Health and Safety & First Aid Blog

Christmas First Aid Tips!

2010-12-20T16:24:00.001Z

Christmas can be an accident - filled time of the year; granny chokes on sprouts, electric shocks from tree lights because your daughter has been biting them, or burning your arm taking the turkey out the oven.

Be prepared with our simple handy first aid guide!

If someone is choking, you need to give

5 slaps in the upper middle part of the back
5 abdominal thrusts

Standing behind the person (who should also be standing and leaning slightly forward) and encircle your arms around them, underneath their arms. Hold your hands together at the top of their stomach underneath their breastbone, and give up to 5 sharp squeezes inwards and upwards.

This should cause the object to come out. If it doesn't, you should call 999.

If you burn your arm getting the turkey out of the oven immediately put your arm under cool running water. You should do this for at least 20 minutes. You shouldn't use ice or freezing cold water as this may worsen any skin damage.

If dad gets an electric shock changing light bulbs on the tree, the most important thing to do is turn off the lights to remove the source of electricity straight away. You shouldn't touch him - if he is unconscious, call 999 immediately.

Front Page 53 Degree Magazine

2010-12-06T14:28:00.000Z

What a result for Action Training Services. Since winning the SME Business of the year award in Wigan for 2010. Our leap into the bright lights has not stopped. We are the best at what we do; quality training with prices to match http://www.53degreesonline.co.uk/
Its true we are winners.

Resignation by Lord Young of Graffham

2010-11-23T21:45:00.000Z

Will we have a government health and safety adviser following the resignation by Lord Young of Graffham!! Lord Young resigned as the government’s enterprise tsar.

A Number 10 spokesperson was unable to confirm if lord Young will be replaced in his role as safety adviser to the prime minister.

The spokesperson confirmed he has stepped down as enterprise tsar but said: “His role as health and safety adviser ended when he finished his report”.

Lord Young previously said he would oversee the reforms outlined in his report, which include a registration scheme for safety consultants, and revisions to health and safety law, such as the regulations for reporting injuries.

Speaking last month at a seminar organised by Cardinus and IIRSM, Lord Young vowed that the document would not just end up on a shelf and said: “My job over the next year is to make sure it is implemented.”

His resignation takes immediate effect, following the controversy he caused on the (18 November) by saying most Britons had “never had it so good”, despite the recession. Number 10 said he reflected overnight on his position before offering his resignation.

He did not want to cause further damage to the government so he offered his resignation to the prime minister, who accepted,” the spokesperson said.

“The PM is grateful for the work he has done, particularly on the health and safety review"

Common Sense Common Safety, was launched last month and promised to curb the perception of a compensation culture in the UK.

Lord Young, a former trade and industry secretary in the 1980s, had already apologised for his remarks to the Daily Telegraph, in which he also said that the forecast of 100,000 public sector job losses a year was “within the margin of error” for an economy of 30 million jobs.

Wigan Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year

2010-11-22T15:36:00.001Z

Winners - Winners - Winners - Winners - Winners - Winners

Action Training Services Ltd,

are

Wigan's Small to Medium Enterprise of the year

2010.

Wigan's largest Provider of First Aid Training, providing businesses with First Aid, Health and Safety and Food Hygiene Training.

This award sought to recognise an SME from any industry that has been operating for at least 2 years. Innovation, expertise and imagination are just some of the qualities that helped firms become shortlisted, together with a solid vision for the future growth of the company. Action Training Services have faced enormous challenges even in the best of times, so to be nominated for this award in these exceptionally difficult economic times is a real achievement and one for which our company and staff feel very proud.
"The judges were impressed by the examples of businesses showing a strong belief in supporting the Wigan economy, buying and employing locally and above all promoting Wigan wherever they go. We see this entrepreneurial spirit in the economic performance of Wigan compared with other areas across the Northwest. We have seen a new business formed every day in the borough and jobs created help drive unemployment down" (Miranda Barker, Wigan President Greater Manchester Chamber.)

A Winning Combination

Winning is what we are all about putting the customer first with modern teaching styles in easy to understand format with prices to match.

Congratulations to all those Nominees in our category;

AM Propert Management Ltd

Arbour Safety Management Ltd

Debtfocus

ProCo NW Ltd

Stephensons Solicitors

When Training is important and you need it to be right we at Action Training are the ones you want on site.

Winners - Winners - Winners - Winners - Winners - Winners

Resuscitation Changes (Questions Answered)

2010-11-09T22:35:00.001Z

Q: Why is there new CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) guidance?
A: Every five years Resuscitation Council (UK) consolidates research and current practice. At the conclusion of this research they make recommendations, if needed, on how CPR and other techniques, can be more effectively used to help people whose heart or breathing has failed.

Q: What are the changes to CPR?
A: People who are not trained in CPR could be the difference between a life lost and a life saved by carrying out chest compressions on cardiac arrest victims.

They don't need to worry about doing mouth to mouth, but calling for help and doing chest compressions means that something is being done, rather than nothing, while waiting for the emergency services or an AED (automated external defibrillator) – a machine which may shock the heart back into a rhythm – to arrive. This gives victims a better chance of survival. Our step-by-step training demonstrates how to give chest compressions and use an AED.

For people who are trained, they should use rescue breaths, because this is still the best method for those who know what they are doing. We encourage everyone to try and get training www.actiontraining.co.uk to give those who require first aid the best chance to live.

Q: Why has this change been made?
A: 30,000 people have a cardiac arrest each year outside of a hospital and yet only one-third receive bystander CPR. Too many people die when first aid could have given them a chance to live.

By ensuring untrained bystanders call the emergency services and an AED and perform chest compressions mean more people will be given a chance to live. Something is better than nothing although for those who are trained, they should continue traditional CPR with rescue breaths.

Q: Won't people be confused by the changes when they have always been taught to do breaths as well as chest compressions?
A: If you have been trained to carry out rescue breaths then the advice is that you should do what you've been trained to do.

Q: Won't they become brain dead with no breaths?
A: In most cases the casualty still has oxygen in the lungs and blood, and chest compressions will keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain, heart and other organs, for a limited time. The exceptions are when the victim has had breathing failure, eg. children, drowning when rescue breaths are required.

It is still better to be trained and carry out full CPR so you can be the difference between life and death but without training, chest compressions are better than nothing. Rescue breaths are especially important in children and victims of drowning.

Q: Do breaths cause damage?
A: Not at all and for people trained in how to carry out rescue breaths, this technique is the preferred method of choice.

Q: Why are people not want to do mouth-to-mouth?
A: Action Training Services believe that people are worried about giving a stranger rescue breaths, perhaps for fear of infection or because it's crossing a social barrier, but these new recommendations mean that people can feel empowered knowing that chest compressions only can help.

Q: Is this the only change?
A: People are being encouraged to ask bystanders to find a nearby AED as well as calling the emergency services. AEDs can safely be used by anyone without training, although this is encouraged.

Chest compressions are currently taught at a rate of 100 per minute but will be slightly faster at 100-120 per minute and approximately 1cm deeper at 5-6cm rather than 4-5cm.

Q: Is this RCUK advice something that Action Training Services approves of?
A: The RCUK sets the guidance for the UK and Action Training Services has always worked closely with the RCUK and other authoritative bodies.

Currently too many people are dying because not enough people know what to do.

Q: Are there any changes to AED protocols?
A: There are no changes to AED protocols.

There is strong evidence that early use of an AED on an unconscious casualty who isn’t breathing can save lives if their heart is in a certain rhythm. So the RCUK is saying that in an emergency situation anyone can use an AED effectively without prior training and it should be something people ask for at the same time as asking bystanders to call emergency services.

Important
The RCUK still encourages people to have training in the use of an AED as you don't want the first time that you use the machine to be in a stressful emergency situation. You will also need to know how to do CPR to use it effectively.

Q: If you haven't had training in AEDs how will you know what to do or if you’re doing it right?
A: AEDs are machines which analyse the heart and give a shock if one is needed to return it to a normal rhythm. They are easy to use and give you voice prompts to ensure that you don't shock someone who doesn't need a shock. As such, they are effective for people to use with no training, although we offer training if people would like it.

Q: Is what I did before wrong?A: No, the RCUK is saying that rescue breaths are the best method for people trained in them but if you haven't been trained have a go at compressions only

Q: Will they change again and if so when?
A: As all recommendations from the Resuscitation Council UK are based on research over a five year period, it is difficult to predict what breakthroughs may happen between now and 2015 so it may change again. The next announcement is expected in 2015.

Q: Do I need to book myself on a new first aid course?
A: You don't have to right now but as the HSE strongly recommends that all workplace first aiders and emergency first aiders attend annual skill refresher training.

Portable Appliance Testing scare tactics

2010-10-06T23:18:00.000+01:00

A friend of mine Paul, called me recently to ask if he and his wife needed to have all their electrical equipment Portable Appliance Tested (PAT tested) for their business which they run from home.
They had received a telephone call from a local company to ask when the last time that their electrical equipment had been tested was. When Paul said he was not sure it ever had been, the caller (salesperson) told him to look at the plug to see what the date was on the stickers of their appliances. Since their equipment has been bought as and when they need it, generally from retailers there are no stickers with PAT test dates on them and this is where it gets interesting.
The caller then told Paul that since they are a business all their electrical equipment has to be tested by law so that they are compliant. The reason that it is interesting is that they are wrong.
What the law does state is that all equipment, electrical or not should be fit for purpose and that it should be inspected by a suitably qualified person at regular intervals.
Now the best time to inspect that something is safe is before it is used and in the case of electrical equipment this can be done in a variety of ways, the most obvious being a visual check of the leads and casing to see if there is any noticeable damage.
So what is a suitably qualified person? Qualification can be anything from someone who is experienced by their familiarity with using the equipment right the way through to an expert technical electrician with years of experience and a range of certificates to prove his or her proficiency.

To be clear there is not currently any legislation which states that all moveable electrical equipment has to be Portable Appliance Tested. There are several Acts of Parliament and Regulations that place responsibility on Employers and Employees to make sure that electrical equipment is maintained, safe and fit for the purpose that it is to be used for.

So what should be done to make sure something is safe and will not cause harm to users and people who come into contact with it, either directly or indirectly?
As I mentioned earlier a simple visual inspection is the first step and anyone using electrical equipment is the best place to start. If there is any damage that could even remotely cause it to short circuit or overheat the appliance should not be used.

Beyond the visual check it gets more tricky and requires either technical knowledge, technical equipment or both. If the damage is inside the equipment casing or electrical circuitry, the only effective way of finding it is with equipment specifically designed to identify whether there is a breakdown in insulation or electrical continuity; a Portable Appliance Test.

Therefore although there is no legal requirement for electrical equipment to be tested, the easiest way to guarantee that equipment is safe is to have it tested by an electrician who is qualified to PAT test electrical equipment. By having electrical equipment tested there is always a formal record of the equipment and test dates as well, just in case there is ever any doubt about the suitability of a piece of apparatus.
Although as I have stated there are no requirements to have equipment PAT tested, there are standards set by some industries and electrical organisations to recommend frequencies for testing electrical equipment, such as companies hiring small tools, or taking electrical tools onto customer premises. In addition a lot of organisations set conditions to protect themselves, their property, third party contractors and visitors (which includes the general public), that any portable electrical equipment is PAT tested before it is taken on to their premises.
So my answer to Paul was “No you don’t need to have all your office equipment PAT tested but for your own benefit I recommend that you have any equipment that you could take into customer premises tested. Just so that if they do have a policy that everything must be tested, you won’t have the disruption of having to sort out equipment that has been tested”.
That said for people like Paul who generally only need to take a laptop with a presentation to a client and with the technological equipment that is available in a lot of organisations now, it is often possible to simply take a presentation to a client on a memory stick and the electrical safety of a memory stick, just does not apply.
To be sure that your electrical equipment is safe to use and that the required statutory tests are completed when they should be (PAT testing is only part of the process) or for any other aspect of your business safety contact Action Training Services Ltd or telephone us on 01942 270070.

Calls to shelve fuel duty rise on the 1st October

2010-10-06T22:37:00.000+01:00

Government plans to raise fuel duty by 1p a litre on Friday (October 1) should be shelved, according to the AA.

Although average UK fuel prices have fallen for the fourth month in a row, drivers are still paying £4.36-a-tank more for petrol than a year ago.

A $6 leap in the cost of oil and a weaker pound during the past month have cast a shadow over the cost of filling up in the coming weeks, with the 1p a litre rise in fuel duty to petrol and diesel prices less than a week away.

The average UK price of petrol fell 1.27p, from 116.52 p a litre to 115.25, between mid August and mid September. This time last year, petrol cost 106.54p a litre. Diesel now costs 118.02p a litre, compared to 119.15 a month ago, and is now nearly 11p a litre more expensive than a year ago.

Staff Members

2010-10-04T22:22:00.003+01:00

Action Training Services Ltd

First Aid - Food Hygiene - Manual Handling - Fire Safety - Health & Safety - Lifeguard -

Risk Assessment

Chris Jones

First Aid Instructor
First Aid Assessor

Ray Hodkinson

First Aid Instructor
Health & Safety
Food Hygiene
Manual Handling
Risk Assessor

Andrew Hodkinson
The IT man!!!

Brian Davies

First Aid Instructor
First Aid Assessor

The Team

2010-10-04T21:52:00.000+01:00

The Team at Action Training Services, back left to front right.
Andrew Billington, Andrew Hodkinson, Brian Davies, Chris Jones, Chris Billington, Yvonne France, Ray Hodkinson

2010-10-03T21:51:00.001+01:00

Health & Safety Changes ahead lets take them on board!http://ping.fm/zBT99

2010-10-03T21:38:00.001+01:00

Council removes conkers from tree after little girl suffers a FRACTURED skull

Read more: http://ping.fm/4Enu1

2010-10-02T13:45:00.001+01:00

Silence for Terry; then our Keiron! will roar one last time. http://bit.ly/96NVI0

Blood Pressure

2010-09-23T13:16:00.000+01:00

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries (blood vessels). Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Your blood pressure is recorded as two figures. For example, 150/95 mmHg. This is said as '150 over 95'.

The top (first) number is the systolic pressure. This is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts.

The bottom (second) number is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between each heartbeat.

Wigan Business Awards 2010

2010-09-23T13:00:00.000+01:00

Action Training Services Ltd are delighted to be able to say we've been shortlisted for the Wigan Business Awards 2010 and is now Wigan’s largest Provider of First Aid Training, increasing our customer base from 700 in 2006 to over 1850 to include national courses. Our company provides businesses with First Aid, Health and Safety and Food Hygiene Training.

Action Training Services is a training provider offering mandatory training to companies in the Wigan area. A recent innovation is the provision of Paediatric First Aid Training for Nursery Nurses, Midday Assistants and Child Minders which is a must for all members of staff responsible for children; this approach to First Aid Training has enabled businesses to improve productivity and customer service levels.

All our courses provide companies with packages tailored to their needs and allows for ongoing support as and when needed, rather than restricted to a fixed window of time. All our training courses have links to NVQ level qualifications, so members of staff are always getting quality training that provides direction.

Action Training Services provide a complete package of training that will enhance your company’s portfolio of quality trained staff.

Networking

2010-09-09T13:45:00.001+01:00

Started the day great to day with a refreshing Networking meeting in Wigan. The emphasis was passing referrals externally beyond the scope of the group. This will also encourage further networking. British buisness people need to think further a field this will develop the company as a whole. http://www.bninorthwest.com/viewregion.php?region=25 Communication should be top of the list. Be crystal clear from the start about what you expect and arrange contracts which clarify all key details such as the scope of the works, timescales and payment plans. Refer with confidence once you have built good working partnerships.http://www.bninorthwest.com/

HSE Approved Emergency First Aid Training

2010-09-03T23:25:00.000+01:00

HSE Approved Emergency First Aid Training
Our HSE approved Emergency first aid Training Certificate Course at Action Training Services will enhance your skills set and helps saves lives:

Do you want to gain valuable skills in emergency first aid and would like an accredited first aid training course with a certificate at the end of your course? We have all the first aid training knowledge and tips to help you get there! The first aid training course that we will teach you contains all the important Techniques and Requirements that is necessitated by the HSE (Short for Health and Safety Executive) to obtain a HSE Health and Safety Executive accredited “First Aid Training” certificate. The Health and Safety First-Aid Executive has Regulations to which any First Aid Training course should be conducted to achieve results as laid down in the Emergency First Aid law of 1981.

During your Health and Safety Executive first aid training course we will empower you with all the first aid information that will confidently move you towards achieving that goal. Set your first aid aim high, the sky is the limit with our HSE approved first aid training course! Others have done our first aid course and were able to achieve it, so why can’t you – Obtaining your Health and Safety Executive Emergency First Aid Certificate is really quite simple and loads of fun!

If you have been putting off optimizing your career and life by not obtaining a Health and Safety Executive approved First Aid Training certificate yet, today is a good day to make your First Aid start. Emergency First Aid Training will be much easier than you expected! It will also help you obtain a higher position in life in general as first aid training provides you with valuable knowledge, and knowledge is power to save precious lives with lifesaving Health and Safety first aid techniques.

The list of HSE First Aid Training Techniques covered in our course will help you to make the most of your life in many ways. Some of the items can be done quickly — others will take a bit of time and practise, but our well trained first aid teachers will be there for you every step of your training.

If you complete all the parts of our First Aid training course, you will receive a well deserved HSE Health and Safety Executive First Aid Certificate. Make sure that you are ready for the changes this will bring to your life! The sky will literally be your limit. Achieving you Emergency First Aid Certificate will mean the combination of a few things: You will be able to help friends and loved ones in need of emergency first aid assistance, you will be compliant with the HSE First Aid laws, you will be able to apply for a larger number of jobs, including Health and Safety Executive first aid jobs, Health and Safety Executive first aid training jobs and jobs where you need to have a HSE approved first aid training certificate to advance. Don’t put this course on the long finger any longer…contact us today to start your Health and Safety Executive First Aid Training course. Procrastination will not improve your live but your first aid training education will

CPR on a baby

2010-08-05T11:08:00.000+01:00

Paediatric First Aid Questions (Part 1)

2010-08-05T10:34:00.003+01:00

Q1. How long is a Paediatric first aid certificate valid for?

Q2. Why do we use accident forms?

Q3. What items would you expect to find in a First Aid box in a child care setting?

Q4. Before administering medication to a child what criteria needs to be met?

Q5. What is a Primary Survey in First Aid?

Q6. During the Resuscitation sequence on a baby if breathing is absent what is your next action?

Q7. If a five year old collapses and is not breating what is you first action if you are on your own?

Q8. A baby starts to choke on a small piece of food what are your actions?

Q10. When would you use the recover position?

Q10. How do you recognise Anaphylactic Shock?

Q11. What is the treatment for a hot water burn to a child's forearm?

Q12. What is the treatment for sand in a child's eye?

Q13. How would you treat a convulsion caused by overheating for a 7 year old child?

Q14. How would you recognise concussion in a child?

Q15. What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis?

Q16. How would you treat a child having an asthma attack?

Risks of Falls

2010-08-02T19:26:00.000+01:00

A firm that failed to protect workers from the risk of falls despite previous warnings has been fined £10,000.

The HSE prosecuted Gee Construction, principal contractor at a site in Caerphilly in South Wales, after an inspector found numerous failings at the site in October 2009.

Problems included unguarded lift shafts on the first and second floors, and inadequate edge protection elsewhere.

No one was hurt as a result of the failings but the inspector stopped all work at the site above ground level until Gee had put safe systems of work in place.

The company had also previously received another Prohibition Notice for work at height failings in 2008.

“As principal contractors, the company was responsible for the safety of everyone on the site,” said HSE inspector David Kirkpatrick.

“It had previously received warnings from HSE and its own safety consultants about safely working at height, but clearly this advice had been ignored.”

Basildon-based Gee Construction pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations, which requires employers to take suitable measures to prevent people falling from any height liable to cause injury.

On 22 July, Caerphilly magistrates fined the company £10,000 and ordered it to pay £4514 costs.

Summer Fun

2010-07-29T11:52:00.000+01:00

We have tried to bring Food Hygiene training and Defibrilation together;

If life was only this simple!

Make your Home Safe for Children

2010-07-26T21:11:00.000+01:00

Many toddlers are seriously injured in accidents around the home.

These can include: falling down stairs, banging their heads, pulling objects on top of themselves, getting seriously scalded or burnt, or even falling out of windows that haven't been properly shut or locked.

Making your home as safe as possible will allow your child a better opportunity to explore their world in safety and give you peace of mind.
However, it cannot be emphasised strongly enough that no matter how safe your home appears to be, parents should always keep an eye on their children.
It's important to know where they are and what they're doing at all times.

The kitchen
The kitchen can seem like an exciting place for a child. But it's full of dangers: electrical appliances with trailing cords, kettles full of boiling water, hotplates or gas burners on the stove, hot saucepans and kitchen drawers full of sharp knives.
The drawers and cupboards themselves can also be dangerous. If a drawer can be pulled out completely it could land on top of a child.
It's also easy for children to get their fingers trapped in drawers or doors. Because they don't have complete control over their actions, they can easily slam a drawer shut on their hands.
There are two ways to secure drawers and cupboards. You can fix a stopper to the drawers to prevent them being pulled out completely or fix a safety catch to prevent a child from opening the drawer or cupboard at all.
It's also a good idea to fix a catch on the fridge door – so that a child can't get their fingers trapped, or even worse, climb inside. If the door closed by accident they would quickly suffocate or suffer from hypothermia.

Cleaning products and household chemicals
It's especially important to lock all cabinets that contain harmful or toxic products.
Dish-washing agents, cleansing agents, detergent, petroleum, turpentine, flammable liquids and fertilizers are all toxic if swallowed.
Dish-washing powder is also dangerous if it comes into contact with skin – for example, if a child spills a packet over themselves.
There's nothing that a child will not try to drink out of curiosity, regardless of how it might look or smell to us!

Electrical cords
It's easy for a child to grab hold of an electrical cord and pull a kettle, blender, or other appliance onto themselves causing severe scalding or serious injury.
This can be prevented by installing a cord holder, which will make the cord too short to reach over the edge of the table or work surface. You can also simply make electrical cords shorter.

Stoves and ovens
To prevent a child burning their fingers on hotplates or grabbing a saucepan handle and pulling the contents over him or herself, you can fix a grating at the edge of the stove. Always make sure that saucepan handles are turned inwards so children can't reach them.
You can also safeguard the knobs on the stove to prevent the child from turning on the stove or changing the temperature.
Put a catch on the oven door, so a child can't open it.
The glass window on the oven door may also get hot enough for your child to burn him or herself. You can prevent this by putting a fireguard or grate over the door.

Living rooms and bedrooms
Drawers and cupboards in the living room and bedroom can be secured in the same way as kitchen cupboards.
There are many sharp, pointed edges in the living room – on tables and shelves for example – that a toddler could accidentally fall against. Low corners that could poke a child in the eye are especially dangerous.
The best way to make them safe is to put plastic corners on them – or if you can't find these, foam rubber secured with a rubber band. This may not look attractive, but it could save your child from serious injury.
Use a wedge or hook on doors to hold them permanently open, so that a child can't get their fingers trapped.

Windows
As soon as toddlers are able to get around and explore their surroundings, they may start trying to climb up and look out of windows. If windows are not locked, put stoppers on them so they can't be opened by more than 10cm. The best place to put them is at the top of the window so your child can't reach them.
Move furniture away from windows, so children can't climb up in the first place.
Shelving
Some children may try to use book shelves as a climbing frame. Make sure all shelves are fixed securely to the wall so they can't topple onto a child.

Floor coverings
Loose carpets and rugs are dangerous for children who are just learning to walk because they could easily trip over them. Put rubber matting or stoppers under the carpets and don't put down loose rugs until the child is older.

Tablecloths
Toddlers will naturally grab hold of a dangling tablecloth to help themselves stand up. If you are using a tablecloth, make sure you fasten it to the table with pegs or clips so a child can't pull the cloth and everything on the table over him or herself.

Power points
Electrical accidents are always very serious. They can cause severe third degree burns or even death.
All power sockets should be secured with a plastic covering that a child can't remove.
Find out if there is a safety relay or circuit breaker in the house and if there isn't, have one installed.

The bathroom
Children love playing with running water but it only takes 10cm (4in) of water for a small child to drown.
If a small child's face goes underwater, they will automatically breathe in so that they can scream and this will fill their lungs with water.
Children also lose their sense of direction underwater, so they can't react by pulling their head out or standing up as an adult would do.
Put bath and basin plugs out of reach, so that a child can't fill up the bath or basin.
The toilet lid can be held down with a clip attachment, so a child can't open it.
You may want to adjust the thermostat on the boiler while your child is still a toddler – so if they turn on a tap, they won't be scalded with very hot water.

Medicine and Tablets
All medicine, tablets, vitamins and herbal remedies should be locked in a medicine cabinet or other cupboard, so a child can't get to them and swallow them – colourful pills are very attractive to children.
Remember that medical poisonings can be extremely serious.
There are no completely child-proof containers, so make sure that anything dangerous is locked away or well out of reach to an inquisitive and agile child.

Stairs
Stairs are difficult for children to walk down forwards, until the age of about four years. Teach the child from a young age to go down lying on their tummy.
You can safeguard against falls at any age by putting gates in front of the staircase and not allowing children to play on the landing (when any aged child can accidently trip and fall down stairs).
If there are openings between the steps, these should be blocked up to prevent your child from falling out underneath or getting their head stuck.
A child's head can also get lodged between the banister rails if they are more than 7.5cm (3in) apart.

Working at Hights (Get it right)

2010-07-26T15:29:00.000+01:00

A steeplejack firm that breached work at height regulations has been fined £6600 after a worker fell more than six metres when rotten boards gave way underneath him.

The worker, who was employed by The Cedars Steeplejack (Midlands), suffered serious injuries in August 2008 while removing bird debris and cleaning a bell chamber at the Church of St Peter in Lenton, Lincolnshire.

He climbed a staircase inside the church spire with a colleague, then set out scaffolding planks to stand on to carry out the work. But because the planks were laid on rotten floorboards, when he stepped onto a board, it gave way and he plunged 6.3 metres to the floor below. He cracked five vertebrae, broke his pelvis and suffered serious internal injuries.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court heard that his employer had failed to assess the risks properly and did not select the right equipment for carrying out the work safely.

The system of work was unsafe and no one had properly checked the condition of the rotten floor boards before work began.”

The Cedars pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations, which require employers to plan and carry out work at height safely.

Magistrates ordered the firm to pay £4774 in prosecution costs, as well as the £6600 fine.

European Standards CEN 15288

2010-07-13T16:57:00.000+01:00

CEN 15288 came into practice in March 2009 after a period of 20 years without any changes in legislation for swimming pools.
People and companies who design, operate and manage pools in the UK have to consider both the CEN standard and HSG 179. This is not the best way of doing things, as it raises critical questions as to the interaction of the two standards; there is some overlap between each.
EN 15288 - Part 1 specifies safety requirements relevant to certain aspects of the design, planning and construction of swimming pools.
EN 15288 - Part 2 specifies safety requirments for the operation and management of public and private swimming pools.
Both these areas are covered by HSG 179 Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools, the UK "gold standard" of guidance for pool operators over the past 20 years.
The CEN standards do not have the force of law and arguably fall short of existing UK standards in some areas. However, they should NOT be ignored but considered and applied in tandem with HSG 179. I would advise all pool operators to have a copy of both sets of standard, read them and apply them to your envirnment.
So, the key message is that in the event of any discrepancy between the two standards - HSG 179 remains the gold standard to be applied in preference to the EU Standard.

BSI Certification Energy, Environment in Business Management

2010-07-05T16:07:00.000+01:00

Office design and fitting company Morgan Lovell is the first organisation in the UK to achieve certification from BSI to the new energy management system standard, BS EN 16001:2009.

The aim of the standard is to help organisations establish the necessary systems and processes to improve energy efficiency, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

BSI says that 16001 can be used in isolation or integrated with other management systems, such as the environmental management standard 14001. Morgan Lovell secured 16001 certification after establishing processes and systems to improve energy efficiency at its London office. This has included fitting smart meters to measure and control energy usage, technology to power down equipment such as computers when they are not in use, and regular communication with staff to promote the benefits of adopting environmental efficiencies. The company has also introduced a range of sustainable features in the office to reduce its impact on the environment, including lighting based on movement sensors and a heating and cooling system, which uses any heat rejected in areas being cooled to warm up other parts of the building. Since introducing these measures, Morgan Lovell has seen its energy bills drop by about 30% over 12 months.

“This new energy management system standard provides a comprehensive set of controls designed to help organisations establish the systems and processes necessary to improve energy efficiency, as has been demonstrated by Morgan Lovell.

Health & Safety Questions - Part 1

2010-07-01T13:05:00.000+01:00

Question 1
Do we have to provide outdoor workers with sun screen?

Answer
Employers do not have duty to provide sunscreen. They should ensure that their risk assessment considers work in the sun, shade, covering up and job rotation.

The Health and Safety Executive advises that employers should:

Include sun protection advice in routine health and safety training
Encourage workers to keep covered up during the summer months
Encourage workers to use sunscreen of at least SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15
Encourage workers to take their breaks in the shade, if possible, rather than staying out in the sun.
Consider scheduling work to minimise exposure.
Site water points and rest areas in the shade.
Encourage workers to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Keep workers informed about the dangers of sun
Encourage workers to check their skin regularly for unusual spots or moles that change size, shape or colour and to seek medical advice promptly if they find anything that causes them concern.

Question 2
Is it correct that turban wearing Sikhs don’t have to wear hard hats on construction sites?

Answer
Following a campaign by the British Sikh Federation, Sikhs working on construction sites are exempt from the requirement in the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 to wear hard hats. Therefore, the duties on employers and self-employed persons in these Regulations to provide head protection, and ensure that it is worn, do not apply in connection with the wearing of head protection by a turban-wearing Sikh.

No other workers are exempt from the Regulations.

Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) Tool

2010-06-23T14:55:00.000+01:00

Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (as amended), all companies must ensure that any manual handling task that cannot be eliminated and that is likely to be a risk to health and safety is examined and assessed. Such tasks would include moving large pieces of equipment or materials in a workshop. A risk assessment should be conducted in order to assess these risks and to produce control measures to reduce the risk of injury.

The Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC) tool was developed by the HSE and can be used to assess common risk factors in lifting, lowering, carrying and team handling operations. The HSE website contains a section on the MAC tool including case studies and worked examples. The MAC tool is designed to help users understand, interpret and categorise the level of risk of the various known risk factors associated with manual handling activities. It incorporates a numerical and a colour coding scoring system to highlight high-risk manual handling activities.

It uses a combination of colour coding 'traffic light' (green/amber/red/purple) approach to highlight the level of risk as well as scoring and considers the following three types of operations: single lift, single carry and team handling.

For each type of assessment there is a guide and a flow chart to help you. The flow chart guides you, step by step, through each element of the operation enabling you to evaluate and grade the level of risk. To enable you to calculate the risk for the load and frequency of the operation, a graph is supplied with the flowchart which indicates the appropriate colour band and numerical value to be entered into the score sheet.

Each of the three types of assessment has a score sheet to be filled in. The score sheet will provide a total score and along with the colour banding, determine which elements of the task require attention (i.e. controls put in place to reduce risk)

An interactive version of the score sheet is available on the HSE website which totals the respective scores from the colour bands.

The MAC tool cannot be used to assess the risks associated with pulling or pushing: the risk assessment checklist should be used to evaluate such tasks

Risk to the Rescuer

2010-06-23T14:53:00.000+01:00

The safety of both the rescuer and victim are paramount during a resuscitation attempt. There have been few incidents of rescuers suffering adverse effects from undertaking CPR, with only isolated reports of infections such as tuberculosis (TB) and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS). Transmission of HIV during CPR has never been reported. There have been no human studies to address the effectiveness of barrier devices during CPR; however, laboratory studies have shown that certain filters, or barrier devices with one-way valves, prevent oral bacteria transmission from the victim to the rescuer during mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Rescuers should take appropriate safety precautions where feasible, especially if the victim is known to have a serious infection, such as TB.

Initial rescue breaths
During the first few minutes after non-asphyxial cardiac arrest the blood oxygen content remains high. Ventilation is, therefore, less important than chest compression at this time.

It is well recognised that skill acquisition and retention are aided by simplification of the BLS sequence of actions. It is also recognised that rescuers are frequently unwilling to carry out mouth-to-mouth ventilation for a variety of reasons, including fear of infection and distaste for the procedure. For these reasons, and to emphasise the priority of chest compressions, it is recommended that, in most adults, CPR should start with chest compressions rather than initial ventilations.

Jaw thrust
The jaw thrust technique is not recommended for lay rescuers because it is difficult to learn and perform. Therefore, the lay rescuer should open the airway using a head-tilt-chin-lift manoeuvre.

Agonal gasps
Agonal gasps are present in up to 40% of cardiac arrest victims. Laypeople should, therefore, be taught to begin CPR if the victim is unconscious
(unresponsive) and not breathing normally. It should be emphasised during training that agonal gasps occur commonly in the first few minutes after sudden cardiac arrest. They are an indication for starting CPR immediately and should not be confused with normal breathing.

Mouth-to-nose ventilation
Mouth-to-nose ventilation is an effective alternative to mouth-to-mouth ventilation. It may be considered if the victim’s mouth is seriously injured or cannot be opened, the rescuer is assisting a victim in the water, or a mouth-to-mouth seal is difficult to achieve.

PTLLS

2010-06-23T14:51:00.000+01:00

Future-proof your career with a nationally recognised teaching qualification!

As the adult education sector moves towards nationally recognised teaching qualifications, it’s never been more important to future-proof your career. PTLLS is a fantastic initial course for anyone involved in teaching. The 5 day course builds on your current experience and will help you to understand how your teaching methods can affect learning. If you wish to continue your professional development, this qualification can be used as units towards the Certificate (CTLLS) or Diploma (DTLLS).

PTLLS is now the minimum requirement for people who deliver training to adults in colleges and it is likely that other areas of adult training will follow. Endorse your current teaching experience and broaden your opportunities with our PTLLS training course for First Aid Trainers.

The Recovery Position

2010-06-23T14:47:00.000+01:00

There are several variations of the recovery position, each with its own advantages. No single position is perfect for all victims. The position should be stable, near a true lateral position with the head dependent, and with no pressure on the chest to impair breathing.

The Resuscitation Council (UK) and Action Training Services Ltd recommends this sequence of actions to place a victim in the recovery position:

• Remove the victim’s spectacles.

• Kneel beside the victim and make sure that both his legs are straight.

• Place the arm nearest to you out at right angles to his body, elbow bent with the hand palm uppermost.

• Bring the far arm across the chest, and hold the back of the hand against the victim’s cheek nearest to you.

• With your other hand, grasp the far leg just above the knee and pull it up, keeping the foot on the ground.

• Keeping his hand pressed against his cheek, pull on the far leg to roll the victim towards you onto his side.

• Adjust the upper leg so that both the hip and knee are bent at right angles.

• Tilt the head back to make sure the airway remains open.

• Adjust the hand under the cheek, if necessary, to keep the head tilted.

• Check breathing regularly.

If the victim has to be kept in the recovery position for more than 30 min turn him to the opposite side to relieve the pressure on the lower arm.

Do I need Insurance!

2010-06-23T14:45:00.000+01:00

A window manufacturer that traded without liability insurance has been fined £10,000 after an employee sliced his hand on an unguarded saw.

Jeremy Adams was using a double pivoting head mitre saw to cut frames at the M&M Windows factory in the Black Country town of Brierley Hill in May last year when the unguarded blade came into contact with his left hand.

Adam’s index finger was amputated but doctors saved his middle finger after extensive reconstructive surgery.

The HSE found M&M had failed to fit a guard to the saw to prevent access to the blade. During the investigation, it also discovered the company believed it did not need insurance to cover workers’ injuries as most of them were employed through an agency.

HSE inspector Jenny Skeldon said, “Not having insurance was a gross failure of duty to its employees. It is crucial that all companies look at the relationship they have with their workers, agency or not.”

At Dudley Magistrates’ Court, M&M was fined £10,000 for not ensuring Adams’ safety, contrary to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, and failing to take out liability insurance, under Section 1(1) of the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act.

Risk Assessments

2010-06-23T14:37:00.000+01:00

In workplaces, employers are required to assess the risk to their employees, from manual handling.

Risk assessments are carried out by trained assessors who decide whether or not there is a risk of injury and how much of a risk it is.

This includes looking at:

The task - How often is the task performed and how long for? Does it have to be performed quickly?

The individual's capacity – Who is doing the task? Are they physically capable of carrying out the task safely?

The load – How heavy is it? What shape is it? Does it have handles? Is it hot or cold, or wet - do gloves need to be worn?

The environment – Where is this task being carried out? Indoors or outdoors? Is it cold and/or wet? Does the space restrict good posture? Is the ground clear and flat?

If an assessor thinks that there is a risk of injury, the employer must take certain steps to reduce the risk. The first step is to see if they can avoid the task that involves the risk. An example of this is for a doctor to visit a patient at home rather than the patient being brought into the hospital by the ambulance staff. This would eliminate the task of the ambulance staff having to push the patient in a wheelchair from their house to the ambulance, and then into the hospital.

If the task can't be avoided, then the next option is to minimise the risk of injury.

Risk can be reduced in lots of ways:

Make sure that there is a good grip on the load - that hands, the load and any handles are not slippery.
Make sure that the area around the task is clear of obstacles. Make sure that doors are open and that there is nothing on the floor that could trip someone or make them slip.
Use mechanical equipment, for example, push a shopping trolley to the car rather than carry the bags.
Reduce the amount that is handled or split it into smaller pieces.
Extend the time taken to do the job by taking breaks to ensure that the muscles have time to recover.
Get someone to help.

Three Steps to Restart a Heart

2010-06-23T11:59:00.000+01:00

PULL, PLACE and Press.

Philips, the leader in defibrillation technology, designed The HeartStart OnSite Defibrillator for the ordinary person in the extraordinary moment. Its innovative technology, is based on extensive research and user feedback. The defibrillator so easy to use that, with minimal training, you can potentially save the life of a co-worker, friend, or anyone else who has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Onsite AED Treats the most common cause of Sudden Cardiac Arrest by delivering a shock to the heart. No prescription necessary. Weighing just 3.3 lbs., can be easily carried to the patient’s side. By Pulling the green handle it powers-up the defibrillator and activates voice instructions. These instructions are paced to your actions, to help guide you through the entire process, from placing pads on the patient to delivering a defibrillation shock.

Integrated SMART Pads placed on the patient’s bare skin transmit information to the defibrillator, which senses and adapts to your actions every step of the way.

HeartStart OnSite determines if a shock is needed, based on its automated assessment of the victim’s heart rhythm.

HeartStart OnSite includes proven Philips technologies for heart rhythm assessment (SMART Analysis) and defibrillation energy delivery (SMART Biphasic). And like all HeartStart defibrillators, it can be used to treat infants, children and adults. We at Action Training Services always use this machine on our training courses; easy to use; does save peoples lives; and far better than a Green Box with a White Cross!!

Induction Training Guide for New Recruits

2010-06-22T15:11:00.000+01:00

Over 1 million people a year are injured at work so accident prevention must be every company's priority to avoid the financial costs incurred from accidents, promote more effective business performance and most importantly protect the welfare of their staff. The Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974 requires that companies provide the necessary information and training to ensure the health and safety of employees, "so far as is reasonably practicable."

This is a guide to the essentials for an induction course in health and safety provided by Action Training Services Ltd.

Why do we need induction training?
Induction training is a vitally important process for both new staff and for the organisation to promote a positive health and safety culture and ensure it is legally compliant. From a health and safety point of view, the aims of induction training are according to Ray Hodkinson our Training Manager; to:
• provide the trainee with the information necessary for his/her safety in respect of the hazards that may be encountered at various stages of development to full job competence
• introduce the new employee to the culture of the organisation, the emphasis that it places upon health and safety for example.

There is a dilemma between the need to cover a wide range of health, safety and organisational topics, and the limited ability of the new recruit to absorb and retain information about a new job. Many organisations will have standard induction training packages, but where possible, induction training should be tailored to the needs of individuals as part of a planned programme of development.

Day 1
• company policy statement
• company site wide rules
• precautions concerning only the hazards that the recruit might face during the first few days
• an introduction to the organisation's safety culture and the behaviour that is expected
• any limitations on what they may do, where they may go (including the reasons)
• emergency procedures
• first-aid arrangements, welfare and amenity provisions
• reporting procedures for accidents and dangerous situations
• health surveillance procedures

The training given on day 1 should be simple and brief.
It is often given off-the job, i.e. in a classroom.

First Week
• company health and safety policy
• organisation and arrangements for health and safety
• management commitment to health and safety and the culture of the organisation
• line management responsibilities for health and safety
• key individuals such as the supervisor, safety representative, first-aider
• consultative procedures and the role of safety representatives
• the hazards and risks in the department / the job
• precautions and protection required
• local procedures and requirements relating to, for example, personal
• protective equipment or drink and drugs

During the first 6 months
The remaining specific needs of the recruit will be addressed in the most appropriate manner. The level of supervision that is necessary should gradually reduce as the individual is able to demonstrate increasing competence.

It is impossible to develop instant competence, the basic principle is that where competence is necessary in order to avoid exposure to hazards, people must be kept away from those hazards or be adequately supervised by a person who is competent.

To organise induction training give our training team a call on 01942 270070.

First Aid at Work Assessment Tool

2010-06-22T15:08:00.000+01:00

The HSE has published a First Aid at Work assessment tool (www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/assessmenttool.htm). It is designed to help employers determine the number and type of first - aid personnel to provide in their workplace. The tool serves as a general guide only and employers shopuld take into account all relevant circumstances to make a valid judgement. if you have any questions give us a call.

Changes To Benefit All

2010-06-22T14:50:00.000+01:00

Forthcoming changes to the official requirements for First Aid at Work training.

Each year, 5.5 million people end up in Accident and Emergency when 3 million of them would have benefited from first aid treatment.
The current average response time of an ambulance on an 999 call is 7-8 minutes and someone with a blocked airway has just four minutes to live, it is very clear that trained first aiders at work can make the difference between survival and death.

The HSE carried out a simple investigation of first aid in the workplace and found the following –
• Employers were usually achieving compliance with the legal minimum rather than considering fully the needs of the workplace and there responsibilities to staff.
• General over all awareness was good.
• Deficiencies in the content and format of the regulations.
As a consequence, the HSE has developed new guidance which aims to deal with these problems. The changes were announced in April 2009 and will come into effect on the 1 October 2009

From the 1st October 2009

Emergency First Aider in the Workplace (EFAW)
Where an employer has found they need an appointed person under the old regulations, they may find that they need an Emergency First Aider in the Workplace (EFAW). This is a new course requiring one day of training and requalification every three years. This course is generally aimed at lower – risk premises.

HSE First Aid at Work (FAW)
This course covers the practical skills needed by a first – aider in the modern workplace. The course gives the student the confidence and knowledge to deal with first – aid emergencies. This course becomes three days and is valid for three years after successful completion of the assessment; it still covers the important life – saving techniques and treatment for minor injuries that are common in the workplace. This course is generally aimed at higher – risk premises.

HSE First Aid at Work (FAW) requalification
This course can only be attended by a student who still currently holds a HSE First Aid at Work certificate and it is still in date. This course will remain unchanged at two days and is valid for three years after successful completion of the assessment.

Annual refresher (AR)
This three hour session provides an opportunity to practice and update skills during the three year period as a qualified first-aider. The HSE strongly recommends that FAW and EFAW students attend these sessions annually. It is well established that life – saving skills fade over time and that regular refreshing of first – aid knowledge is beneficial. Therefore a three – day course with a half – day’s retraining each year is more effective than a four – day initial course with no contact until re – qualification in the third year.

To see full course details of all First Aid Training please go to www.actiontraining.co.uk

The Trainers at Action Training Services Ltd are highly qualified instructors and will ensure students will continue to be trained to all HSE standards.

Employers should check their record of accidents and ill health to assess the type of accidents that occur in their workplaces and where they happened. Shift work, sites with several separate buildings and the distance from emergency medical services may mean a higher number of staff need to be trained in first aid. We at Action Training Services make sure that students are given the confidence and knowledge to handle first-aid emergencies, including choking, resuscitation, sudden illness and a range of injuries. We also train first-aiders to use Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), which can be used to shock the heart in the event of a cardiac arrest.

When training is important and you need it to be right we at Action Training are the ones you want on site.