Fatalities UP for first time in Four Years

HSE have indicated that the number of fatalities in the last 12 months will be significantly increased on previous years. There has been an unusual level of multiple fatalities, with three incidents in which more than one person was killed.

In a recent crackdown, more than one in five construction sites visited by HSE failed to meet the minimum legal standards. A number of sites received more than one enforcement notice, with work at height being the most common source of breaches in the law. The area that showed the worst results was the South West.

You may be aware that the classification of white asbestos (chrysotile) as a cancer causing substance has been under review. The investigation is now complete and has shown that there is consistent evidence that chrysotile does indeed cause lung cancer and will therefore remain classified as a class 1 human carcinogen.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispartners/goscience/docs/c/11-943-classification-of-chrysotile-asbestos-letter.pdf