School holidays are just around the corner, along with the hot weather (we hope). The traditional summer silly season will soon be upon us, but while we remain in the workplace, the hot weather does raise safety and wellness issues to consider, and highlights actions that need to be taken. Whether your staff are based indoors or outdoors, as an employer you will need to address various matters in order to ensure your employees remain safe, happy and productive. What the law says The laws covering summer weather issues are few and far between ... Continue reading

On 23 June 2016, Britain voted on whether to stay in the European Union (EU) or not – this was the second time the British electorate had been asked to vote on the issue of the UK’s membership – the first being in 1975. Britain voted with its feet and on 24 June 2016, it was confirmed: Brexit was a reality – votes were in and we were going out (of the EU). Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, announced that a second referendum in Scotland was a distinct possibility, adding an additional layer to an already uncertain time – ... Continue reading

The creation of the IOSH Blueprint is a great step forward. I see it as part of a continuing effort for the profession to embrace a wider skill-set where communications, influencing skills and instigating behavioral change are as important as legal and technical expertise. In a global world, our clients are more interested in international standards, and globally recognised competencies, than they are in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which is not enforceable in Delhi, Doha, or wherever they have their operations. For clients such ... Continue reading

I was heading back from London last night and the late train was absolutely packed with people wearing football scarves and T-shirts, and talking about the England v Portugal friendly.  Some of them sounded (and looked) a bit worse for wear and some were talking about being too ‘sick’ to make it into work this morning! It got me thinking…with Euro 2016 just around the corner, the business world is not going to stop at the point of kick off and allow football lovers to watch the ‘beautiful game’ without a care in the world.  The E... Continue reading

According to latest figures from the Environment Agency, reported by edie, approximately 3,000 (30%) of those organisations required to comply with the Energy Savings and Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) had failed to do so by mid-April.  The original deadline was 5 December 2015 and, while the Environment Agency had indicated it would take a lenient approach up to 29 April 2016, this deadline has now passed, leaving non-compliant organisations at risk of prosecution.  The maximum penalty for failing to undertake an energy audit is £50,000, with a ... Continue reading