Talk about your problems . This could be your best friend, work colleague or doctor. Sometimes, talking about your problems can help give you a different perspective, and often help resolve the situation.

3. Laugh daily . Watch a comedy movie. Listen to a funny audio book. Laughing releases endorphins that make you feel happier, so bring on some giggles!

4. Exercise . Keeping active increases your endorphins, boosts energy, relieves tension, improves concentration and promotes better sleep. Any exercise that raises your heart rate is great for decreasing stress. That could be taking the dog for a brisk walk, doing some gardening, or working out at the gym.

5. Get enough sleep . Although everyone is different, experts say that we should try to get between 7 and 9 hours sleep every night. Lack of sleep can lead to many problems including impaired memory, weight gain, greater risk of depression and increased risk of heart disease and cancer. Try to set a regular bed time, avoid caffeine and listen to some relaxing music.

First Aid for Mental Health Training

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 13:37:21 GMT

What is First Aid for Mental Health training?

With 1 in 4 people in the UK experiencing a mental health condition at some point in their lives, it is becoming more important to understand how to cope with these conditions as they arise in the workplace.

Companies have first aiders trained to give emergency assistance to someone who's had an accident at work. If the injury or accident warrants, the first aider will summon the emergency services, or send the patient to doctors/hospital. The role of the mental health first aider is very similar. They will be a point of contact within the company who can provide initial help and support for someone experiencing a mental health issue, and signpost them to further assistance as required.

It is a misconception that the mental health first aider can diagnose mental health conditions. This simply isn't true. As a mental health first aider, we are trained to spot conditions, but not diagnose. No one can become a clinical psychologist with just a few days training!

Some of the roles and responsibilities of the Mental Health First Aider are:

Be the main point of contact for someone who is going through some form of mental health problem.
Identify early signs and symptoms of mental ill-health.
Start supportive, confidential, conversations with people experiencing mental health problems.
Assess the risk of self harm or suicide.
Signpost, and encourage the appropriate professional support. Please use our mental health signposting page for further help and information. .
Reduce the social and self stigma associated to mental health.
Summon the appropriate emergency services if needed.

Jewel Safety run fully accredited first aid for mental health training courses . Contact us for further information.

Mental Health and the COVID-19 pandemic

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 14:00:14 GMT

How will Covid-19 affect mental health

With many people now working from home or furloughed, coupled with the uncertainty associated with Covid 19, we will see more people suffering from both anxiety and depression to name but a few. As employers, we need to understand how to help our staff members who might be suffering with their mental health.

Mental Health First Aid doesn’t teach us to become a counsellor or psychologist, just like regular first aid training doesn’t teach you to become a doctor or paramedic. What it does teach is for us to be a first point of contact for someone experiencing a mental health condition, and give us the ability to signpost that person to the best place that they can receive help. Mental Health First Aid training also helps us become more vigilant in the workplace, and identify people who could be experiencing difficulty, and open a supportive conversation.

Talking to the companies I work with, they comment that one of the hurdles they need to overcome is that of stigma. This is something that is slowly becoming less prevalent in the UK, but still needs to be addressed in modern society.

They’re two types of stigma associated with mental health.

1. Social Stigma: Includes the negative attitudes and discriminatory behaviours that society or particular individuals hold towards those with mental health problems.

2. Self Stigma: This is where people with mental health problems believe what is being said about their condition, and agree with their viewpoints. It’s also a worry or concern about what other people will think of them if they talk about their mental health condition.

By bringing more awareness of mental health conditions in the workplace, we can steadily change the stigma that surrounds it. I know this first hand, as I’ve seen it work to great effect in the companies I work with.

All companies need to start thinking about how they will look after the mental wellbeing of their staff as we start to come out of lockdown. There’s lots of information out there, but make sure it’s from a reputable source. There’s also some information in the Health & Wellbeing section of our website on signposting , and also the role of the Mental Health First Aider.

By being proactive, companies will be seen as supportive and understanding to their staff, and also help reduce the financial and operational burden of staff absence due to mental health problems.

When it is safe to do so, we will start running our Mental Health First Aid courses again. If you would like further information on what we offer please get in touch.

Worried about your drinking during lockdown?

peter.kenningham@gmail.com (Peter Kenningham) — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:37:15 GMT

Are you drinking too much alcohol?

With lots more time confined in our houses during lockdown, it's often tempting to turn to alcohol for entertainment and distraction. Rather than making us feel better, this could however be doing us more harm than good.

Drinking to cope.

I'm sure that many of us have had 'just one of those days' and look forward to opening the fridge as soon as we get home. In isolation, this is fine. The problem arises when this turns into a regular behaviour and use as a way of coping with day to day life.

In the moment, drinking alcohol can make us feel better and give us some relief. Our blood alcohol levels increase and things seem to feel somewhat slower and more relaxed. This relief is often short lived as after around 20-30 minutes, the body starts to purge the alcohol from our blood, and we start feeling uncomfortable and possibly even more stressed. Fancy another drink anyone?

By drinking to cope, or 'self-medicating', we risk changing the chemistry of the brain, which can then exacerbate symptoms of mental illness. So much for helping us to cope!

What are the alcohol limits recommended by the NHS?

According to the NHS, the term 'alcohol misuse' means drinking excessively. This means not regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol per week. If you do drink as much as 14 units, it's best to spread them evenly over 3 or more days. It's sometimes difficult to understand exactly what a unit of alcohol is, so below are some examples of drinks and how many units are in each:

Single shot of spirits 1 unit.
Small glass of red or white wine 1.5 units
Pint of low strength beer, lager or cider 2 units
Bottle of red or white wine 10 units

During our mental health first aid courses we have a quiz to see what the alcohol content is in a number of drinks. By the end of the quiz, many people are shocked as they didn't realise how many units were in each drink. It can be a great eye opener!

Some signs you could be drinking too much

During our courses, we teach our candidates that the following signs and symptoms could indicate that someone is drinking too much alcohol.

Drinking every day
Drinking alone
Always hungover in the morning
Hiding alcohol use or keeping it stashed away
Neglecting responsibilities at home or work
Neglecting their appearance/hygiene

If you're concerned about how drinking could be affecting your life or that of someone else, there is lots of help available. Have a look on our sign posting page for helpful numbers and websites. Visit our mental health first aid page to see how we could help in your business.

Workplace COVID-19 Risk Assessment

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 14:35:59 GMT

What is a Covid-19 Risk Assessment?

Jewel Safety have been working with a number of our clients to provide risk assessments for businesses getting ready to open back up after lockdown. In May 2021, the UK Government released a number of documents to help companies in the warehousing, manufacturing and office sectors become COVID Secure. Over the coming months, it will be vital to make sure that we all have suitable and sufficient risk assessments in place to protect both customers and staff.

When putting the risk assessment together we must think about what hazards COVID-19 pose in the workplace, and implement suitable control measures. As always, the risk assessments need to be communicated to all staff members to make sure they understand the risks and control being implemented.

Feel free to get in touch with us if you need some help with your COVID-19 risk assessment. Please use the contact form and we'll get right back to you.

We have put together a number of signs that you might find helpful as part of implementing your risk assessment. The PDF can be downloaded free of charge. Download Covid-19 signage.

Guidance is constantly been updated so keep checking the governments website to make sure you have the most up to date information. Your risk assessment will need to be frequently updates, and any changes communicated to your staff.

8 things to do during coronavirus isolation

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Small things can make a big difference to our mental health

With all the uncertainty, it’s important to acknowledge that many of us will be feeling anxious at the moment. Here are some things what we can do to help us through the coming weeks.

Focus on what you CAN control.

Always focus on the facts, and what you can control. It’s really easy to get anxious and stressed about the scale of the virus outbreak when you’re scrolling through scary headlines. Accept those feelings, and know that they’re normal. Then, think of what you CAN control, like washing your hands, keeping social distancing, and following the government guidelines.

Have a routine.

Many of us are used to having a daily routine. It’s important to keep some sort of structure to our days in isolation. If you’re working from home, try to work only in your usual working hours where possible. Can’t go to the gym now? Set some time aside for exercise. Having lots of spare time? Why not enrol on and e-learning course and learn a new skill?

Limit your time on social media.

Social media is a great way of keeping in contact with friends and family. Spending time endlessly scrolling through feeds can be very unhelpful for our mental health.

Try to limit yourself to three ‘scrolls’ per day. Unfollow, or block, sources that add or cause you anxiety. Why not decide on a certain time of the day to check your feeds?

There can be a lot of bad information presented on social media. Why not follow sites like the World Health Organisation or the NHS? These are verified sites, and should be up to date with the latest information.

Have some quiet time.

Mindfulness is something that most of us have heard of. There are many Apps and websites available that give us guided breathing sessions and meditations. These can be very beneficial to our mental health. It has been proven that something as simple as focusing on our breath can interrupt our busy thoughts, and help to lower blood pressure and heart rate. This can really help us when in stressful situations.

Exercise.

When we’re isolated, we will naturally move around less. Keeping active right now is crucial for both our physical and mental health. Exercise releases endorphins that are effective in fighting stress and anxiety.

Many workouts are available online. Some of the major websites are offering their workouts free of charge at the moment. It’s always important not to push yourself if you’re new to exercise, or have a medical condition. Seek advice from a professional if you’re in any doubt.

Get outside if possible.

Been stuck in the house can be extremely draining, so if guidelines permit, getting outside for some fresh air can be very beneficial. This could be walking in a local park (maintaining social distancing of course), or simply out in our gardens reading a book. The birds seem especially active at the moment, be mindful of the different noises you can hear!

Talking to friends and family.

We’ve already mentioned social media is a good way to keep in touch. How about using technology and having regular Facetime or Skype calls? This builds much better social interaction than texts and messages.

Remember, this will pass.

When we awake in the morning to a cold and stormy day, we know that soon, the clouds will pass and the sun will eventually shine through. It might be difficult right now, but it’s important to remind ourselves that it will not always be this way. We are indeed in scary times right now, but taking time to recognise that this is not our permanent future is very important. Many crises have happened over the years, and have been resolved over time.

Cases of work-related stress at an 18-year high

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 13:21:38 GMT

Work related stress statistics

HSE stress figures for 2018/19

Figures released by the Health & Safety Executive indicate a year on year increase in the total number of reports of work related stress for 2018/19. The numbers show that cases reported are at an 18 year high.

The statistics demonstrate that stress continues to be a significant cause of workplace ill-health in Great Britain, with 602,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, and 12.8 million working days lost as a result. This is reported to have cost the UK economy £34.9 billion last year.

As well as the impact on workers quality of life, work-related stress represents a substantial cost to employers, employees and the UK economy.

Factors such as workload, lack of support, violence, threats or bullying and changes at work are believed to be the main causes of work-related stress, depression or anxiety, based on previous Labour Force Survey data.

All employers have a legal duty to protect their employees from work-related stress, by assessing the risk and taking the necessary action to remove or tackle it.

Everyone in the workplace should work together to tackle the causes of work-related injury and ill-health, and where workers may need time off due to stress-related illness, effective rehabilitation policies should be included as part of a wider strategy on employee health, safety and wellbeing.

Richard Jones, Head of Policy and Regulatory Engagement at IOSH, said: “Forward-looking organisations are already taking positive action on mental health at work and seeing the many benefits. So, it’s disappointing and concerning to see such high numbers of work-related stress, depression and anxiety cases. Employers should review their prevention and training strategies and ensure they’re providing sufficient support for their workers, particularly in these uncertain economic times.”

Source - HSM matters

Ice, Ice Maybe? Winter Safety

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 13:29:11 GMT

Companies responsibilities in the winter.

The prospect of another cold & frosty winter is fast approaching. With ever increasing accident and emergency admissions due to snow and ice, we must consider how best to protect visitors and employees from the risks.

The Occupiers Liability Act 1957 S2(2) imposes a duty to take such care as in all the circumstances is reasonable to see that visitors and employees are reasonably safe for the purpose which they are invited or permitted to be there. This includes a duty to ensure that pathways & areas where visitors may walk are cleared of any potential hazards caused by snow or ice.

HSE guidance stipulates that regularly used walkways which accumulate snow or ice are ‘promptly tackled’.

In previous years, there has been a shortage of grit. It is therefore advisable to prepare well in advance & ensure you hold an adequate store of grit or rock salt to tackle the issue, should it arise.

Warning signs alone are insufficient

Signs should be used where required to warn of slippery surface but must be used in conjunction with positive action, namely by attempting to clear the snow and ice.

HSE Guidance:

Identify the outdoor areas used by pedestrians which are most likely to be affected by ice.
Monitor the temperature: Prevention is key.
Put a procedure into place which would prevent an icy surface forming and/or keep pedestrians away from the icy surface.
If warning signs are used, remove them once the hazard has passed or the will eventually be ignored.

Employers Duties

Duties owed to visitors apply equally to employees. Employers have a duty to keep their employees safe, as far as is reasonably practicable, from the risk of slipping on ice and snow. Any outside areas, used by employees, must be as far as reasonably possible, gritted or salted.

What approach do the courts take?

Whilst there is case law relating to the subject, each case is judged on its own facts. Fundamentally, the key aspect governing the court decision appears to be the time the occupier has to remedy the hazard. If only a short period elapses between an area being safe to walk on & the hazard forming, so there is insufficient time for the occupier to identify or remedy the hazard, the occupier is much less likely to be considered as liable by the courts. Furthermore, courts are less likely to consider a breach of duty against an occupier where it is found that the injured party has taken some degree of risk.

There is an inherent risk of injury associated with walking, running or driving on an evidently icy surface. As such, pedestrians would be expected by the court to have taken extra care. If they do not, a defence or at least contributory negligence can be argued.

Highways

Occupiers of private land do not have a duty to clear snow or ice from public footpaths, roads or access routes which surround their land. This is the responsibility of the local authority.

Big fine after fatal forklift accident

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 14:10:32 GMT

Forklift Truck Safety

Protect your workforce from Forklift Trucks

The Health & Safety Executive have very specific guidelines for the use and implementation of forklift trucks in the workplace. The following is a brief run down of what can go wrong when a company hasn't done enough to protect the workforce....

On 24 July 2017 Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee was hit by a forklift truck whilst walking in the designated pedestrian area of the site’s roadway. The employee suffered severe crush injuries, and tragically died on 8 August 2017.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the measures in place to segregate pedestrians from vehicles was inadequate, with the designated pedestrian walkway running, unprotected, down the centre of the roadway used by vehicles.

Minteq UK Ltd of Kings Norton, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £23,217.87.

Speaking after the case, a HSE inspector commented, “Far too many people are killed and seriously injured by vehicles in the workplace every year". Provisional data for 2018/2019 shows that out of the 147 workers fatally injured, 30 of them were as a result of being struck by moving vehicles. Many hundreds of people are left with life-changing injuries.

“The requirement for companies to ensure adequate separation and segregation between pedestrians and vehicles is paramount. This tragic and totally avoidable incident highlights the need for companies to comply with their legal duty to identify what can kill and seriously hurt people in their workplace and take steps to stop that happening.”

Controlling safety risks in your business

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:37:47 GMT

What is a risk assessment?

Risk assessments are a means of making sure that all significant hazards in the workplace are managed by effective control measures. Conducting risk assessments allows a business to prioritise where time and money needs to be spent in order to provide a safe place to work. It is important to remember that risk assessments are a legal requirement if you have 5+ employees. If you don't have them in place, you could face prosecution and fines (The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999).

A risk assessment is about deciding who might be harmed, judging the likelihood that something will go wrong, and how serious the consequences could be. Once you have fully understood the risks and how significant they are, you can then concentrate on controlling them. We will talk more about control in part 2 of this blog post.

When conducting risk assessments, it's always a good idea to involve other people in the risk assessment process; particularly the person who is involved in the job or process your assessing. They might know risks that aren't immediately obvious to yourself. This also helps to promote the health & safety culture in the business.

How do we complete a risk assessment?

There are 5 steps to a risk assessment:

Identify the hazards
Estimate the risk
Evaluate the risk
Record your findings
Review your findings

Capturing this information will help you identify the significant hazards in the workplace, and then, through the process of assessment, decide on any new control measures that are needed.

Risk assessment forms are freely available online. If you would like a copy of what we use at Jewel Safety, please get in touch and we will send you ours free of charge.

Although you can complete the risk assessments yourself, you can also get help from someone who is appropriately qualified and trained.

The risk assessment process is quite simple, there are however some rules to follow:

Your risk assessment needs to be suitable and sufficient. Remember that risk assessments are required by law, so take advice from someone with specialist knowledge where needed.

Conducting a risk assessment and estimating risk and consequence isn't an exact science. Make sure you have all the necessary information available so that you can make the best judgement possible.

Always involve the people who carry out the activities that you're assessing. They know exactly how the job is done and can give valuable insight into potential risks.

Don't use generic risk assessments from other sites, or other companies. Each risk assessment should be done for a specific area or task.

NVQ Qualification - Health & Safety

Thu, 13 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

NVQ Level 6 Occupational Health & Safety

Jewel Safety are now qualified to offer and assess the City & Guilds NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. This NVQ is ideal for anyone looking to achieve a qualification, but don't want to sit any exams.

The Health and Safety Diploma can help increase your job and promotion prospects, and can help you qualify for GradIOSH status with the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

This qualification is fully accredited by City and Guilds and is all work based, meaning no exams at the end. You will be required to submit evidence covering a broad range of subjects within health and safety including health and safety audits, safety culture, policies and organisational health and safety strategy..

As part of this qualification, our assessor is required to observe you in the workplace undertaking various tasks. This could be undertaking an audit or reviewing a risk assessment.

For further information, please visit our NVQ page.

What is Fee for Intervention? What will it cost me?

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 14:55:32 GMT

What will it cost me if the HSE Inspector visits?

If the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) visits your business and finds that you are in material breach of Health and Safety law, you will have to pay for their time to identify what is wrong. This is known as a fee for intervention (FFI). Any business not found to be in material breach won't have to pay any costs for the visit.

A material breach is classed as anything that the HSE Inspector considers serious enough that they need to write to the business documenting the action needed to be taken to deal with and rectify the breach.

The current cost in 2021 is £160.00+VAT per hour and this fee will include the time spent at the original visit made by the inspector. The fee may include the HSE inspectors time involving time at your business, preparing reports, getting specialist advice, talking to your workers and talking to yourself after the visit

It's always best practice to be legally compliant with your health and safety starting with keeping your policy revised and up to date, your risk assessments current, and getting access to the right advice when needed amongst others. Remember, you need to make sure you assess all reasonably foreseeable risks in your business and put in the relevant control measures. This isn't something you should put off!

Contact us to see how Jewel Safety can help your business.

IOSH Humber Bridge Safety Tour

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 13:40:21 GMT

Humber Bridge safety tour

The Humber Bridge opened to the first traffic in June 1981 after 8 years of construction at a cost of £98 million. At that time, it was the longest single suspension bridge in the world. That record now belongs to the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan and was opened in 1998.

On the 15th March 2019 I had the privilege of been invited to the IOSH health & safety site tour of the North Tower of the Humber Bridge. During the visit we headed down the 8 metre ladder into the anchorage chamber. It was amazing to learn that the main cable we all see on the deck, is actually made up of approximately 15000 individual wires. Each wire is strong enough to hold the weight of an articulated lorry.

Another interesting piece of information is that the road deck is constructed like an upside down aeroplane wing. With the Humber Estuary often experiencing high winds, this shape pushes the road deck downwards in high winds to keep the bridge stable.

Humber Bridge facts

There is enough cable used in the bridge to go around the earth nearly twice.
480000 tonnes of concrete was used in the construction.
The towers are 36mm further away from the top of each tower than the bottom to allow for the curvature of the earth.
The total weight of the deck structure is 16500 tonnes.

New PPE regulations coming into force

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Don't get caught out by non compliant PPE

On the 21st April 2018, Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will come into force and replace the old PPE Directive 89/686/EEC.

Main changes

The new Regulation applies to the complete supply chain rather than just manufacturers as previously. Everyone involved in the manufacture, supply and distribution of PPE must ensure their PPE meets with the standard requirements.

In certain cases, the manufacturer’s obligations can now apply to importers and distributors. An importer or distributor who markets a product in Europe under their own name, brand or trademark becomes liable for the full manufacturer’s obligations.

Transitional period

There is a transition period of 1 year (21st April 2018 to 20th April 2019) where both the old Directive and the new Regulation are applicable. Therefore PPE designed and manufactured in accordance with Directive 89/686/EEC can still be placed on the market until 21st April 2019.

EC type-examination certificates and approval decisions issued under the old Directive shall remain valid until 21st April 2023 unless they expire before that date.

Purchasing PPE

Those involved in specifying, sourcing or purchasing PPE for use within their own organisation should continue to select appropriate PPE which has been CE marked.

Make sure that you are using a reputable supplier that can give you the necessary paperwork to demonstrate that the PPE conforms to these regulations.

HSE Health & Safety Statistics 2017/18

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Key figures for Great Britain 2017/2018

Here are some of the recent figures for the financial year 2017/2018 released by the Health and Safety Executive. They certainly give some sobering reading.

1.4 million working people suffering from a new or existing work-related illness
2,595 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2016)
144 workers killed at work
555,000 injuries occurred at work according to the Labour Force Survey
71,062 injuries to employees reported under RIDDOR (Reporting or Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences)
30.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
£15 billion estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2016/17)

Having a plan and putting some simple things in place in your business can have a massive impact to reduce potential incidents. Contact us today to find out how Jewel Safety can help your business to not become one of the Health & Safety Executives statistics.