Lawford Kidd's Blog

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) recently held a meeting in Aberdeen to discuss the potential risks brought about by the growing use of nanomaterials.

The use of nanomaterials is becoming more common as they apparently can improve product qualities such as strength, durability and absorbency. As a result of this increased use, more workers in a variety of industries are being exposed to potential risk. Nanomaterials are being used in industries such as health care, including for drug treatments; and technology, for example better data storage.

However it is recognised that there are knowledge gaps about the health risks associated with their use. According to safety and health consultant Peter Murray, there is little evidence to suggest that the exposure of workers to nanoparticles has been adequately assessed.

The UK's construction sector must improve its Health and safety standards according to interior fit-out company Newman Scott.

Said company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) back in 2013, for failing to follow appropriate health and safety processes. Newman Scott hopes other construction companies learn from the mistakes of others as well as the HSE's refurbishment initiative. By acting now, Newman Scott suggests that the number of deaths, injuries and cases of ill health in their industry can be reduced.

Around 18,000 pedestrians were injured in an accident involving a vehicle in the last full year, according to new analysis by road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

The charity is calling for an even greater focus on pedestrian protection to make cars safer and raise awareness of the risks.

The figures come from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the IAM, asking for details of the most common pairs of contributory factors reported together by the police attending the scene of an accident in 2013.

New research shows that child pedestrians in Scotland are much more likely to be injured in road traffic accidents than adults across the nation.

Specifically, the recent study by Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH), shows that the risk for children is two-and-a-half times more than the risk for adults.

The rate of deaths from asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma in England is climbing, according to the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).

APIL has based its claim on Office for National Statistics figures, which show that the average rate of deaths from mesothelioma in England is 4.5 deaths per 100,000 people. This is a significant increase over the rate in the period 2008-2012, which was 2.6.

APIL has also compiled the ten areas with the highest mortality rates for mesothelioma in England. Barrow-in-Furness tops the list with a mortality rate three times the average for England. The three areas with the highest mortality rates for mesothelioma are: