You might have noticed by now that Health and Safety posts frequent the Label Source blog almost daily. As suppliers of health and safety signs and warning labels, we not only understand the importance of having the correct signage in compliance with health and safety legislations in your work place, but are also advocates for celebrating health and safety rules and regulations, which are put in place to protect us, saving lives and minimising risk.
Over the past few months in particular, health and safety has become somewhat of a scapegoat for businesses, blaming health and safety legislations for bizarre decisions and causing public hostility towards health and safety, which is something that every one of us needs at some point in our lives in order to live a safe and risk-minimised life (wouldn't that be nice!)
Many don't actually realise how vitally important health and safety legislation is, and unfortunately through tragic accidents which make the press, we see examples almost daily of deaths, injuries or property damage due to a relaxed attitude towards health and safety, with companies in all areas and of all sizes being prosecuted almost weekly for breaches of these legislations.
Not having the appropriate health and safety signs and hazard warnings in place can lead to fatal accidents, as these three devastating news stories show:
1. Farmer in Court over Driver's Electrocution
A HGV driver was electrocuted to death after hitting a power line which had no corresponding safety signage or barriers.
2. Safety Failings put Finchley Worker in Burns Coma
A labourer from North London received life-threatening burn injuries in an explosion on a farm after severing a 415-volt electrical cable, unaware it was live. There was no health and safety signage in place highlighting the live cable.
3. Developer Prosecuted after Lorry Hit Power Line
A developer in Kettering has been fined after a lorry hit a power line which caused a power cut in 11 properties. Similarly, the line had no health and safety signs.
The important thing to highlight here is that not only do these three examples show tragic injuries and even fatalities due to lack of health and safety signage, but they also show three different cases of employers or individuals being prosecuted for their failings. Make sure that your company meets the appropriate health and safety legislations by ordering your Safety Signs from Label Source today.
As of late, the health and safety culture has come under fire from a number of angles due to some rather questionable 'health and safety' stories making the national press. Indeed, over the past few months the papers have been full of peculiar decisions by businesses which are reportedly due to health and safety - including Newcastle racecourse banning picnics due to visitors' chairs supposedly presenting a health and safety issue. Similarly, it was reported that factory workers in Plymouth were left in tears after their wedding rings were cut off due to health and safety.
To many, these decisions seem unfair, unjust and perhaps even a little bit silly. Many have spoken out about how our health and safety culture has 'gone mad' or is 'ruining childhood'. The truth is, however, that it isn't the health and safety culture which has run amok - rather, it is the businesses who are willing to use health and safety as an excuse for their decisions. The health and safety blame game has developed in such a way that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has developed a myth-busting panel who will independently challenge advice or decisions supposedly made in the name of health and safety they believe to be inaccurate or disproportionate.
Indeed, the HSE Myth Busters have spoken out about some ludicrous decisions made in the name of health and safety - including the Newcastle racecourse example we mentioned at the beginning of this blog - condemning these decisions, and stating that in fact these decisions have not been made in the name of health and safety.
As well as being damaging to the HSE's reputation, the health and safety blame game also presents us with a further problem with regards to health and safety itself. Blaming business decisions on health and safety is extremely damaging to health and safety as a whole; there are health and safety rules and legislations for any business and indeed almost any public place, and the rules are in place to save lives, protect safety and minimise any risk. It is vital that health and safety legislations are respected and followed - otherwise, we could be at risk of an increase in accidents and, potentially, fatalities.
Purchase your Safety Signs to make sure your place of work is complying with the health and safety legislations here.
When working with electricity there is always a risk of hazard as workers become exposed to hazards because job sites can be surrounded by tools and materials, fast-paced, and often exposed to the weather. This can cause serious injury and, in some cases, deaths. Precautions can be taken to prevent this from happening in the workplace. As part of your health and safety training programme, one precaution is displaying suitable electrical safety signs around the workplace, warning workers of the risks and dangers of operating equipment and appliances. These signs are aimed to avoid hazards which include:
- Coming into any contact with an electrical voltage can cause a current flow through your whole body, resulting in an electric shock or burns.
- Fires can occur from faulty electrical equipment or their inappropriate use.
- The risk of explosions.
Our electrical safety signs can highlight the dangers to prevent needless accidents occurring, and warn workers, visitors and the general public of electricity risks. By displaying these signs, lives can be saved. Label Source supply a range of signs and labels that comply with the BS 7671 wiring regulations for low voltage electrical installations. The standard is based on IEC 60364, and the 17th edition came into effect in 2008. This regulation covers inspection and testing of electrical safety of electrical works. All new industrial, commercial and domestic installations have to be to this standard.
These electrical warning signs must be displayed in and around the workplace to prevent, accidents which can lead to fatalities. Protect your employees in the workplace!
