Lawford Kidd's Blog

According to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), more needs to be done to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses amongst fashion industry factory workers.

Encouragingly, steps have already been taken with fire safety courses, which are funded and accredited by IOSH, having been rolled out in garment factories. Additionally, more safety inspections are being carried out in supply chain factories in a bid to improve working conditions for factory employees.

According to recent research, which was undertaken by Imperial College London and commissioned by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the number of people in the United Kingdom who are diagnosed with, or die from, skin cancer contracted as a result of sun exposure at work, is much higher than expected.

It is hoped said research will better educate busineses as to the risks of skin cancer for employers/workers working in outdoor roles, including those in construction, agriculture and leisure.

A 25-year-old rugby union player has died after suffering a blow to the head when he made a tackle during a match in a first-grade match in New South Wales.

Nicolas Tooth collapsed after his head collided with another players’shoulder. Despite receiving treatment at the scene and being airlifted to hospital, he died the next day as a result of his injury.

The president of the Quirindi Lions football club, the club Tooth played for, said: “It really was just a tragic accident, Nick went in to tackle an opponent and his head clashed with [the opponent’s] shoulder and he went down,”Murray added: “There was no foul play, nothing untoward about it at all, sadly it was just a very tragic accident.”

Two firms, namely C&F Electrical Services Limited based in Glenrothes, Fife and Raytheon Systems Limited, Essex were fined £20,000 and £24,000 respectively, after two workers were seriously burned and left disfigured.

The two men were working on a live electricity distribution board when a capacitor, two of which the men were meant to be replacing, accidently fell onto a live conductor causing a 'flashover' and burning the men on the face, neck and arms.

The French Network Rail Company, SNCF, has called for the police to take action following a near miss at the Paris-Roubaix bike race.

Numerous riders opted to cycle across a level crossing despite the barriers going down and the warning lights at a crossing. A policeman on a motorbike prevented any further cyclists crossing as a high-speed train passed seconds later.

The rail network SNCF has since called for police to take criminal action against those who neglected to obey the barriers and the crossing warning system after the race was broadcast to millions across the world. The rail company urged the police to take action for what they saw as a clear breach of safety rules.