http://elementus.webtest.hiway.co.uk/index.php en adam.curtis@elementus.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-09T08:41:25+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/operators_at_warwick_castle_fined_350000_over_moat_death/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/operators_at_warwick_castle_fined_350000_over_moat_death/#When:08:41:25Z Merlin Attractions Operations Ltd, the operators of Warwick Castle have been made to pay nearly £500,000 after a grandfather fell from a bridge into a dry moat at Warwick Castle. On 9th December 2007, George Townley was visiting the castle. He left the castle courtyard at around 4.30pm and walked across the Bear and Clarence Bridge, one of only two routes that cross the dry moat into and out of the building. The bridge is about 10ft 6in wide and 45ft long however the parapet walls along the edges are only 15 inches in height. As Mr Townley crossed… compliance 2012-05-09T08:41:25+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/red_herring/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/red_herring/#When:08:38:19Z Talking at an Enterprise Forum last week, Employment Minister Chris Grayling concluded his speech on the Government’s ongoing campaign of “cutting health and safety bureaucracy” by saying, “Of course, we have to protect people against death and serious injury in the workplace, and we won’t do anything to risk this, but if we stifle their employers with unnecessary rules and regulations those people won’t have a job in the first place.” It is true that in comparison to all our European neighbours, we are at the top of the list when it comes to health and safety policy and… compliance 2012-05-09T08:38:19+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/pedestrian_hit_by_ventilation_unit_that_fell_15m_from_crane/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/pedestrian_hit_by_ventilation_unit_that_fell_15m_from_crane/#When:08:37:12Z A member of the public was seriously injured when a 380kg air-handling unit fell from a crane and struck her while she waited for a bus. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, was waiting at York Road bus stop in London, when the incident took place on 26th September 2008. An office block nearby was being refurbished and a mast climber had been erected around the building. This allowed workers to be raised and lowered on the outside of the building. Workers were using a crane and lifting slings to raise the air-handling unit, the load was not secured… compliance 2012-05-09T08:37:12+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/new_survey_says_british_businesses_are_not_prepared_for_olympics/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/new_survey_says_british_businesses_are_not_prepared_for_olympics/#When:08:35:01Z A new survey concludes that that businesses in the UK will find it difficult to cope with staff absences during the London Olympics this Summer. 21% of employees admit they intend to take unauthorised leave during the event. More than 2,000 people were surveyed by marketing agency ‘YouGov’ and it was found that just 22% workers are confident that their employers have adequatley prepared themselves for the disruptions the Olympic Games will bring. Only 9% of employees said that they had received information on a flexible working strategies being put in place. Keith Tilley of SunGard Availability Services who helped… compliance 2012-05-09T08:35:01+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/government_makes_110m_available_for_green_firms/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/government_makes_110m_available_for_green_firms/#When:08:08:33Z The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have given the opportunity for companies that develop energy efficient technologies and green waste infrastructure to receive more than £110 million of support. After it was stated that the UK had slipped back into recession, energy secretary Ed Davey and business secretary Vince Cable released details of how each of their departments would be investing to boost the green economy. The scheme will last three years, and under the scheme, companies will be able to apply for up to £1 million in order… compliance 2012-05-09T08:08:33+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/schindler_fined_300000_for_heathrow_lift_fatality/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/schindler_fined_300000_for_heathrow_lift_fatality/#When:13:53:41Z Schindler Ltd was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £169,970 towards costs for multiple safety breaches after a lift engineer was crushed to death while installing a passenger lift during the construction of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport on 27th October 2007. Isleworth Crown Court heard that Kevin Dawson, 45, was working for Schindler and was part of the team working to install 140 lifts in the new Terminal 5 building. He was working from a ladder within the lift shaft to install an emergency stopper. One of his colleagues used the lift car to get equipment from a higher… compliance 2012-04-09T13:53:41+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/union_slams_governments_jerrycan_advice/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/union_slams_governments_jerrycan_advice/#When:13:07:33Z The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and fire chiefs have united in criticising comments by cabinet secretary Francis Maude, after suggesions that motorists could build up stores of petrol in jerrycans. The union warned that people storing significant quantities of petrol in case of a tanker drivers’ strike would ‘massively increase’ the risk of fire and explosion. “This is not sensible advice and people should be discouraged from doing so,” said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack. “The general public does not properly understand the fire and explosion risk of storing fuel even if it was done sensibly. Those without garages may… compliance 2012-04-09T13:07:33+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/a_record_4m_fine_for_network_rail_over_grayrigg/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/a_record_4m_fine_for_network_rail_over_grayrigg/#When:12:12:05Z The train derailment at Grayrigg that left one person dead and 86 injured has landed Network Rail with the UK’s biggest ever rail-safety fine. The rail operator appeared at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday 4th April 2012 and pleaded guilty to breaching s3(1) of the HSWA 1974. It was fined £4 million with £118,052 in costs. The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has confirmed the fine to be the biggest ever imposed on a company for rail-safety failings since its records began. The high-speed train from London Euston to Glasgow Central derailed on the West Coast Mainline near Grayrigg… compliance 2012-04-09T12:12:05+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/environment_agency_urges_businesses_to_save_water/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/environment_agency_urges_businesses_to_save_water/#When:11:16:30Z The Environment Agency has asked organisations to ramp up any water efficiency efforts, as hosepipe bans come into effect in much of South East England. The agency is advising all firms to carry out water audits and to contact their utilities companies for help on how to cut the amount of water they are using. Trevor Bishop, Head of Water Resources at the Environment Agency said “While households have a very important role to play in helping to cut water use during the current drought, businesses, farmers and water companies must all play their part too.” Ensuring there is enough… compliance 2012-04-09T11:16:30+00:00 http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/london_fire_brigade_olympic_announcement_complete_surprise/ http://www.assurityconsulting.co.uk/news/story/london_fire_brigade_olympic_announcement_complete_surprise/#When:10:24:38Z London Fire Brigade have announced to the public that “they will have adequate resources to protect this summer’s Olympic games”, taking the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) by surprise. The deadline for firefighters to sign contracts agreeing to work extra hours during the games passed this week, and despite a ban by the FBU the brigade claims around 160 firefighters have signed contracts to work on the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. London Fire Brigade will have five rapid response vehicles stationed within the Olympic Park, able to deal with small incidents, with a number of fire engines at stations… compliance 2012-04-09T10:24:38+00:00