Lawford Kidd's Blog

It is a sad fact that life changing workplace injuries can affect a worker at any stage of their career, from young people leaving education and entering the workplace for the first time, to older workers, who should be starting to wind down and look forward to enjoying their retirement.

Vet student suffers serious injuries

In one tragic case recently reported by the Health and Safety Executive, a 20-year-old veterinary student suffered severe leg and pelvic injuries during her last day of work experience at a stud farm.

She was collecting hay for the horses’ troughs when she was struck by four falling straw bales, weighing more than 1.2 tonnes, which toppled from a nearby five and a half-metre high stack.

The winners of the 2014 International Safety Awards have recently been announced by the British Safety Council.

Vision of no more workplace deaths or injuries

The Awards set out to recognise and honour the achievements of winning organisations in keeping their workplaces and workers healthy and safe throughout the year.

Alex Botha, the British Safety Council’s chief executive, explained that the Council’s vision is that no one should be injured, made ill or killed by work activity anywhere in the world, and that the winning organisations had shown a real dedication and commitment to preventing injury and ill health in the workplace.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has renewed its call for a review of the Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) system in Scotland, following the publication of the FAI findings into the deaths of 16 men in the Miller Helicopter tragedy in the North Sea on 1st April 2009,

In making the call, Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, commented that it was vitally important that lessons are learned as soon as possible after fatal events such as the helicopter crash, and that are recommendations are put in place to avoid further loss of life.

“The efforts of Sheriff Derek Pyle to bring forward the recommendations timeously to avoid further unnecessary suffering for the loved ones of those who lost their lives are very welcome,” he said. “However, we have to remember it has taken three weeks short of five years to get to this stage, an unacceptably long time for those who have lost most.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has recently turned its spotlight on the construction sector, warning that there is no room for complacency despite a recent fall in the number of accidents within the industry.

The charity is to hold a conference to highlight the need for more to be done to improve health and safety for construction workers. Topics for discussion at the conference will include safety measures, how to prepare in the event of a major accident, and legal implications, including financial and reputational damage as a result of poor health and safety management.

High risk of injury

According to RoSPA, construction workers are nearly four times more likely to be killed at work than the average worker.

Important new guidance aimed at reducing the risk of fire in Scotland’s care homes has been launched that is designed to assist care home owners and staff to fulfil their fire safety duties.

It follows the tragic fire at Rosepark Care Home in Uddingston which claimed the lives of 14 residents and demonstrated the importance of fire safety in such homes.

The Scottish Government put revised guidance in place following that fire, which was praised by the Sheriff Principal in the findings of a fatal accident inquiry into the tragedy in 2011.