Acorn Health and Safety News and Advice - Archive

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This page provides an archive of news and advice articles that have appeared on the Acorn Health and Safety Website.

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This page was last updated on November 20, 2011

First Aid News and Advice

Mushroom Poisoning - Advice

Article added 29.10.10

Symptoms: Stomach cramps, sweating, hot flushes, vomiting, and diarrhoea. High fever, high pulse, irregular heartbeat, lowering of blood pressure, headache, weakness, dizziness, faintness, blurred vision, constriction of the pupils, breathing and chest problems, lassitude, excessive thirst. Loss of coordination, hallucinations, vertigo, confusion, delirium, convulsions, coma.

Some of the worst mushroom poisons cause liver or kidney damage, which can be identified by the onset of jaundice. This, however, may take some time to be apparent but it is among the most serious of symptoms and must be treated with extreme urgency as the liver and/or kidneys may cease to function altogether, which may result in death.

Take immediate action if any poisoning symptoms are observed.

Remission and secondary symptoms: After the first onset of symptoms there may be a period of remission (one or two days) and thus expectation of full recovery but this must be ignored. Treatment must still be sought, as symptoms may return and after this period liver and/or kidney failure may occur.

This remission period may occur in poisoning by some of the most deadly mushrooms: Amanita phalloides, Amanita virosa and other Amanitas. This delayed secondary onset of severe symptoms may also occur in Cortinarius and Galerina poisoning.

Action (do not delay) Immediate action must be taken. Telephone or visit your doctor and/or the local hospital. They may pass you on to a poison centre or another hospital that specialises in mushroom poisoning.

If you can, get in touch with a mycologist to aid in identification of the species ingested. Although the hospital will start to treat the symptoms straight away, even before they know what toxins are involved, knowing which species of mushroom and thus what toxins are involved will make treatment far more effective.

Actions to assist treatment Firstly, make sure that you record the time from ingestion and the first evidence of symptoms. This is vital because symptoms of the most poisonous and deadly mushrooms may take a long time to develop. The time interval from eating the mushroom to noticing the symptoms may be as long as one to two days or even longer.

Secondly, keep a fresh specimen of any wild mushroom you collect and eat. Often more than one species of mushroom may be used in dish, in which case keep a specimen of each of the different species ingested. Make sure that the specimens are seen by the hospital or poison centre and mycologist.

Alternatively, if you have failed to keep specimens, make detailed notes about the specimens that have been eaten: habitat, size, colour, type of stem and stem base, gilled or other forms of mushroom, morels, brackets, truffles. The more detailed the notes the better chance a mycologist will have of identifying the species that have caused the problems.

Finally, around the time of eating the mushrooms had you drunk any alcohol? That day? The day before? Or the day after? Alcohol in conjunction with Coprinus atramentarius may cause a severe allergic reaction.

Remember Do not believe old wives’ tales about how to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. They are all rubbish. Taste is no help either. Some of the most deadly poisonous mushrooms can be quite tasty. Claudius, the Roman emperor, was thought to have been murdered by including the poisonous Amanita phalloides in a dish of his favourite mushrooms, the rather similar, but delectable, Amanita caesarea.

Occasionally people can have an allergic reaction to some edible mushrooms or even in extreme cases to all species of mushroom. Also some edible mushrooms can be poisonous if they are old and deteriorating or if they have been contaminated by some other fungal bodies.

Source: www.rogersmushrooms.com/poisoning/common_symptoms.asp

 

Changes to First Aid at Work from October 2009

Article added 1.5.09

From October 2009 First Aid Training is changing, don't slip up.......

As a result of a review of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, the Health and Safety Executive is bringing about changes to the requirements for provision of first aid in the workplace. The date for implementation of these changes is 1st October 2009.

Click here to view our PDF document explaining the First Aid at Work October 2009 changes, their implications for employers and how Acorn is revising it's training to reflect the changes (updated March 2010).

First Aid for Summer Burns (Summer 2008)

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
 

 

Choking Accidents with Children (March '08)

Asphyxia (choking, drowning, strangulation, suffocation) is the third most common cause of accidental death in children within the UK after road accidents and house fires.

A recent report (Jan 2008) compiled and published by the Child Accident Prevention Trust shows that each year over 25,000 children aged under 14 are treated at accident and emergency units as a result of choking.

Over 15,000 of these are under five, this is partly because very young children learn about the world around them by reaching for things and putting them in their mouths.

Babies and young toddlers do not have a fully developed ability to chew, swallow and time these actions with their breathing. Young children also have a narrow airway and have not yet acquired a full set of adult teeth.

About half of all choking accidents in young children involve food – with sweets and fish bones being the most frequent causes.

In 2005, (the last figures released) 16 children aged under 15 years died as a result of choking, 12 of these were under five.

Although overall the number of choking accidents in children has been declining in recent years the number of cases involving toys has increased over the same period.

Children are most at risk of choking when they are tired or crying or when they are running around.

Prompt action in the event of a child choking can save their life.

Are you a parent, childminder, or do you work in a nursery or school – would you know what to do if a child in your care choked.

Look at our range of courses and learn what to do in that situation.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust – www.capt.org.uk

Training in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation(CPR) (Nov '07)

In September 2006 the British Heart Foundation commissioned research to establish a more accurate figure of the percentage of the ‘household’ public in the UK who had received training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the last five years. The findings of this report have recently been published.

In total just over a quarter (26%) of individuals across the UK had been trained in CPR in the last five years. Some 8% of respondents carried out this training voluntarily (this group is classified as the household public) while one in five undertook training as a requirement of their work activities. This included a range of professional staff including healthcare professionals to first aid at work providers.

Nearly three quarters of respondents (74%) had not been trained. A common reason given for not getting training in CPR was respondents not thinking they would ever need to do it.

There are approximately 170,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest in the UK, the London Ambulance Service alone attended 10,000 calls to sudden cardiac arrest in 2006.

For those who were trained, around one in five gave at least one reason as to why they would not administer CPR in a real life emergency since their training. Women were more likely to say that this was because they lacked the confidence to do so.

Other respondents held concerns about the consequences of administering the CPR, such as the fear of litigation, contracting an infection or putting their own lives at risk.

Whilst we all hope we will never have to use CPR it can help to save a life.

Come to one of our many first aid courses, designed for the ‘household’ public as well as the workplace, learn the skill, learn about the real risk of infection (low) and the chances of being successfully ‘sued’ (extremely low).

For further details of this report and advice on heart health go to the website of the British Heart Foundation at: www.bhf.org.uk.

Would You Recognise a Stroke? (Oct '07)

Each year 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke, about one every five minutes!

It is the third most common cause of death in the UK after cancer and heart disease.

A stroke is a ‘brain attack’. It usually happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain, although some are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel.

A TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack or ‘mini-stroke) is similar to a full stroke but the symptoms may only last a few minutes and will have completely gone within 24 hours.

Don’t ignore it, it could lead to a major stroke.

If you were with someone who was having a stroke, would you recognise the symptoms, would you know what to do?

The warning signs and symptoms can be vague and are often unrecognised and early treatment is often not sought, leading to more serious consequences.

Because many people are unsure of the answers to these questions the Stroke Association is running the ‘Stroke is a Medical Emergency Campaign’.

To help recognise the symptoms of stroke use the F.A.S.T method:

F Facial weakness – can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped
A Arm weakness – can the person raise both arms?
S Speech problems – can the person speak clearly and understand what you
say?
T Test these symptoms - any doubts call 999

To learn what to do in the event of a stroke happening to someone in your presence, look at our range of First Aid courses.

For further information on strokes and after care of those that have suffered a stroke visit the web site of the Stroke Association at www.stroke.org.uk

 

Anaphylactic Shock - Jeremy Paxman saves girl (Sept '07)

Would you know what to do....?

NEWSNIGHT presenter Jeremy Paxman saved a choking child as he queued at a cinema.

The feared TV host, 57, was quick to react as the little girl started fighting for breath.

She had accidentally eaten a peanut – triggering her nut allergy.

He checked to see if her tongue was swollen after her dad warned she could go into anaphylactic shock. Then he yelled at staff to call an ambulance and waited with the family until it arrived.

One cinema-goer in Henley-upon-Thames, Oxon, said: “He saved the day.”

Source: THE SUN (Weds 15 August 2007)

Anaphylaxis is a rare, but extremely dangerous allergic reaction. It occurs following exposure to an allergen to which the person has already been sensitised.

Triggers for anaphylaxis can be broadly put into two categories, FOOD and NON-FOOD.

Common Food Triggers
Pulses
Sesame
Fish
Shellfish
Dairy products
Eggs
Fruit
Tree nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Hazels)
Ground nuts (peanuts

Common Non-food Triggers

Wasp stings
Bee stings
Natural rubber (latex)
Antibiotics (penicillin)
Aspirin
Exercise, by itself or in combination with other factors

The immune system reacts to the protein in the trigger by releasing large amounts of histamine.

The result of large amounts of histamine released into the body can lead to the following signs and symptoms:

• Sudden swelling of the face, tongue, lips, neck and eyes.
• Hoarse voice, loud pitched noisy breathing
• Difficult, wheezy breathing, tight chest
• Rapid weak pulse
• Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea
• Itchy skin
• Red, blotchy rash
• Anxiety – a feeling of ‘impending doom’
• Cardiac arrest


First Aid

• Dial 999 for an ambulance
• Help the conscious casualty to sit up to aid breathing
• If the casualty becomes unconscious – check Airway and Breathing
• If breathing – place into the Recovery Position and monitor
• If not breathing – start CPR
 

Note: A casualty who has suffered a previous anaphylactic reaction may carry an Epi-Pen. This can save their life if it’s given promptly. The casualty should be able to inject this on their own but, if necessary, assist them to use it.

If you would like to learn the First Aid skills mentioned above, click here to see our comprehensive list of courses or contact us on 0845 257 1231 or email info@acornsafety.co.uk.

Then you would know what to do in this emergency situation
 

Food Safety

Autumn Danger from Mushrooms

Article added 29.10.10

As the autumn leaves fall, many people take advantage of nature’s free harvest from our fields and woodland.

But foraging for mushrooms can have deadly effects as they are notoriously easy to get wrong.

A wet August and September have caused a bumper crop. Mushroom expert John Wright said that this had attracted many first-time foragers.

The number of people requiring medical treatment after eating poisonous fungi has risen dramatically this summer, prompting fears that many others will be taken ill during the remaining weeks of the wild mushroom season.

The Health Protection Agency's National Poisons Information Service has already received 209 calls this year from NHS staff attempting to treat suspected mushroom poisoning – a steep rise on last year's 123 enquiries and the 147 in 2008. One-third were for adults seeking medical attention after deliberately eating mushrooms they had picked.

The UK's most commonly eaten poisonous mushroom is the yellow stainer, Mr Wright said, because it is easily confused with common edible varieties. "They look like your average field mushrooms or shop-bought mushrooms. You can tell they're dangerous, though, because the edge of the cap and the stem go bright chromium yellow when you rub them and they smell of Elastoplast."

Original source: www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/record-poisonings-from-wild-mushrooms-2090428

In September 2008, Amphon Tuckey, a woman from Newport, Isle of Wight, died after eating ‘Death Cap’ mushrooms. These had been picked by another family member and mistaken for a type which were found in their home country of Thailand.

The Death Cap mushroom contains a poison which attacks the liver and kidneys and is responsible for the majority of mushroom poisoning fatalities in the UK.

A recent high profile case of mushroom poisoning occurred to Nicholas Evans, the author of ‘The Horse Whisperer’.

In August 2008 he went foraging for woodland mushrooms he believed were Chanterelles and Ceps or Porcini, which are celebrated for their flavour.

Unfortunately his basket was not filled with the edible mushrooms, but with a similar species, known as the Deadly Webcap, with good reason.

A keen cook, Evans produced a meal for his wife, his brother-in-law and his wife.

The following day they were all in hospital as a result of this mistake.

It is not just the distress of the immediate symptoms of the poisoning – nausea followed by acute renal failure – but the long term health effects that have followed.

Two years later, 2010, both Evans, his wife and his brother-in-law are on kidney dialysis, with both men awaiting a kidney transplant. Evan’s wife will almost certainly need one in the future.

Fortunately none of the children belonging to the two families ate the mushrooms.

The full article on Nicolas Evans and the long term effects of his mistake can be found at: www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1308997

If you do go picking mushrooms from the wild it is important to make sure you know exactly what type you are gathering. Never eat wild mushrooms if you are not sure of their identification.

Also keep one back, so that if you do become unwell then at least the type of mushroom you ate can be identified.

Cooking food safely on the barbecue

Article added 1.7.08

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
 

A Food Poisoning Free Christmas (Dec '07)

Every year more than ten million turkeys are sold during the festive season.

Many people find themselves cooking for more people than they are used to and cooking things they don’t often cook.

More than one in ten of us cook Christmas dinner for more than ten people, so whether you’re cooking for just two or twenty, some simple steps can be taken to ensure that Christmas dinner doesn’t give you, your family, your residents or customer’s, one of the season’s most unwanted “presents” – food poisoning.

Studies show that more food poisoning outbreaks occur in December than in any other month and one in five of these stems from poorly prepared or undercooked poultry.

Here are 12 tips to help keep your Christmas food poisoning free.

1. Give your fridge and freezer a good clean before you stock up for Christmas.

2. Don’t overstock your fridge or freezer – it makes it difficult to maintain the right temperature. Food should be stored separately in covered containers and properly wrapped.

3. Wash your hands frequently – especially before preparing or touching food, and after touching raw food, coughing, sneezing or touching pets.

4. Frozen turkeys or other poultry must always be thawed thoroughly and fully before cooking. A 15lb turkey will take 24-48 hours to thaw in the fridge, allow over two days for a 25lb bird to defrost.

5. There’s no need to rinse your turkey under the tap. This can splash harmful bacteria already on the bird around the kitchen, leading to the cross-contamination of other foods. Cooking will kill any bacteria present.

6. Use separate chopping boards and utensils or wash them thoroughly to avoid cross-contamination between raw meat, and any cooked or ready-to-eat foods.

7. Ideally, cook your stuffing separately, but if you want to stuff the bird, make sure you take the stuffing weight into account when calculating your cooking time.

8. Poultry, sausages and chopped and minced meat must always be thoroughly cooked – ideally to a core temperature of over 75°C. Check to make sure there are no pink bits in the middle, that the juices run clear and that they are piping hot throughout.

9. Don’t use raw eggs in food that will not be cooked – such as chocolate mousse or homemade mayonnaise – used pasteurised egg instead.

10. Always serve food piping hot and as soon as it is ready. If there’s a delay between cooking and eating then keep the food covered and at a temperature of no less than 63°C.

11. Don’t leave leftovers lying around – but make sure hot food cools quickly before putting it in the fridge. To speed cooling: divide into smaller portions, place in shallow containers or stand in a tray of cold water.

12. Avoid reheating food more than once – if you reheat leftovers make sure they’re piping hot throughout and don’t keep leftovers for more than two days.

Most food poisoning incidents are easily prevented and with a little extra thought and planning everybody can enjoy a delicious, healthy and stress free Christmas.

Red Wine ‘helps beat food poisoning’ (Nov '07)

An article in the Daily Mail on 12th October 2007 claims that Red wine has been found to combat potentially fatal food-poisoning bugs.

E coli, salmonella and listeria are all susceptible, while Helicobacter pylori, which causes stomach ulcers, is particularly vulnerable.

A study showed that Cabernet, Zinfandel and Merlot are especially effective.

The chemical resveratrol, which is found in grape skin, is thought to have an important role. The skins are removed in making white wine, which scientists found had no effect on food-poisoning bugs.

The University of Missouri scientists said the findings add to evidence of red wine’s health benefits.

Dr Azlin Mustapha said: ‘We asked, “If red wine is good for cardiovascular diseases, what about food-borne pathogens? If you get a food-borne illness and drink red wine, will that help”?

‘This study showed the pathogens were inhibited by red wine. The recommended consumption is one glass for women and two for men per day.’

Whilst this report gives a good excuse for a ‘tipple’ and turns the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ on it’s head, a severe dose of the above mentioned food-borne bugs can make someone very ill and potentially lead to death.

If you are in the food industry would you want to take the chance that you customer or guest has to rely on a glass of wine to kill any bugs they may get at your dining table.

Play safe and avoid giving these bugs to your guests in the first place by coming on one of our food safety courses.

Safe Microwave Cooking (Oct '07)

With the versatility and speed of cooking that they bring, the use of microwave ovens has increased dramatically at home, in restaurants, café’s, hospitals and care homes.

  • Do you or your staff know how to use them properly to ensure the safety of yourself, your staff, you customers, residents or patients?
  • The microwaves cause the molecules in food particles to vibrate, causing friction and creating heat.
  • Dense food will take more time to cook than less dense foods.
  • The centre of the product cooks when heat from the outside penetrates inward.
  • Microwaves don’t always cook evenly so you can have hot and cold spots in the food.
    • Dirty microwave ovens will not cook your food properly or safely.

Tips for safe microwave cooking:

  • Know the power output and capabilities of your oven
  • Follow the food label instructions on cooking times and temperatures
  • Only thaw food in the microwave if it is to be cooked immediately
  • Cover the food bowl with a microwave safe lid or food wrap, leaving a gap or piercing the wrap to allow steam to escape
  • Do not use metal items in the microwave unless you have confirmed they are intended for microwave use
  • Part way through the cooking process stir the food or drink to avoid hot or cold spots
  • Once the cooking cycle has finished leave the item to stand for two minutes as cooking will still continue after the microwave has switched off
  • Check food has reached a core temperature of at least 75° C or is piping hot
  • Only reheat food once and to the same core temperature
  • Regularly clean the oven with non-abrasive cleaning agents

Your Business and Health and Safety

Driving in icy or snowy conditions

Article added 22.11.10

One of the most dangerous driving conditions is ice, as it is usually extremely hard to see and anticipate. Sudden temperature drops can also turn surface water into deadly ice patches that could be waiting for you around the next bend. Don't be fooled into thinking that this only happens at night. Plummeting daytime temperatures and snow or sleet showers also present a real risk.

You'll need to allow up to 10 times the usual braking distance in icy conditions. Keep in control of your vehicle by allowing your anti-lock brake system (ABS) to do its job. Avoid sudden braking, acceleration or steering. In a vehicle without ABS, apply the brakes gently.

In potentially snowy conditions, plan your journey before you set off and keep in touch with weather reports while travelling. If heavy snow is forecast, try to re-schedule your journey or your breaks to avoid travelling in the worst of the weather.

Snow dramatically affects visibility, so make sure that you reduce your speed and use dipped headlights. Snow also affects braking distances so make sure that you allow for this by leaving a larger gap between you and the next vehicle.

Traction is a major problem in snow and ice, particularly if your vehicle is not fitted with traction control. To counteract this you should keep your wheels turning as slowly as possible particularly when pulling away.

Road markings and traffic signs will be extremely difficult to read. Make sure that you remain cautious at all times. Pay extra attention to the road and approach junctions slowly.

Deep snow and drifting may cause road closures. Do not attempt to use these roads, no matter what the circumstances, as you will be risking your life and the lives of others.

If snowy conditions are likely, keep extra layers of warm clothing and some food and drink in your cab in case you're held up or get stuck.


Clearing snow and ice yourself - new guidance published

Article added 30.10.10

Last winter many people helped keep pavements and public spaces around their homes clear of snow. However, many people were put off doing so because of fears of being sued.

Read on for advice on your rights and responsibilities when clearing snow and ice from public areas.

The law on clearing snow and ice from public spaces

There is no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your property, pathways to your property or public spaces.

If an accident did happen, it's highly unlikely that you would be sued as long as you:

  • are careful
  • use common sense to make sure that you don't make the pavement or pathway clearly more dangerous than before

People using areas affected by snow and ice also have responsibility to be careful themselves.

Tips and advice on clearing snow and ice

  • start early - it's much easier to clear fresh, loose snow compared to compacted ice that has been compressed by people walking on it
  • don’t use hot water - this will melt the snow, but may replace it with black ice, increasing the risk of injury
  • be a good neighbour - some people may be unable to clear snow and ice on paths from their property
  • if shovelling snow, think where you are going to put it so that it doesn’t block people’s paths or drainage channels
  • make a pathway down the middle of the area to be cleared first, so you have a clear surface to walk on
  • spreading some salt on the area you have cleared will help stop ice forming - table salt or dishwasher salt will work, but avoid spreading on plants or grass as they may be damaged by it
  • pay particular care and attention to steps and steep gradients
  • use the sun to your advantage - removing the top layer of snow will allow the sun to melt any ice beneath; however you will need to cover any ice with salt to stop it refreezing overnight
  • if there's no salt available, sand or ash are good alternatives


Common Sense, Common Safety - Cabinet Office Report Published

Article added 30.10.10

This week a report by Lord Young entitled 'Common Sense, Common Safety' was published by the Cabinet Office. The report in full can be accessed at http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/lordyoung/index.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=2/18-oct-10

The report itself contains a number of recommendations from tackling the compensation culture to sensible risk management in low risk offices and a review of some of our existing health and safety legislation.


Butcher fined over high food poisoning risk

Article added 13.7.10

A BUTCHER has been fined by magistrates after being found guilty of breaching food safety regulations.

Ivor Stevens, of Thirlmere Court, Congleton, was ordered to pay £500 plus £2,700 costs when he appeared before Macclesfield Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Stevens, who owns Stevens Butchers in The Village, Prestbury, had pleaded not guilty to an offence under The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.

Cheshire East Council environmental health officers visited Stevens's premises in July 2009.

They found raw meat was being stored in an under-counter refrigerator, which was dirty and blood-splattered, alongside ready-to-eat foods including cooked meat and sandwich fillings.

Environmental health officer Elizabeth Bowler told the court this presented a serious risk of cross-contamination, which could result in food poisoning such as E.Coli.

Stevens was ordered to dispose of the ready-to-eat foods immediately. But when officers returned a few days later, they found he was still storing these foods in a dirty under-counter refrigerator alongside raw meat.

The raw meat had been separated from the cooked meat with cardboard.

Officers took a quantity of ready-to-eat foods and gave Stevens a food condemnation warning notice. The food was destroyed after magistrates granted the council a food condemnation order.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Source: The Sentinal


What penalties can be imposed for breaching Food Safety Regulations

The courts decide the level of penalties depending on the circumstances of each case, but the Food Safety Act 1990 sets the maximum penalties available to the courts.

For offences in England and Wales Crown courts may send offenders to prison for up to two years and/or impose unlimited fines.

Magistrates' courts may impose a fine of up to £5,000 per offence and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.

For offences under sections 7 (rendering food injurious to health) and 14 (selling food not of the nature or substance or quality demanded) of the Act, the maximum fine a magistrates' court may set for each offence is £20,000.

There are also penalties for obstructing an authorised officer.

What can I do to prevent myself, or my staff, breaking the law?

In order to help protect yourself from such penalties ensure you, or your staff have received up-to-date training in Food Safety, such as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health’s Food Safety in Catering, Level 2 Award. Click here to find out more about Acorn Health and Safety's CIEH Level 2 Award Food Safety in Catering.

Our food safety trainers are passionate about anything to do with food or food safety. They are excellent at adapting courses and make food safety training both informative and enjoyable.

 

Bath leaves elderly nursing home resident with First Degree Burns

Article added 23.6.10

A 72 year old resident of a nursing home in Essex was lowered into a Bath filled with water possibly as hot as 72°C.

Rootcroft Ltd, the company that runs the home, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £5,989 in costs. The company was also ordered to pay the victim £500 in compensation. It was found that no thermostatic mixing valve was fitted to the water supply

HSE Inspector Sue Matthews said: "Rootcroft Ltd failed in its duties and instead a vulnerable resident suffered a painful injury. This could have been worse - several fatal scaldings have occurred in healthcare settings since 2001. This incident was entirely avoidable and could have been prevented at little cost. Thermostatic mixing valves have been required for many years where vulnerable people are being bathed and health and safety advice for care homes is readily available"

Source: Health and Safety Executive Website - click here for the full article

Prime Minister appoints new Health and Safety Advisor

Article added 23.6.10

Prime minister David Cameron has appointed Lord Young as his new health and safety advisor. Lord Young hopes his review will 'reintroduce an element of common sense and focus regulation where it is most needed, ensuring a system that is proportionatte and not bureaucratic'

Lord Youngs review will include a look at possible changes to the Health and Safety at Work Act and current compensation laws with an aim of ensuring health and safety legislation protects people without overwhelming businesses and organisations with red tape.

Windscreen wiper water may cause 20% of all cases of Legionnaires' disease

Article added 23.6.10

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) have found that contaminated windscreen wiper water may be the cause of twenty percent of all cases of Legionnaires' disease in England and Wales with Professional drivers being five times more likely to contract Legionnaires' disease.

Drivers are urged to add screenwash to their windscreen wiper water after traces of Legionella (the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires' disease) were found in one in five cars that did not have the additive, but in no cars that did ...

Read more on the BBC website

Parents of tragic swimmer criticise poor lifeguard training

Article added 21.3.10

Thursday, February 25, 2010, 09:30

The parents of a 16-year-old swimmer who collapsed and died have criticised a "shortfall in training and equipment" for contributing to her death.

John and Lesley Konderak delivered their damning statement following an inquest into daughter Sophie's death.

The family's sentiments were echoed by Coroner Catherine Mason during the hearing yesterday.

She called for a review of national guidelines into resuscitation training after delivering a verdict stating Sophie could have been saved had the lifeguards had more effective tuition.

Afterwards, a statement from the grieving family stated: "The inquest has found that Sophie's life could have been saved.

"The shortfall in the level of training and equipment contributed to this.

"We hope the coroner's recommendations will lead to an improvement in lifesaving training and no further lives will be lost."

Sophie, from Knighton, collapsed during an evening warm-up session at Braunstone Leisure Centre, Leicester, on September 15 after suffering a sudden increase in her heart rate.

Experts said she suffered from an undiagnosed genetic disorder known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

The condition causes fatty build-ups in the wall of the heart that cause the electric pulse to "short circuit" and speed up from as few as 50bpm to 300bpm.

The inquest heard that within two minutes of her collapse she was hauled from the water by trained lifeguards and her swimming coach, Alex Dawson.

Lifeguard Katy Butler administered two bouts of CPR as she thought Sophie had stopped breathing twice but, crucially, did not check the teenager's pulse because she had not been trained to do so.

After the final bout of CPR, Miss Butler told the inquest she believed Sophie was breathing normally and she was placed in the recovery position until a paramedic arrived.

Paramedic Sarah Hargraves said she saw no signs of life, adding that she saw no CPR being carried out, and said Sophie was laying on her back.

She told the hearing that when Sophie was eventually ready to receive a shock to her heart, after further CPR, it failed both times. Sophie was pronounced dead on arrival at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The inquest heard the period between the final efforts of Miss Butler and the arrival of the paramedic had been the "window of opportunity" to save Sophie.

Consultant paediatric cardiologist Dr Abdul Karim Duke told the hearing it would be "more likely than not" that Sophie's heart would have been restored to a normal rhythm if early defibrillation had been administered.

He said the period in which that shock should have been administered would be around three to four minutes after she collapsed, but that through effective CPR that period could have been considerably longer.

There was no defibrillator at the leisure centre. A tearful Miss Butler said she had been told during her training that if a patient was breathing again they should be put in the recovery position and, if not, CPR should be carried out.

Dr Duke, however, suggested that what she thought was normal breathing was, in fact, merely a result of her resuscitation attempts.

After recording a narrative verdict, Mrs Mason said: "A person is only as good as their training."

She said she would write to the Resuscitation Council of the UK asking it to clarify its guidelines.

She added that she would urge it to alter the guidance to state that once CPR had begun, it should continue until a qualified professional arrived, or the person regained consciousness.

Source: Leicester Mercury - This is Leicestershire (www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk)

Acorn Comment:

It is difficult to criticise the lifeguard who was doing the best she could under difficult and distressing circumstances.

However, the Coroner’s statement “A person is only as good as their training” highlights the need for good quality resuscitation training for those in a position where their skills might be called upon.

All of our Basic Life Support and First Aid courses are delivered by qualified trainers whom themselves have many years experience and come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including the military and emergency services.

To learn more about First Aid and resuscitation training, click here to view the courses available on our website at www.acornsafety.co.uk

The sick note becomes the fit note

Article added 11.3.10

As many businesses will know the 'sick note' is being replaced with a 'fit note' at the beginning of April. Below is a link to a useful PowerPoint presentation that explains the changes from independent occupational health providers Split Dimension.

Click here to download the Powerpoint presentation. (The presentation is in Powerpoint 2007 format - click here if you need the Microsoft Viewer Program)

 

£100,000 fine after disabled teenager fatally scalded

Article added 25.2.10

A care home provider has been fined £100,000 with costs of £45,000 after a disabled teenager was lowered into a bath of scalding water and died from her injuries.Yelena Hasselberg-Langley, 18, suffered severe burns when she was lowered into the excessively hot bath at a supported living home in Oxfordshire. Lifeways Community Care Ltd - which runs the home on Owens Way, Oxford - was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court today after being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Ms Hasselberg-Langley was a resident at the home and required 24-hour care. She was registered blind, was paraplegic and had epilepsy. On 27 August 2007 she was lowered into a bath of excessively hot water and suffered severe burns. She was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford before being transferred to the specialist burns unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. Ms Hasselberg-Langley died on 31 August 2007.

Lifeways, who are registered at 118 Garratt Lane, London, had pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974.
This was a successful joint investigation which was initially led by Thames Valley Police (TVP) with technical assistance from HSE. The TVP report was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided that they would not pursue criminal proceedings against any of the individuals involved. The HSE then continued with the criminal investigation. The court heard that the HSE investigation found that although the bath was fitted with a special valve to prevent scalding, this valve had never been set. In addition to this, staff had no training in the risks of scalding and there was no bath thermometer.

Following the incident, Lifeways Community Care Ltd, were issued with an Improvement Notice by HSE requiring them to establish proper procedures to minimise the chance of a similar incident occurring. HSE Inspector, Nina Judkins, said: "It is difficult to imagine a more vulnerable resident than Yelena. The risk of scalding to people who are so vulnerable that they cannot prevent harm to themselves is a well-known danger in the care industry. "The consequences of scalding can, in addition to causing excruciating pain, be fatal - as so shockingly seen in this case. "HSE has extensive, freely-available guidance on how the risk of scalding can be controlled. If this guidance had been followed then this tragedy would not have happened. "Everyone involved with the care of vulnerable service users must ensure that they have the necessary safeguards in place. Cases like this are completely avoidable if the correct guidance is followed."


In the Courts... Company successfully sued for suicide of injured worker

Article added 1.7.08

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.

Benefits of Drinking Water in the Workplace - useful link

Article added 1.7.08

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.

Care Home Guilty of Jeopardising Safety (March '08)

Cheshire-based Four Seasons Home (No 4) Ltd was fined £11,100 and ordered to pay £3,500 costs by Magistrates at Mildenhall in January 2008 after a prosecution by Forest Heath Council for breaches of food safety regulations.

The Council had been alerted to problems in the care home’s kitchen by a resident in April 2007. Over two days it was visited by Environmental health Officers who went over it “with a fine tooth comb”.

In the kitchen, they found a meat slicer which was dirty and had grease on the blades, a damaged and dirty floor which had “lifted” in places, making it difficult to clean, and a lack of hand washing facilities.

Photos of the floor were shown to the Magistrates showing food debris and other items which had not been cleaned up.

Prosecuting on behalf of the council, Paul Weller said “ It was not the condition one would expect a kitchen of this nature to be kept in”.

The home had not acted upon previous council recommendations which included food hygiene training for the head chef, a new cleaning schedule, checks on the probe thermometer and anti-bacterial soap to be used by the staff.

None of the 91 residents became ill as a result, although the head chef responsible for the shortcomings was sacked.

Are you the owner or manager of a care home, is your food safety up to standard, do your staff need up to date training?

Elderly people are vulnerable to food poisoning, can you take the chance with food safety, you may face heavy fines – or worse, imprisonment.

Contact us to discuss the training that we can give.

Original article by Alison Hayes can be found in the Newmarket Journal, 17 January 2008

 

The Tree Fights Back (Dec '07))

Christmas may be the season to be jolly, but for many people the festive fun could end in tears.

A past report from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) shows that over the twelve days of Christmas 80,000 Britons will end up in hospital and 130 will die. There will be 2,000 attacks by vicious trees, 500 falls caused by tinsel, and 500 children who munch and swallow glass baubles.

What should be a festive office or cosy home can become potential death traps.

Around 34% of Christmas accidents are linked to trees, even if the tree goes up without catastrophe, 12% of all injuries are caused by fairy lights. Burns and electric shocks are par for the course.

After Christmas the lights are taken down, crumpled up and heaped in the attic or storeroom for the rest of the year. Wires get bent, frayed and knotted and can all too easily lead to electrocution. Faulty wiring can also electrify a metal framed tree, making it ‘live’.

A thorough check of the wiring and lights should be made before using them, if in any doubt as to their safety, discard them and buy a new set.

Domestic current, as used in homes and the workplace, can cause serious burns or even death. Children with their natural curiosity and busy fingers are particularly at risk.
Water, which is a dangerously effective conductor of electricity, presents additional risks. Handling a normally safe appliance with wet hands, or if standing on a wet floor, greatly increases the risk of electric shock.

Should your safety checks fail and a colleague or family member is electrocuted, would you know what to do.........?

Do not touch the casualty if they are still in contact with the electrical current, they will still be “live” and you risk electrocution.

Break the contact between the casualty and the electrical supply by switching off the current at the mains or meter point if it can be reached easily. Otherwise remove the plug or wrench the cable free.

If you cannot reach the cable, socket, or mains - standing on some dry insulating material such as a wooden box, rubber mat, or a telephone directory, use a wooden pole such as a broom handle (do not use anything metallic) and push the casualty’s limbs away from the electrical source, or push the source away from the casualty.

Check their airway and their breathing, if they are breathing, but unconscious, place them into the recovery position.

If they have stopped breathing, commence CPR giving 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, continuing this sequence until emergency help arrives.
 

Carbon Monoxide – the ‘silent killer’ (Nov '07)

The following link from the Health and Safety executive takes you to a useful site aimed at increasing awareness Carbon Monoxide 'the silent killer' http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/co.htm?ebul=hsegen/08-oct-2007&cr=2

 Woman dies after thoughtless care (Sept '07)

The South Wales Argus reported that a Resident at a care home was found dead after being left unattended for 10 – 15 minutes on steady”

 

Slips and Trips (Sept '07)

Slips and trips in the workplace accounted for over 11,000 accidents last year, that's about 1/3 or all reported major injuries! The causes vary in nature and include poor flooring, cleaning regimes and appropriate footwear. Over 50% of slips and trips were caused simply as a result of bad housekeeping...

For more information check out the HSE's latest additions to the HSE's website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/experience.htm?ebul=hsegen/13-aug-2007&cr=4

Manual Handling News

Summer Safety for Manual Handling

Article added 8.7.08

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.

Acorn Safety Manual Handling - maximum weights to life depending on height


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

 

Want to avoid back problems in later life? Then start young! Visit www.w-y-b.info (Nov '07)

Without realising it most of us who suffer with back problems have often injured their backs before the age of 21 (when we stop growing) and have left them with a weakness.

As we grow older back pain becomes more than a niggle and if not looked after becomes quite debilitating

Manual Handling Advisors have been saying for years that we should be asking / Teaching our children to look after their backs and a great website has been set up with simple exercises for teenagers to use to do just that!

Visit http://www.w-y-b.info/

The site has animations showing easy exercises plus documents you can download and print showing ‘spinal workouts’ for boys and girls.

So spread the word! Remember - Prevention is better than cure!!

Back Care Awareness Week: 8th-12th October 2007 (Oct '07)

Theme for 2007 Back Care Awareness Week is “Keep Moving Keep Living” and is about incorporating exercise and activity into everyday life, which plays a significant part in the prevention and management of back pain.

This can be achieved by staying active and exercising regularly which can:-

• Reduce your chances of getting back pain
• Help reduce pain levels and make you feel better
• Speed up recovery from back pain
• Help you to keep doing the things you enjoy

Useful websites

www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/backinjury.html

www.backpain.org

www.welshbacks.com

www.hse.gov.uk

www.backcare.org.uk

Useful publications

The guide to the handling of people – 5th edition
HTT Management Services, 16 Park Square Chapletown Sheffield.
ISBN 0-9530582-9-8

Getting to grips with Manual Handling - A Short Guide for Employees
H.S.E. publications www.hse.gov.uk



Your Business and Fire Safety

Christmas Fire Safety Advice (Dec '07)

With Christmas just around the corner we thought we would take the opportunity to give some seasonal fire safety advice.

With so many of us decorating both our homes and businesses this has an impact on our safety.

Please be aware that every year unnecessary fires occur due to Christmas decorations.
For example many people overload sockets so that they can run lights and leave Christmas candles unattended.

For more information click here to visit www.firesafety.co.uk - a government web site with specific advice about fire safety at Christmas time.

Please take the time to navigate through the web site. This information could save your business or home.

If you're still not convinced then consider this; 1 in 7 small businesses that experience a severe fire will, even if insured, cease to trade.
 

Automatic fire alarms - An important change in practice by Avon Fire and Rescue (Nov '07)

As part of a new policy introduced by Avon Fire & Rescue Service, 999 Fire Control operators will now be asking a responsible member of staff to confirm a few basic signs of fire if an organisation’s automatic alarm system is activating.

Domestic properties, sheltered housing or residential care homes with automatic alarm systems will not be affected by the new scheme.

All other business in the Avon area will need to make the responsible person or their fire marshals aware of this change and adapt their fire evacuation procedures accordingly.

For more information click on the link below:

http://www.avonfire.gov.uk/Avon/News/Prs+rls+-+UWFS.htm

Arson Prevention in Business (Sept '07)

In light of recent fires in both Skegness and Newquay here is some information on how you can protect you business from arson

(Article taken from www.arsonpreventionbureau.org.uk - referred to as APB)

The extent of the problem

Arson is the single most common cause of fire in business premises. 45% of all serious fires are a result of arson. Much of this is not targeted either - the vast majority of arson attacks are down to opportunist vandalism. Up to 80% of businesses never fully recover from a serious fire - don't let your business become another statistic.

Click here to see 24 common sense ways to protect your buidling from arson attack

How the law affects YOU

New fire safety regulations affecting all non-domestic property came into force in October 2006. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2006 emphasises that the responsibility for carrying out a fire risk assessment rests firmly with the individual businesses. The RRO is designed to make fire safety law easier to understand as it brings it all together in one place. The Fire Service will enforce the RRO and will visit every business in the country to ensure that have got plans in place. APB's advice for businesses outlines what a business may need to do, and how to do it, plus suggestions for where else to look for advice.


Advice on fire risk assessment

A fire risk assessment does not need to be complex, or to take up a lot of time. What it does need to do it to identify where you are most at risk and make sure you are not vulnerable to an arson attack. A sensible assessment of your particular risks will mean you can focus your efforts where they will have the most effect. There is plenty of advice available to help you work out how best to tackle this.

How Can Acorn Health and Safety Assist?

Our Fire Safety consultant would be happy to discuss any fire safety requirements and provide a quotation for fire safety risk assessments if required. The risk assessments would be in a format acceptable to the Fire and Rescue Service and fulfil your obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. In line with the above Fire Safety Order the risk assessments would be carried out on an individual premises basis with a separate report and significant findings being provided for each. For further information contact us on 0845 257 1231 or email info@acornsafety.co.uk.

 

Acorn Health and Safety News

Meet us at the the Business Show Bristol 2010

Article added 1.8.10

Please come and visit us on stand 43 at the the Business Show Bristol 2010 with Ruby Wax.

GWE Business West's popular business to business exhibition and networking event returns to Bristol on 15th September at Leigh Court.

Delegates can look forward to an extensive seminar programme, with keynote speaker Ruby Wax confirmed to speak on 'Leadership through Communication'. Also, a broad showcase of 100 exhibitors from a range of business sectors, speed networking sessions and a conference café for networking, refreshment and one to one meetings. The show will run from 9am till 4pm and provides free parking.

To book a stand or to register to attend with free entry, visit www.businessshowbristol.co.uk for details.

 

Acorn Celebrates its 10th Anniversary with buy one get one free courses in April

Article added 10.3.10

As part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations all of our April open courses held at our Warmley Training Centre are now buy one get one free saving up to £185 per booking!

Places are strictly limited to one per customer and subject to availability. For more information call us on 0845 257 1231 or email info@acornsafety.co.uk

 

FREE Training Course - 2 HOUR PAEDIATRIC TRAINING COURSE ON THURSDAY 28TH MAY 2009

Article added May 2009

Building on the success of our previous free training sessions 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

 

FREE Training Courses - 2 HOUR PAEDIATRIC TRAINING COURSE NOW ON 25th FEBRUARY (WAS  21ST JANUARY 2009)

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

FREE Training Course - First Aid & Basic Life Support (Infants and Children) - Tuesday 24th June - 7pm - 9pm (May '08)

Aimed at Mums, Dads, Carers, Childminders, Grandparents and anyone else wishing to gain potentially life saving skills. The course is 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

Health and Safety Advisor/Trainer wanted (Jan '08)

We are looking for a full time health and safety advisor/trainer to join our team. If you are passionate about safety, appropriately qualified and ideally hold a recognised teaching qualification we'd love to hear from you. Click here to download a pdf with more information on the post. Should you have any more questions then please get in touch.

We have moved! (Jan '08)

We are now in our new offices at:

Acorn Health and Safety Ltd
Tower Lane Business Park
Tower Lane
Warmley
Bristol
BS30 8XT

Click here to download a pdf document showing our location and giving directions.

All other contact details remain the same:

Tel 0845 257 1231
Fax 0845 257 1232
Email info@acornsafety.co.uk
Web www.acornsafety.co.uk

Our new office includes the addition of a fully equipped training/meeting room and a comprehensive range of prospectus courses covering a variety of subjects.

Keep an eye on our latest news and advice for further information relating to our move and what we have to offer.  We look forward to welcoming you to Warmley.

Free Infant and Resuscitation Training in the Bristol area (Nov '07)

Acorn Health and Safety will be running evening Infant and Resuscitation training sessions in 2008 in the Bristol area. These are free of charge and open to anyone.

Our next courses are to be held on March 26th and June 24th between 7pm and 9pm at our Warmley Offices.

Please e-mail info@acornsafety.co.uk if you are interested in attending.

Part time First-Aid trainers wanted in the Bristol area (Nov '07)

We are currently looking for qualified and experienced first aid trainers to support the delivery of weekend courses in the Bristol area.

If you're passionate about first aid, hold a recognised teaching/training qualification and have actual practical, hands on experience we'd like to hear from you.

In return we'll provide all the necessary equipment, a competitive hourly rate and the opportunity to be part of a winning team providing training to over 10,000 people a year. Interested? Call Danny on 0845 257 1231 or email danny@acornsafety.co.uk

Frenchay Emergency Department says thank you to Acorn Health and Safety (Nov '07)

Jonathon Jones, Assistant General Manager at Frenchay Hospital's Emergency Department has thanked Acorn Health and Safety for the donation of a portable TV/DVD and freeview receiver for the children’s area in accident and emergency.

This was made possible by the generous donations received during Acorn’s evening infant and resuscitation training sessions earlier this year. Speaking of which…

Index of older Articles (all pre-September 2007)

 

British Heart Foundation to raise awareness of chest pains…

Every two minutes someone, somewhere in the UK has a heart attack. Sadly, one in three of these people will die before they even get to hospital. Unfortunately most people simply don't call for help soon enough. We know that the chances of survival increase the sooner a person receives treatment after the onset of symptoms, but still too few people call early enough. Later this month, the BHF is launching Doubt Kills, a national campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of a heart attack and what to do when they occur. The campaign will encourage people to call 999 immediately when they experience chest pain.

Chest Pain in Heart Attacks

  • A crushing central chest pain, like a heavy weight on the chest
  • The pain may spread to or just affect the arms (particularly the left), the throat, neck, jaw, back or stomach
  • The pain is usually severe, grows in intensity and lasts more than 15 minutes
  • Weakness or fainting
  • Breathlessness, sickness and vomiting, sweating, pallor
  • The pain does not go away with rest

Even if you have doubts about the cause or exact location of your pain, if you experience any of these symptoms seek help immediately by phoning 999 for an ambulance and calling your doctor. For more information contact www.bhf.org.uk

Hassle Free for a Monthly Fee…

Acorn Health and Safety have launched a new service for businesses designed to provide ongoing, practical support helping you to keep health and safety on the agenda throughout the year.

Starting from as little as £50 per month, payable by direct debit, businesses will receive:

• An annual ‘on-site safety’ audit and report

• Priority booking and an additional 10% saving on all Acorn training courses

• Automatic reminders when certificates are due to expire

• A further saving of 10% on health and safety consultancy

• Information on topics of interest, awareness raising campaigns and other relevant material

• A quarterly newsletter

• Monthly toolbox training talks for use in staff meetings, distributing via e-mail or placing on notice boards notice board

• A ring binder for storing everything in!

For more information on this new and exciting service aimed at small – medium sized businesses contact Marion Brock on 0845 257 1231 or e-mail marion@acornsafety.co.uk

The New Fire Regulations are here - everyone must comply!

“The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005” came into force on 1st October 2006. It is the biggest overhaul of fire safety legislation in decades. It means that Fire Certificates will be abolished and cease to have legal status.

Are You Prepared?

Responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order in a workplace rests with the ‘responsible person’. This is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises i.e. the occupier or owner. In all other premises the person or persons in control of the premises will be responsible. If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take reasonable steps to work with each other.

If you are the responsible person you will have to carry out a fire risk assessment which must focus on the safety, in case of fire, of all ‘relevant persons’. It should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as the disabled and those with special needs, and must include consideration of any dangerous substances likely to be on the premises. The fire risk assessment will help you identify risks that can be removed or reduced and decide the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain.

Who Can Carry Out A Fire Risk Assessment?

The guidance documents state that “a responsible person, with limited formal training or experience, should be able to carry out a fire risk assessment in less complex premises. If you read the guide and decide that you are unable to apply the guidance, then you should seek expert advice. More complex premises will probably need to be assessed by a person who has comprehensive training or experience in fire risk assessment.”

How Can Acorn Health and Safety Assist?

Our Fire Safety consultant, Paul Dineen, would be happy to discuss any fire safety requirements and provide a quotation for fire safety risk assessments if required. Assessments would be carried out using the methodology and guidance laid down in PAS79 2005, which is currently the benchmark accepted by the majority of UK Fire Authorities and the accredited Institution of Fire Engineers’ standard. The risk assessments would therefore be in a format acceptable to the Fire and Rescue Service and fulfil your obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. In line with the above Fire Safety Order the risk assessments would be carried out on an individual premises basis with a separate report and significant findings being provided for each.

Resuscitation Guidelines 2005

On November 28th 2005 the Resuscitation Council (UK) issued revised guidance on resuscitation following a review of the 2000 guidelines led by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). There have been a number of changes to both adult and paediatric basic life support and AED algorithms including: -

  • Changing the ratio of CPR to 30/2
  • Delivering a single shock when initially defibrillating, irrespective of the resultant rhythm
  • Emphasising the importance of minimising the interruption of chest compressions
  • Changes to the way hands are positioned when carrying out CPR
  • Reducing the time taken to provide rescue breaths

From January 2006 our first aid, basic life support and defibrillation course programmes will incorporate this new guidance. It should be noted that the publication of this revised guidance does not imply that current practice is either unsafe or ineffective.

For further information visit www.resus.org.uk or contact us directly on 0845 257 1231

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