Hot Temperatures: How can businesses support its workers?
There is currently no legal maximum temperature for workplaces, but the Health and Safety Executive has said that companies should ensure staff are working in ‘reasonable’ temperatures. Under the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999, employers are required to undertake suitable risk assessments, and HSE Executive suggests that “the temperature of the workplace is one of the potential hazards that employers should consider when doing risk assessments”. The HSE Executive advises...
Bank Holidays
Extra Bank Holiday? Is the employee entitled to have an extra paid Bank Holiday this year? No. Where a contract stipulates that an employees entitlement is limited to the normal eight bank holidays in England and Wales, there is no automatic entitlement to an extra bank holiday that is granted one year, for example for the Queen's jubilee (June 2022) There is no statutory right for employees to take bank holidays as leave;...
What ISO Certification? Why would you want ISO Certification?
ISO Certification is a seal of approval from a 3rd party body that a company runs to one of the internationally recognised ISO management systems. Many businesses use the certification to tender for business as a proof of a company’s credibility but also to instil confidence in the potential client that you will keep your promises. Why would you want ISO Certification? ISO certification identifies to potential stakeholders, employees and senior management...
HSE urges hospitality venues to arrange checks for outdoor installations ahead of busy period
Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues are being urged to make sure electrical installations and electrical equipment for use in outdoor spaces are safe as they enter the spring and summer season. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with both representatives from the hospitality industry and local authority enforcement officers to increase awareness and to improve safety standards. HSE is stressing that venues should arrange for a competent person to...
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) targeting woodworking businesses
Ventilation, protective equipment and appropriate guarding are some of the measures businesses should consider as Britain’s workplace regulator is carrying out inspections to protect the respiratory health of workers. From April, health and safety inspectors across Great Britain will be visiting business within woodworking industries such as sawmilling, manufacture of composite boards, and carpentry, as well as other industries where wood dust exposure can occur. Woodworking industries have the potential for high...
HSE focuses on health and safety in the construction industry in Birmingham
With the number of new construction schemes started across Birmingham City Centre almost doubling in 2021, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are sending inspectors out to sites to ensure firms are complying with health and safety regulations, it announced on Thursday 3 March 2022. As the city prepares to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games in just 134 days time, the HSE has noted increased development across the city potentially raising...
Remuneration Rates (April 2022)
Please see below changes to the Remuneration Rates from April 2022. For more information contact us on 0871 22 616 22 or speak to your consultant. ...
Closure of SSP Rebate Scheme
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will close on 17 th March2022.From this date it will mean that employers will no longer be able to claim back Statutory SickPay for their employees’ coronavirus-related absences or self-isolation periods that occur afterthis date, the 17 March 2022. Employers do have however have until 24 March 2022 to submit any new claims for absenceperiods up to 17 March 2022, or to amend claims they have...
Personal protective equipment (PPE) at work regulations from 6th April 2022
On 6 April 2022 the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER 2022) come into force and amends the 1992 Regulations (PPER 1992). Under PPER 2022, the types of duties and responsibilities on employers and employees under PPER 1992 will remain unchanged but will extend to limb (b) workers, as defined in PPER 2022. If PPE is required, employers must ensure their workers have sufficient information, instruction and training...
Considerations following the return to work instruction
The guidance contains priority actions to take to protect staff and customers, as well as detailed sections on risk, who should attend work, ventilation, reducing contact for workers, reducing risk for customers, visitors and contractors, cleaning the workplace, personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings, workforce management and tests and vaccinations. The overall gist of the guidance is that there is a very high degree of responsibility on employers to care...