Health and Safety Archives - Page 10 of 10

HSE revises its guide to asbestos

by Clair Mooney | 2 Jun, 2021 | Health and Safety

HSE has published a revised version of HSG248 Asbestos: The Analysts’ Guide (second edition – May 2021).

As guidance for analysts involved in asbestos work, this latest edition has been updated to take account of findings from HSE interventions and developments in analytical procedures and methodology. It provides clarification on technical and personal safety issues, especially in relation to sampling and 4-stage clearances. New information on sampling soils for asbestos is also included.

The guidance is designed to assist analysts in complying with their legal obligations and should also be useful to asbestos consultants, occupational hygienists, health and safety professionals, asbestos removal contractors, building owners and facilities managers.

More information on asbestos is available on the HSE website.

MHCLG announces independent experts to review safety of construction materials

by Clair Mooney | 21 May, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Health and Safety, Technical

The government has taken the next step to ensure materials used to build the nation’s homes are safe and tested properly, by announcing the appointment of two experts to lead an independent review of the system for testing construction products.

Paul Morrell OBE will be the chair of the independent panel, along with legal expert Anneliese Day QC. The review will examine how to strengthen the current system for testing construction products to provide confidence that these materials are safe and perform as marketed. The panel will engage with a wide range of stakeholders with a report published later this year with recommendations.

More information is available at www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-experts-to-review-safety-of-construction-materials

Right to Work and Modern Slavery – know your responsibilities

by Clair Mooney | 20 May, 2021 | Health and Safety

Today FIS hosted a webinar on covering the topics of Right to Work and Modern Slavery. Delegates were made aware that they are two very different and important subjects and should not be confused.

From July this year, in line with the new points based immigration system, all employers will be required to conduct right to work checks to ensure that their workforce is legal to work in the UK. Remember EU workers (excluding the Republic of Ireland) who have not applied through the settlement scheme by the 30 June will not be legal workers and this may have serious implications for your business. Beyond your legal responsibility to ensure someone is legal to work, it is also vital that we look for and ensure that our workforce is not exploiting individuals through modern slavery. The cost and implications of getting it wrong are serious.

FIS was joined by experts Pamela Zielinski, Construction Programme Manager from Stronger Together and Joanne Young a consultant for the Association of Labour Providers who discussed the risks and how to manage them. The presentations covered:

1. Right To Work offences and sanctions
2. The statutory excuse
3. Manual right to work checks
4. Online right to work checks
5. Impact of coronavirus on RTW checks
6. Routes to work in the UK
7. EU Workers – the grace period
8. Changes from June
9. Retrospective checks
10. How to identify Modern Slavery, what to do if you suspect and the risk of getting it wrong

Visit the FIS Modern Slavery Toolkit here

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