In all areas where new risks are introduced, even outdoors, ensure that the relevant Risk Assessments are undertaken. These should be fully reviewed, updated as appropriate and the findings shared with your workforce, and where applicable, any contractors.
Additional guidance on risk assessments can be found at:
Any cooking or heating appliance must be suitable and specifically manufactured for use outdoors. They should always be used by trained employees and supervised whilst in use. All appliances should be used and maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
Many different types of fuels can be involved, for example gas cylinders, wood, charcoal and their storage arrangements need to be fully assessed. All bulk storage of fuel should be kept as far away from ignition sources as possible. Only keep the minimum amount of fuel.
Additional information and guidance can be found:
If smoking is allowed outside, it is important that the area smoking is allowed is suitable. It should always be away from any highly flammables or gas cylinders, away from combustible structures and waste storage areas. If you decide to provide a smoking shelter it must be safe and suitable for the purpose, comply with the relevant legislation, and it mustn’t increase the fire hazard on the premises.
Suitable and sufficient ashtrays, ash-cans or cigarette butt-bins should be provided. These need to be emptied each day into a suitable metal lidded bin or container, separate from other waste, wetted down or otherwise safely extinguished.
Planning in advance is key and should include design and suitability, safe and competent erection, dismantling, maintenance and inspection. Suitable and regularly reviewed risk assessments must be completed by a competent contractor and cover all aspects, such as fire safety, security and health & safety.
Additional information and guidance can be found:
We may think that flood events only occur during Winter months, but in 2007, the UK saw exceptional rainfall over June and July. It is only now that we are fully understanding the cost involved. The Environment Agency estimate the overall cost of the Summer 2007 floods is between £2.5 billion and £3.8 billion, with a best estimate of £3.2 billion.
More recent flood events, saw flash flooding in Somerset. Where eye witnesses reported roads turning into rivers. Edinburgh was hit by severe storms and it is thought that half the average rainfall for July, fell in less than an hour. The costs involved in these and other flood events is yet to be understood.
Many individuals and businesses never recover from these events, but it is often stated that effective planning could prevent or reduce the financial impact.
Too much exposure from UV radiation from the sun can cause sunburn, blistering and skin aging and could lead to skin cancer. Anyone is at risk and from an employers perspective it is important to ensure that employees and others working under their control are aware of the risks and the controls required to protect themselves from harmful exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
According to figures released by Cancer Research UK, melanoma skin cancer deaths have been increasing dramatically in the UK, with the rate rising two and half times since the 1970s and an increase of almost 50% of the condition in men in the last decade. This, despite the fact that almost 9 in 10 cases of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds.
Information shared as part of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health No Time to Lose campaign serves to further highlight the issue, and the relevance of workplace related exposure.
From an employer’s perspective it’s important to ensure that employees and others working under your control are aware of the risks and the controls required to protect themselves from harmful exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Often associated with those working inside in environments such as foundries and bakeries (where it is an issue all year round), heat stress can also be an issue for those working in other sectors, particularly during the warmer summer months.
Heat stress arises when your body’s means of controlling temperature begins to fail, with contributing factors including air temperature, humidity, work rate and clothing.
Symptoms are varied, but can include heat exhaustion, heat stroke, muscle cramps, an inability to concentrate, heat rash, fainting and an excessive thirst. In extreme cases and if not detected at an early stage, heat stroke can result in death.
Acknowledging the potential for people to adapt to hot conditions and / or change behaviours to try and cool down, in some situations that won’t be possible. To that end, where there is a possibility of heat stress in a work environment, employers should carry out a risk assessment.
Difficult to measure and to define in that this predominantly relates to how people feel, i.e. either too hot or too cold. Environment (sources of heat and humidity), in addition to personal (clothing for example) and work-related factors (physical demands and work rate) will all influence thermal comfort, and it is therefore important to recognise that hotter weather conditions will play a part.
Productivity, morale and general health and safety can all be positively impacted when thermal comfort is managed and controlled, recognising that when people are uncomfortable, it can affect cognitive behaviours and concentration, and increase temptation to:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identify six indicators of thermal comfort, all of which should be considered in determining the potential impacts on employees:
Environmental:
Personal:
Assessing and measuring thermal comfort is known to be difficult, and in many cases it might be a case of asking employees and / or representatives of employee safety or safety representatives if they are satisfied with the thermal environment.
HSE have developed a checklist to support this process. If thermal comfort is an issue in your workplace, it may be something you need to consider as part of your risk assessment process.
