An estimated 17,000 people in the UK suffer from permanent hearing damage due to noise at work.

Many employees, in various industries, are exposed to some degree of noise at work.  However, if the noise is intrusive and people are having difficulty hearing what others say or have to shout to be heard and understood, it is likely that noise levels are too high and could be damaging to health. Exposure to long periods of loud noise and vibration can damage our senses and can severely affect both hearing and touch.

High levels of noise from machinery can permanently damage hearing over time and many workers are unaware of this impairment until it is too late. Employees working in factories, foundries or in environments such as airports and constructions sites are most at risk.   

Noise hazards can lead to:

• Temporary/permanent hearing loss
• Tinnitus – a permanent ringing or buzzing in the ears
• Stress – aggravating levels of noise and hearing loss can affect people’s daily activities which can lead to stress and anxiety.

As employers, you have a duty under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, to protect the hearing of your workforce by managing noise levels.

What can employers do to protect their staff from noise at work?

By taking the following steps, employers can help protect their staff and the general public against the hazards of excessive noise:

• Conduct a Noise Assessment.
• Take steps to prevent or control the risks.
• Where possible eliminate exposure to noise at source.
• Control exposure to noise,
• Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Provide information and training.
• Regularly monitor and review the effectiveness of the measures.

Training members of staff in your organisation will help to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.

The Noise at Work eLearning course has been designed to make a significant contribution in providing information and training. The course describes what sound is, how it is measured, how the human ear works and the types of damage that certain levels of sound can have over different periods of time.

The course demonstrates how workers can identify the source of noise that could be potentially damaging and explores a range of cost-effective solutions that can be used to reduce noise exposure. A core element is an effective noise risk assessment, and the course provides detailed guidance on how to measure sound levels at different locations and estimate how long each worker is likely to be exposed to different noise. The online module also explores a hierarchy of controls – starting with eliminating or reducing noise – that can be used to manage potential risks.

Like all our courses, the Noise at Work eLearning course can be customised to meet your needs, enabling your workforce to understand the specific policies and procedures you have developed for your organisation. A designated course administrator can use the integrated authoring tool to edit the text and images of the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.

What is Manual Handling?

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations (MHOR) 1992 define manual handling as:

“… any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing,

pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or bodily force.”

In effect, any activity that requires an individual to lift, move or support a load, will be classified as a manual handling task.

What are the risks associated with Manual Handling?

Any individual handling or moving goods and people are at risk of manual handling injuries. Any type of work can cause injury and physical suffering if it involves handling a load.  Light loads can even pose a risk, if carried out repetitively and with poor lifting techniques.  Additionally, poor workplace design, layout and ergonomics can be hazardous factors in manual handling.

According to the UK Labour Force Survey 2014, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for more than 40% of all work-related illnesses. This means an estimated 9.5 million lost working days per year. More than one third of all workplace injuries that require more than 3 days off work were related to musculoskeletal issues. Problems can be related to upper limb disorders – which includes back and neck pain, as well as repetitive strain injury – and lower limb disorders, from the hips to the feet. Risk factors can be found in virtually every workplace.

Risks can be found in all work sectors, but healthcare, agriculture and construction are recognised as high-risk industries due to the number and nature of the manual handling activities.

Are you taking the necessary steps to mitigate manual handling risks?

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require employers to adopt a hierarchy of control measures:

• To avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable.
• To assess any hazardous manual handling operation that cannot be avoided.
• To reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.

Any employee who is engaged in manual handling, should be aware of the following 5 key principles of manual handling before they perform any task:

TILEO – What does this stand for?

The manual handling TILEO acronym can be used to assess each manual handling activity within your own organisation. It stands for:

• TASK
• INDIVIDUAL
• LOAD
• ENVIRONMENT
• OTHER FACTORS

Employing TILEO can help your organisation conduct dynamic risk assessments or on the spot assessments, by considering the individual’s capabilities, the nature of the load and the working environment in order to minimise risks.

Instructing your employees to use TILEO before they begin the manual handling process can help them to take into consideration key factors that can affect their ability to lift loads. As a result, making sure they employ the acronym can help protect themselves from significant harm and can help them ensure safe manual handling procedures are being used at all times.

Training your staff will ensure you protect your employees and reduce the number of injuries and lost working days within your organisation.

The Manual Handling eLearning course has been designed to explain the basics of health and safety manual handling to employees in low-risk working environments. The online course outlines what manual handling covers, how lifting, carrying and setting down can be done safely, and common injuries and musculoskeletal problems caused by bad technique.

The course also examines key duties related to manual handling in the workplace, focusing on the different roles and responsibilities of the employer and their employees. It emphasises that each worker should: cooperate with their employer; not engage in behaviour that is likely to put colleagues in danger; understand and use mechanical aids correctly; report work activities that might be dangerous; and bring any defects in the workplace, systems or equipment to notice. Each individual is also obliged to share with their employer any physical limitations that might impact their ability to carry out manual handling tasks.

All courses can be tailored to meet the needs of your organisation, so that they reflect your specific policies and procedures and not just generic ones. A designated course administrator can edit the text and images within the course using the integrated authoring tool and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures  – Preparing your organisation for an emergency

An emergency is a serious, unexpected, often dangerous situation that requires immediate action. An emergency evacuation procedure is a plan of actions to be conducted in a certain order or manner, in response to an emergency situation.  A prepared and educated workforce, who know how to evacuate a building quickly and safely, in the case of a fire or on hearing an emergency alarm, could mean the difference between life and death.

Data submitted by the Home Office reveals that the Fire Rescue Services (FRSs) attended 288,000 fire-related incidents between April – September 2016.  During this period, there were 88 fire related fatalities and 1,570 non-fatal casualties reported.

Employers, owners and landlords of business buildings or other non-domestic premises are responsible for emergency evacuation procedures and general fire safety. These responsibilities include regular risk assessments, implementation and maintenance of fire safety measures, the creation and communication of an emergency evacuation plan and the provision of staff training.

An evacuation plan should:

1. Identify clearly marked, short, direct and well lit escape routes,
2. Ensure all emergency doors can be opened easily by all employees
3. Include special arrangements should be made for individuals with mobility issues.  
4. Additionally, a safe meeting point should be clearly marked.

Communication is crucial and regular drills should be performed alongside safety awareness training.

Are you as employers, aware of your responsibilities and do your staff know what to do in an emergency situation?

VinciWorks Evacuation Procedures eLearning course outlines the key steps your employees need to take should an emergency strike. The course explains the importance of being aware of evacuation plans, the location of maps on doors and stairwells and which staff hold roles of safety responsibility.  

The online course explains what to do if a fire is discovered, how to raise the alarm and who to contact.  It also provides clear instructions on evacuating the building by the quickest and safest route and proceeding directly to the assembly point.  Additionally, information is given on what to do if you are unable to leave the building, how to help others and what to do if you are trapped in a smoked filled room.

VinciWorks Evacuation Procedures eLearning course emphasises that all emergency evacuation alarms should be treated seriously and acted upon even if it is thought to be a false alarm. After evacuation, employees are told not to return to the building unless instructed to do so by an authorised person.  

Like all VinciWorks courses, this Emergency Evacuation Procedures eLearning course is SCORM compliant and can be customised to meet your needs, enabling your workforce to understand the specific policies and procedures you have developed for your organisation and any particular types of emergency your organisation might face. A designated course administrator can use our integrated authoring tool to edit the text and images within the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.

As your first line of defence, ensuring that your line managers are adequately trained in Health and Safety matters, will help your organisation prevent accidents, avoid costly legal bills and most importantly, save lives!

Support and leadership from your board of directors is key to your business success.  A strong, clear and concise Health and Safety Policy should be central to your business culture and highlight your organisation’s values and standards.

“An organisation will never be able to achieve the highest standards of health and safety management without the active involvement of directors. External stakeholders viewing the organisation will observe the lack of direction.” (HSE).

Directors must ensure that Health and Safety is resourced adequately, risk assessments are performed, records and reports checked and all managers are responsible individuals, willing to promote and enforce Health and Safety practices.

As line managers provide a link between your workforce and Health and Safety practice in the workplace, it is essential that regular in-depth training is provided. Managers must have a clear understanding of, and actively promote, policies and procedures and be aware of their company’s legal duties.  Line managers must be competent in performing risk assessments, implement effective control measures and capable of thorough incident investigation.  

Training must include emergency procedures, first aid, accident reporting, good housekeeping skills and the avoidance of hazards.

Where can you find quality online Health and Safety Training for managers?

VinciWorks Managing Health and Safety eLearning course explains the importance of Health and Safety training for line managers in the workplace, helping them develop and communicate an understanding of Health and Safety legislation. The online course highlights key responsibilities and duties under the legislation, the requirement to implement a Health and Safety Policy and the role managers should play in that implementation. It also explores the role of the Health and Safety Executive, and the powers they have to monitor and investigate health and safety in the workplace.

A course references a range of applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974; The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations; The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations; The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations; The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations; The Manual Handling Operations Regulations; The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations; and the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act. The course highlights managerial responsibilities in relation to this legislation.

The eLearning course also demonstrates the importance of carrying out regular risk assessments, to identify potential hazards and the need for controlling and managing risks. It guides managers through the process of how to record and report an accident, should one occur.

As with all our courses, VinciWorks Managing Health and Safety eLearning course can be customised to meet your needs, enabling your workforce to understand the specific policies and procedures you have developed for managers within your organisation. A designated course administrator can edit the text and images within the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.

Ensuring Health and Safety for lone worker’s is a growing issue for HR and H&S Teams in UK Organisations.  

What is a lone worker?

A Lone worker or Lone Working is defined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.  It is estimated up to 8 million people in the United Kingdom are lone workers (22% of the 31.2 million UK working population).

Examples of lone working situations provided by the HSE, include the following:

The Lone Worker in fixed establishments 

• A person working alone in a small workshop, petrol station, kiosk or shop
• People who work from home other than in low-risk, office-type work (separate guidance covers homeworkers doing low-risk work.
• People working alone for long periods, eg in factories, warehouses, leisure centres or fairgrounds.
• People working on their own outside normal hours, eg cleaners and security, maintenance or repair staff.

As mobile workers working away from their fixed base

• Workers involved in construction, maintenance and repair, plant installation and cleaning work.
• Agricultural and forestry workers.
• Service workers, including postal staff, social and medical workers, engineers, estate agents, and sales or service representatives visiting domestic and commercial premises.

What are your responsibilities and legal obligations?

As an employer, it is your duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, to protect the health and safety of all employees including lone workers, contractors and self-employed people performing work for your business.

Employers are required to conduct a workplace risk assessment. Areas of concern include manual handling, employee medical suitability, workplace location and the possible risk of violence.  Adequate communication systems should be in place, including personal safety alarms. Regular, ongoing training should be provided depending on levels of staff experience and all workers should be able to respond quickly and correctly in an emergency situation.

However, lone workers, including self-employed individuals, also have a duty to:

• Take reasonable care to look after their own health and safety.
• Safeguard the health and safety of other people affected by their work.
• Co-operate with their employer’s health and safety procedures.
• Use tools and other equipment properly, according to relevant safety instructions and any training they have been given.
• Not misuse equipment provided for their health and safety.

Having a Lone Worker Policy in place can help promote a strong safety culture among employees and reduce the risk of legal issues.  Your company policy should identify the possible risks faced by individual employees and lone workers according to the nature of their job role.  Information on support and relevant contact details including area of responsibility, an emergency procedure and accident reporting structure should also be available.

Training both employers and employees is crucial in keeping lone workers safe and helping to reduce accidents.  

VinciWorks Lone Working eLearning course has been designed to enable employers who have identified situations where people work alone, whether in the office or remotely, to provide training and information on the potential hazards and risks they may face and how to determine and implement appropriate controls.

The course highlights how to prevent accidents and avoid possible emergency situations – including fire, equipment failure, illness and accidents, and trips, slips and falls – and explains the organisational accident reporting procedures. The course also demonstrates how to assess different risks, how to develop control measures, how to ensure control procedures are adequate and how to determine if additional measures are required.

Like all the EssentialSkillz courses, this Lone Working eLearning course can be customised to meet the needs of a larger organisation, enabling your workforce to understand the specific policies and procedures you have developed. A designated course administrator can edit the text and images within the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation, all at no extra cost.

New and Expectant Mothers: Do you and your employees know their rights and responsibilities?

Legal obligations regarding new and expectant mothers are set out in the following legislation; the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Equality Act 2010.  This legislation requires employers to protect the Health and Safety of new and expectant mothers including the provision of facilities suitable for rest, feeding and to ensure that any pregnant employee or new mother is not discriminated against.

A new or expectant mother is a woman who is pregnant, has given birth (including after 24 weeks of pregnancy, to a stillborn child) within the last six months or who is breast feeding.

Employees do not legally have to inform their employer of their pregnancy until 15 weeks before the due date.  However, for protection under the appropriate legislation to be put into action, the sooner an employer is aware of any pregnancy, the sooner adaptations can be made.  The onus is on the employee to notify their employer of any special requirements or changes to their working hours based on medical advice.

As employers, are you aware of the risks and workplace adaptations you face when staff are pregnant?  

A new workplace risk assessment must be conducted and any existing records updated.  Specific risks that need to be addressed include physical risks, such as, manual handling, noise, shocks and vibrations, chemical agents such as toxins, pesticides, lead and carbon monoxide. Working conditions should be considered, including the provision of restrooms, working hours, passive smoking risks, temperature control, travelling hours and nutritional requirements.

Any risks identified must be included and managed as part of the general workplace risk assessment, sensible action must taken to reduce or remove them.

As new mothers, employees have rights related to paid time off for antenatal care, maternity leave (at least 2 weeks or 4 weeks for factory workers), maternity pay or allowance and protection against unfair treatment.

As employers it is crucial you are aware of your legal requirements.  Despite clear regulations, recent reports show that pregnancy discrimination is on the rise.  Information from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills published in March 2016, reveals that 11% of the mothers surveyed reported that they were either dismissed or unfairly treated due to their status.  The Citizen’s Advice Bureau has mirrored this concern with an increase of 25% of people seeking advice on pregnancy and maternity discrimination from May 2015 to May 2016.

Making sure you and your employees are aware of legal requirements surrounding maternity and parenting rights is fundamental.  Training can help.  VinciWorks offers a fully customisable, New and Expectant Mothers eLearning course, providing everything you and your employees need from advising employees about their entitlements and managing their own Health and Safety.

Looking for in-depth and engaging health and safety training? Explore our comprehensive eLearning library and try any of our courses for free. 

What is Legionella?

Legionella is a pathogenic, waterborne bacterium that causes Legionellosis – the potentially serious Legionnaires’ disease – and the similar, but less serious Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever. Legionella bacteria is commonly found in water, occurring naturally in lakes and rivers but has also been found to thrive and dangerously multiply, in artificial water systems. Colonies of Legionella will enjoy and flourish in temperatures between 20-45°C and where nutrients are available.  Below 20°C the bacteria will lie dormant and can not survive in conditions over  60°C. Simple steps can be taken by property owners/managers to ensure favourable conditions are avoided. A Legionella eLearning course is the first step to a safer water system.

What is Legionnaires’ disease?

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe, often lethal, form of pneumonia caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The disease is contracted by inhaling water droplets containing the Legionella bacteria. Symptoms include, muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Sometimes diarrhoea occurs and confusion may develop. For most people, the risk of developing Legionnaires’ disease is very low, but if infection occurs it can lead to long term health problems. Anyone can develop Legionnaires’ disease, but the elderly, alcoholics, smokers, cancer patients and those with diabetes and respiratory weakness are more at risk.

Public Health England (PHE) has revealed that cases of Legionnaires’ disease in 2014, contracted both at home and abroad, remain under the total seen in 2010. In 2012, 306 confirmed cases were reported, down from 357 cases of the respiratory disease in 2010. Around 40% of confirmed cases in 2012 were associated with travel abroad, with the greatest number of cases seen in individuals travelling to Spain.

The incidence rate for England and Wales over the 3 year period (from 2010 to 2012) was 5.33 cases per million population (pmp). The peak incidence was in the areas covered by the East Midlands PHE Centre (7.72 pmp), the West Midlands (6.54 pmp) and Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire PHE Centre (6.23 pmp).

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, all employers have a legal duty to ensure the safety of the people who use the premises, and this includes protecting against the risk of Legionellosis.

What is Legionella? – What kind of organisation need to know about it?

Legionella is a potential problem where ever water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers and hot and cold water are present.  A wide range of organisations, groups, or self-employed individuals providing residential accommodation are responsible for the water system(s) in their premises, and will have duties in this regard.  These include local authorities, universities, housing associations, including housing companies, charities, hostels, landlords in the private renting sector, managing agents, hoteliers, B&B, guest house and holiday camp owners, caravan and camping site owners, including fixed caravan sites.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offers advice on how to control water temperature, check water systems for contamination, check pipework, take water samples and implement any other appropriate control measures

As employers, you have a moral and legal duty to protect employees and members of the public.  Training all levels of staff will help raise awareness and protect them from potential contamination.

The EssentialSkillz Legionella eLearning course explains what Legionella is and how it can affect human health, when medical advice should be sought and what should be reported under RIDDOR, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

The online course describes the common symptoms of Legionella-related diseases. It also describes how to identify conditions where the Legionella bacteria might thrive, in the context of an effective water management system.

The eLearning module outlines the responsibilities that employers have with regard to the health, safety and welfare of not only their employees, but to anyone who uses their facilities. This includes an effective risk identification, management and control process.

All EssentialSkillz courses can be customised to meet the specific needs of your organisation, at no additional cost. The Legionella eLearning course can be tailored to explain your specific water management system, your approach to risk management and how protecting against Legionella fits in with your broader health and safety policies. Your designated course administrator can edit the text and images within the course, and link to organisation-specific documentation.

Looking for in-depth and engaging health and safety training? Explore our comprehensive eLearning library and try any of our courses for free.