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This page provides the latest news and advice on current Health and Safety issues together with information about the latest courses and consultancy services offered by Acorn.
To see our archive of previous articles please click here to visit our Archive page.
Visit our Archive of news about Acorn Health and Safety
Building on the success of our previous free training session and aimed at Mums, Dads, Carers, Childminders, Grandparents and anyone else wishing to gain potentially life saving skills. The courses are aimed at giving the confidence and reassurance of knowing what to do in an emergency
Held at our Warmley Offices - to book a free place please call 0845 257 1231 or email info@acornsafety.co.uk
We are currently looking for an infection control and a manual handling trainer to join our team on a sessional basis to support the delivery of a number of contracts in the health and social care sectors. If you have the right skills and experience we'd love to hear from you
We are also looking for a full/part-time safety advisor/trainer to join our team. You should hold appropriate health and safety qualifications (min NEBOSH General Certificate) and have experience of working with organisations to develop their health and safety practices. As part of this role will involve teaching/training you must have sound knowledge/experience of the learning environment and a recognised adult teaching/training qualification.
Please call 0845 257 1231 or email info@acornsafety.co.uk for more information.
Visit our Archive of First Aid News and Advice
With summer approaching we feature a few articles to help with the kind of incidents that occur at this time of year
Now that summer appears to have arrived and the barbecue has been dusted off, make sure that you are not putting yourself or your friends and family in danger, but if an accident should happen, make sure you are prepared and know what to do.
The following incident was reported in the Coventry Telegraph on 11th June 2008
A six-year-old boy suffered serious burns to his bottom after he sat on a lit barbecue in a small village in South Warwickshire on Tuesday (10th June 2008).
The Paramedic who attended said “The boy was understandably very upset. The Community First Responder (who was at the barbecue) and the boys mother took the youngster to the shower and hosed the affected area with cold running water.”
“I would like to pay tribute to the CFR and the mother who did exactly the right thing, not only did they remain calm, they gave the lad the right treatment.”
“It is an important lesson to learn; if you suffer a serious burn from something like a barbecue, make sure you keep cold running water on the affected area.”
Figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) suggest that in a hot summer around 1,400 people in the UK will go to hospital as the result of barbecue accidents.
Their spokesperson, Roger Vincent warned, “A lot of these will be minor burns, but there can be more serious incidents. There have some horrendous cases over the years of people using petrol or meths to get the barbecue going, which then blows right up.
“Bear in mind the coals will be extremely hot even hours after you have finished using it. You could be relaxing with a glass of wine, or chatting to your neighbour over the fence, while a child clatters into the barbecue and knocks it down.”
First Aid for Burns
1. Cool the burn immediately with cold (preferably running) water for at least
10 minutes
2. If water is not available, any cold harmless liquid (e.g. milk) is better
than no
cooling at all. Do this first then move quickly to a water supply to continue
cooling the burn.
3. Remove any constricting items such as rings and watches, because the area may
start to swell.
4. Carefully remove loose clothing, taking care that it’s not stuck to the burn.
5. Leave clothing in place if you’re not sure that it’s loose.
6. After cooling, dress the burn with a sterile dressing that won’t stick to the
burn. Cling film is one of the best dressings for a burn – the inside of the
roll should be sterile, and will not stick to the burn.
Do not wrap the burn tightly.
Seek medical advice if:
• Any blistering is larger than 1 inch square
• The casualty is a child
• The burn goes all the way around a limb
• Any part of the burn appears to be full thickness
• The burn involves hands, feet, genitals or the face
• You are in any doubt as to the severity of the burn
To learn more about First Aid look at the courses available on our website at
www.acornsafety.co.uk
Nigel Braybrooke
First Aid Training Consultant
Visit our Archive of Food Safety News and Advice
Now that the sun has put its hat on, an expedition has been made into the nether
regions of the shed or garage and the barbecue has been located and dusted off,
how do we ensure that the food we cook is safe for our family and friends to
eat.
Undercooked meat on home barbecues has long been associated with the rise in
food poisoning cases in the summer months.
When you’re barbecuing, the biggest risk is from raw and undercooked meat.
Bugs such as E. coli 0157, salmonella and campylobacter can cause serious
illness.
Simple steps can be taken to ensure that you, your family and friends, can enjoy
your hospitality and take nothing home with them that could make them seriously
ill.
These steps include;
• Waiting until the charcoal is glowing red, with a powdery grey surface, before
you start to cook.
• Make sure frozen food is properly thawed before you cook it.
• Turn the food regularly, and move it around the barbecue, to cook it evenly.
• Check that the centre of the food is piping hot and that any juices are
running out clear.
• Don’t assume that if meat is charred on the outside that it will be cooked
properly on the inside.
This, and further information on safe barbecuing, including an on-line quiz, can
be found on the Food Standards Agency website at:
www.eatwell.gov.uk/keepingfoodsafe/partiesandevents/barbecues/
or for information on food safety in the South Gloucestershire area go to
www.southglos.gov.uk and follow the links to the food safety page.
Nigel Braybrooke
Food Safety Training Consultant
Visit our Archive of Health and Safety News and Advice
An incident in which a worker was nearly decapitated left him with headaches, insomnia and depression. He later committed suicide.
The man’s widow sued for damages after losing her husband. The company admitted it was responsible for the incident but not the suicide. The House of Lords disagreed, saying the 2 were linked and were a result of the company failing in its duties.
This is the first case of its kind in the UK and sets a legal precedent.
www.wateratwork.org is a campaign about the benefit of drinking water in the workplace, both to employers and employees.
Use the above link to visit their website for more information.
Visit our Archive of Manual Handling News and Advice
Now is the time when you are planning the amount of clothing you're taking on your summer holidays. Buying new bibs and bobs to wear, the suntan lotions that we should be taking to prevent sunburn and its consequences and they all add up to quite a weight! I know because I am doing the same thing as you read this.
However there are a few safety factors we need to consider.
For example: what is the maximum amount you should be lifting?
Well according to the HSE guidelines the following rules apply but don’t forget they only apply when all the elements of a risk assessment are perfect….and as we know this never happens - there is always an element of risk to whatever we are moving or supporting.
We also need to consider the way in which we lift the bags we want to take and
prevent pressure on the back.
Simple precaution is to follow the Principles of safe handling.
1. Ensure you have a stable but mobile base – 1 foot slightly infront of the
other
2. Start movement slowly
3. Keep the load close to your body
4. If it hurts STOP –find another way of doing it!
5. Maintain a natural upright posture – simply put raise your head!
6. Last but most important bend your knees! This helps you keep a good posture
Remember if you have to bend over to pick anything up you put more pressure in
your lumbar discs. The heavier the item you move the greater the pressure.
BE CAREFUL you do not want to start your holiday with a bad back!
Now I hear you say “ Well how heavy should my suitcases be?”
As we discussed there is no safe limit it depends on your environment etc and
what your body thinks is comfortable for you. However the rule of thumb is if
you have to strain to lift it its too heavy!
If flying remember that the airlines have given you a baggage allowance, use it
wisely and using more luggage is best.
Most airlines have limits of 20 to 50lbs PER PIECE so it does not matter how
many persons are flying only the weight per piece of luggage. Obviously this
number varies greatly between airlines, but they are usually pretty flexible. I
know in many countries if you exceed the weight you can pay a fee for the amount
over the maximum and proceed.
My advice would be to check your airlines website or call and they should be
able to give you an accurate number.
So what are you waiting for? Go and enjoy …just make sure you are safe.
Happy holidays
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