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Night-time work comes under scrutiny
8:40am Sunday 12th October 2008
A MAJOR investigation into the risks facing Swindon’s night workers will take place over the next few weeks.
Swindon Council’s environmental health officers will be working with the Health Safety Executive to look at the working conditions of hundreds of night-workers.
Teams of investigators will visit places of work between October 13 and 30 to focus on issues such as health and safety, management, supervision and transport.
They will also be looking at working at heights, risks associated with slips and trips and various other areas that are potentially hazardous.
Training and issues of language, where migrant workers are involved, will also be investigated.
Owners and managers have been warned that they can expect strong enforcement action if they are found to be contravening health and safety regulations.
HSE inspector David Cowley, who is coordinating the initiative, said: “This inspection blitz should give both us and the local authority a good overview of the health and safety standards in the night-time economy.
“Our findings will help to inform our proactive work with such businesses and will reinforce the message that employers and managers need to take suitable measures to assess the risks to employees and others and then put appropriate measures in place to address these risks.
"We will not hesitate to challenge robustly any owners or managers of businesses where employees and others are being put at risk because of health and safety failures and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action to secure improvements.”
A spokeswoman from Swindon Council said: “Unannounced visits will be made in October to transport hubs, manufacturing premises and distribution and warehousing premises in Swindon.
“The joint visit will continue the ongoing partnership working between the HSE and local authorities to improve workplace safety.
“The aim is to gain an overview of health and safety standards. Officers will identify any problems and then work with the business to ensure appropriate systems are in place.
“Where it is appropriate, the council will take enforcement action to secure improvements in health and safety."
Your Say YourSwindon
Dick-Turpin, Swindon says...
9:23pm Sun 12 Oct 08
nansview, Swindon says...
9:27am Mon 13 Oct 08
I agree that finding fault (where there probably isn't any fault that a quick word wouldn't put right anyway) forcing employers to spend money on improvements that are not needed, forcing them out of business, is quite unfair, especially in this climate.
BWB, SWINDON says...
11:36am Mon 13 Oct 08
forcing employers to spend money on improvements that are not needed, forcing them out of business, is quite unfair, especially in this climate.
When has this Government EVER been
FAIR?.
Will HSE inforce the buy law
that deems it an offence to carry
a ladder on the pavement.Sorry,windo
w cleaners,your now out of work.
Bobfm, South Marston says...
12:44pm Mon 13 Oct 08
Your sayYourSwindon
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Bobfm, South Marston says...
10:28am Sun 12 Oct 08
As a percentage of the workforce that is 0.000001. In the current climate the last thing employers need is another raft of rules and regulations.
It seems rather odd to me that one of the areas being looked at is language barriers. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the criteria for the issue of work permits that the worker can communicate effectively in English.
Ar we yet again to see employers blamed for failure of the Statutory Authorities to do their jobs properly, as in the legislation concern illegal workers.
This seems one sure fire way of putting more out of work and businesses out of business, because they haven't crossed the 't's' and dotted the 'i's'. We are frequently told that there are not enough HSE or EHO inspectors to carry out statutory inspections without looking for issues that given the statistics simply do not exist. Not to mention of course the out of hours enhanced payments to officers.