Pedestrians and forklift trucks don’t mix, warns FLTA
Britain’s first ever national Fork Lift Safety Week takes place this week (22-28 September), with a clear and simple message: ‘Pedestrians and forklift trucks don’t mix’.  Read more...

Rutherford experiments may be linked to university staff deaths

An independent review is to be carried out to assess evidence relating to radiation levels at a university building and whether there is any link between its contamination and the deaths of three occupants from cancer-related illnesses in the past 15 months.  Read more...

New standard to help verify competence
A new voluntary standard for occupational safety and health has been introduced today.  European Occupational Safety and Health Manager (EurOSHM) is a voluntary European certification standard, which should help verify the competence of OSH professionals, and is particularly relevant for people with professional remits across several European countries.  Read more...

Ireland second in fatal-accidents survey
Ireland’s construction sector has the second highest proportion of fatal accidents out of 25 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD), according to Japanese academics. Read more...

Enforcement bodies collaborate in bid to stamp out abuses
As part of proposals to crack down on rogue employers who abuse vulnerable workers, enforcement agencies will be able to share information and carry out more joined-up action on investigations. Read more...

Volunteers carried out boat repairs unsupervised
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has hit back at media reports claiming it had confiscated a coastguard rescue boat because it was deemed to be unsafe, and had launched disciplinary action against a group of volunteers. Read more...

Union calls for more action to protect cash-in-transit couriers
The GMB union has welcomed the latest crime figures pointing to a fall in the number of attacks against cash-in-transit couriers, but insists that more must be done to protect workers. Read more...

Grass is not always greener on other side of the world, OSH salary survey finds
A new survey of the earning capacity of safety and health practitioners has found that the average salary of these professionals is just £25,000 – in New Zealand.  Read more...

Desktop lunchers' keyboards breed more bacteria than a toilet seat
Computer users who habitually eat lunch at their desks are being warned that their keyboards could harbour more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat. Read more...

Streamlining proposals aim to reduce ‘health and safety burden’
Better advice and support on health and safety could save small businesses up to £300m a year. This is the conclusion of a report by the Better Regulation Executive, which examines how health and safety regulation affects low-risk and small businesses. Read more...

Anti-stab vests buying frenzy claims rebuffed
National media reports of mass orders of anti-stab vests being placed by local authorities and hospital trusts as a direct result of the rising incidence of knife-crime attacks have overstated the situation, the Local Government Association (LGA) has told SHP. Read more...

Land-use planning needs COMAH focus to reduce risk
A new report from the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) calls for greater collaboration between the agencies involved in land-use planning around major hazard sites. Read more...

Europe-wide advice on watersports safety
The European Child Safety Alliance, a programme of EuroSafe, has launched new safety guidelines for water-recreation providers across the EU.  Read more...