CQMS' NEWSLETTER: Issue no. 34
New EN131 Standard in Development
A revised set of new EN131 ladder standards have been introduced to the European market from the 1st January 2018. These changes are designed primarily to address ladder stability and durability and introduce a classification of "use" to the new standard. Within the new standard ladders will be classified as "EN131 Professional", (intended for use in a workplace), and "EN131 Non-Professional" (intended for use by domestic users).
Product standards do not apply retrospectively so your existing BS2037, BS1129 and EN131 ladders are perfectly legal and fit for use as long as they are in good condition and fit for purpose. There is no immediate requirement to change your existing ladders because the product standards are being revised or withdrawn.
Scaffolding company fined £33,333 after a worker fell 4 metres
New OS&H standard published
The first global standard for occupational health and safety management has now been published.
ISO has developed a new standard, ISO 45001, Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements, that will help organizations reduce this burden by providing a framework to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions, all over the world.
The standard was developed by a committee of occupational health and safety experts, and follows other generic management system approaches such as ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 and will take into account other Standards in this area including OHSAS18001.
Fatal injuries arising from accidents at work in Great Britain:
Headline results 2016/17
Workplace substances fourth biggest cause of avoidable cancer
Nearly 14,000 cases of cancer in the UK each year are caused by exposure to hazardous substances at work, new figures form Cancer Research UK have revealed.
Occupational exposures to cancer causing substances such as asbestos was the fourth biggest risk factor causing 13,558 cases of cancer in 2015 (3.8% of the total).
Consultation on proposals to strengthen fire testing for cladding
The Building Regulations 2010 require that external walls on all buildings adequately resist fire spread. Statutory guidance in Approved Document B sets out two ways that external walls can meet the Building Regulations requirement for resisting fire spread:
- The first is for each individual component of the wall (insulation, filler, etc) to meet the required standard for combustibility.
- The second is to ensure that all the combined elements of a wall, when tested as a whole installed system, adequately resist the spread of fire to meet a set standard.
The consultation ends 25 May 2018.
Legislation update:
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
GDPR applies to the processing of both personal and sensitive personal data carried out by organisations operating within the EU and is effective 25 May 2018. CQMS have arrangements in place to ensure we comply and a copy of our Privacy Notice is available on our website.
Thank you for taking the time to read this e-newsletter; if you would like to provide any feedback or have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
