Latest Topics of interest Documents from myWorks

Safety representatives and representatives of employee safety

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:18:36 +0100

Safety representatives play a crucial role in workplace health and safety and are an integral part of the council’s work to create a safe and healthy workplace.They are either appointed by trade unions or elected by employees, and their primary function is to represent the workforce on health and safety matters.They investigate potential hazards, conduct workplace inspections, and raise concerns with employers....

Skips, containers and demountable bodies

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:15:56 +0100

The safe handling of skips, containers, and demountable bodies is crucial to prevent accidents and injuries.Key safety aspects include proper positioning, weight distribution, and securing the container to the vehicle.Additionally, following guidelines for loading and disposal of materials is essential to avoid harm and legal issues....

Forklift trucks (lift trucks)

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:13:02 +0100

Fork lift trucks (Lift trucks) are key pieces of equipment in many areas of work across the UK. Lift truck safety isgoverned by regulations like LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations).These regulations mandate specific safety measures, including proper training for operators, regular maintenance and inspections, and the use of appropriate safety equipment.Employers must ensure a safe working environment, which includes designated areas for forklift operation, clear traffic management systems, and effective communication protocols....

Excursions and outdoor activities

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:10:43 +0100

Safety is paramount for excursions and outdoor activities in the UK.Thorough planning, risk assessments, and appropriate supervision are essential to ensure participants' well-being, especially for activities like water sports, climbing, and trekking.Organisations offering these activities may require licensing, and it's crucial to verify this and ensure all safety protocols are followed....

Excavations, shoring and trench support

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 15:05:16 +0100

Effective excavation, shoring, and trench support safety iscrucial to prevent collapses and injuries.Key aspects include proper support systems, competent person assessments, and adherence to regulations like the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. This involves assessing ground conditions, using appropriate support methods (like trench boxes, shoring, or battering), and ensuring safe access/egress....

Vehicle checks

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 11:39:34 +0100

Vehicles...

Vehicle Specification and Procurement

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:40:22 +0100

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires employers to ensure that work equipment is constructed or adapted so as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided. In selecting work equipment, employers must have regard to working conditions and risks to health and safety which exist in the environment that work equipment is to be used, and any additional risks posed by the use of that work equipment....

Vibration Screening

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:01:56 +0000

Prolonged exposure to vibration is known to bring with it some health risks, and it is the employer's responsibility to monitor for this and help ensure that those team members being exposed to vibration on an ongoing/regular basis are subject to appropriate health surveillance....

Workplace health and safety

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:35:03 +0000

What is involved in managing safety in each workplace?

Each workplace is different and brings with it a range of risks determined by the activities, the people and the environment. MA53 – Workplace Health and Safety is intended to offer all employees an indication of the general systems and processes that should be in place. It is especially useful to local managers and property responsible persons (PRPs)...

Health and safety training

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:12:43 +0000

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires the council to provide whatever information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of those employed by it....

Window restrictors

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:26:45 +0000

Serious injuries and fatalities have occurred when people have fallen from or through windows, particularly in health and social care premises....

Warehousing and storage

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:17:58 +0000

Warehousing and storage locations are known to be places were accidents occur on a regular basis. The main causes of accidents in warehousing and storage are noted to be:...

Outdoor working

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 00:02:56 +0000

Working outdoors can have an impact on worker’s health if the risks have not been properly managed. This impact may be immediate or occur over a longer time, leading to conditions like skin cancer....

Workplace Transport

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 23:43:43 +0000

The Health and Safety Executive note that there are over 5000 accidents a year involving transport in the workplace. About 50 of these result in people being killed. The main causes of injury are people falling off vehicles, or being struck or crushed by them....

MA52 – Working with Volunteers

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 09:47:26 +0000

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 imposes a duty on every employer “to ensure as far as reasonably practicable, that persons not in their employment, who may be affected by their undertaking, are not exposed to risks to their health or safety.” To give to persons (not being their employees) who may be affected, information as might affect their health or safety....

Work Experience

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:30:17 +0000

Work experience is an important way for young people to gain insight into the working world. Time spent with an employer can be invaluable and can broaden young people’s knowledge of industries and sectors. It can help inform and shape their career decisions, and offer a way to explore the workplace with minimal risk....

Vibration at Work

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 11:10:23 +0000

Vibration at work is a particular hazard that has to be assessed and managed to help ensure people exposed to vibration do not develop illness or injury. The most common area of focus for most employers is known as hand arm vibration....

Underground services

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:59:59 +0000

The potential dangers of working near underground services are well known and advice from the HSE and industry bodies provides a clear indication of actions that are expected in order to keep those working in close proximity to services safe....

Shiftwork safety

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:44:13 +0000

There has been a well understood requirement to undertake risk assessments for all work activities. Managers must ensure that their risk assessments are undertaken in accordance with the council’s arrangement detailed in MA37 Risk Assessment....

Record Retention

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 12:59:06 +0000

Whilst health and safety management relies on the use of common sense, there is also an expectation established within legislation that risk assessments, occupational health records and many other related documents are recorded. There are also legally defined retention periods for some of these records....

No smoking in the workplace

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:32:37 +0000

Smoking brings with it a number of issues, the two main ones being the ill health it can cause and the increase in fire risk brought about by discarded smoking materials. The law prohibits smoking in certain public places which are 'wholly or substantially enclosed', including the majority of workplaces. It will be an offence to smoke in no smoking premises or to knowingly permit smoking in no smoking premises....

Storage of oil, and similar liquids

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:57:41 +0000

Every year in Scotland there are over 250 recorded water pollution incidents caused by oil, of which approximately 40 are serious incidents. According to SEPA’s oil pollution accounts for around twenty per cent of all Scottish pollution incidents....

General Risk Assessment

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 09:59:59 +0000

The general risk assessment is the principal risk assessment process that covers all work activities....

Personal Safety System

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:11:52 +0000

The Personal Safety System is in place to help minimise the opportunities for violence against employees of the council. The system looks to gather information on those who have perpetrated violence against employees and make that information known to others who may need to know this information....

Provision and use of work equipment

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 14:54:49 +0000

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) set out the requirements on every employer to ensure that work equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided, andcover how work equipment is used, including starting or stopping the equipment, repairing, modifying, maintaining, servicing, cleaning, and transporting. In general, they seek to ensure that any risks created by using the equipment are eliminated or controlled as far as reasonably practicable....

Safe Use of Pesticides

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:22:39 +0000

The decision to use pesticides should not be taken lightly, and its use should be based on a thorough risk assessment. A pesticide should be used as part of an integrated approach and only managed and used by those with detailed training....

Passenger Assistance on Vehicles

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:56:34 +0000

Passenger assistance on vehicles is a work activity that requires particular attention as risks can change from day to day. As a work activity there is a requirement to undertake a risk assessment (see MA37 Risk Assessment (General)) this assessment will take a range of factors into consideration. This will include:...

Moving and Assisting of People

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 09:41:28 +0000

Moving and assisting refers to the act of ‘manual handling of people’. The moving and lifting heavy boxes or equipment etc is generally considered to be manual handling whilst ‘moving and assisting’ is used within the council to differentiate between objects and the moving and handling of people in our care....

Working at height

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:51:19 +0000

Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries in the workplace. Common cases include falls from roofs, ladders, and through fragile surfaces. ‘Work at height’ means work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury (for example a fall through a fragile roof, down an unprotected lift shaft or incomplete stairwell)....

MA27 - Mobile Work Elevated Work Platforms

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:48:44 +0000

The most significant MEWP dangers arise from operation and use of the machine rather than from their movement as a site vehicle. Safety legislation clearly says that such hazards must be properly controlled....

Scaffolding

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:40:28 +0000

Scaffolding is often used to provide robust protection against a fall from height. It can also be used to provide safe access to a workplace that is itself at height. Fixed scaffolding is used for longer terms tasks whilst “tower scaffolding” will often be used to provide quick access for medium term tasks (although it can also be used for longer term tasks)....

Noise at Work

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:54:12 +0000

Exposure to high levels of noise can cause hearing problems, this could include tinnitus and/or noise induced hearing loss. Both of these conditions (and many other hearing conditions) are irreversible and can cause both physical and social problems for the individual concerned....

MA14 Event Management

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 15:05:19 +0000

Managing an event...

Prevention of violence and aggression at work

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:32:21 +0100

A number of the council’s teams are at risk of violence or aggression during their working day. The HSE recognise that those at increased risk include:...

Medical devices and treatments - Safety alerts

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:24:55 +0100

The council makes use of equipment intended to help in the provision of care with service users, pupils and others. There are occasional circumstances where these items of equipment or treatments are found not to meet the intended standards and instead may present a health and safety risk to those using them. Health Facilities Scotland advises all relevant organisations of any Health and Safety and Wellbeing concerns regarding medical devices and offers advice on the actions to be taken to reduce the level of risk....

The Management of Health and Safety - A Manager's Guide

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:48:22 +0100

The Management of Health and Safety at Work...

Lifting Operations (LOLER)

Tue, 28 May 2024 13:46:18 +0100

LOLER stands for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations. It is applicable to organisations that own, operate or have control over lifting equipment....

Legionella

Tue, 28 May 2024 13:20:40 +0100

Legionellabacteria are found in many types of water systems. The bacteria multiply in warm, and stagnant water, for example in air conditioning cooling towers, showers, spa pools, decorative fountains and sprinklers and so on. The infection is spread through the air from the water source with people become infected when they breathe in tiny droplets of infected water. There is no evidence that person to person transmission of the disease can take place....

Safe use of ladders and step ladders and similar

Wed, 22 May 2024 14:31:05 +0100

Ladders and stepladders are not banned under health and safety law....

Large inflatable play structures (such as bouncy castles)

Wed, 22 May 2024 13:29:58 +0100

Serious incidents have occurred where passenger carrying inflatables have collapsed or blown away in windy conditions. It should be noted that health and safety law applies to the supply, hire and use of inflatables for commercial purposes. Such devices are often hired for use at school fetes or other community events and this type ofuse is considered commercial....

Lone working

Fri, 10 May 2024 13:13:05 +0100

When someone works by themselves without close or direct supervision it can often be considered lone working....

Hot Works

Fri, 10 May 2024 13:11:04 +0100

Hot work operations such as welding, cutting, soldering, and any activities that involve using open flames, hot surfaces or excessive heat are associated with multiple health and safety hazards. These activities also pose the threat of fire. These types of fire have occurred in a number of council properties over the years and so action needs to be take to protect occupants and property....

Young Persons Risk Assessment

Fri, 10 May 2024 13:07:01 +0100

Due to their lack of maturity, experience and hazard awareness, young people may perceive risk differently to more experienced employees. As they are at increased danger of harm some legislation exists that places a limit on a young person’s exposure to specific physical, chemical and biological risks....

Manual handling

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:10:03 +0000

Manual handling means transporting or supporting a load by hand or bodily force. It includes lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving loads. A load can be an object, person or animal. The council is expected to do what is reasonably practicable to protect employees (and others affected by our work) from the risk of injury from hazardous manual handling in the workplace....

New and expectant mothers

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:03:44 +0000

As soon as an employee notifies their manager that they area ‘new’ or ‘expectant mother’, the manager must ensure a risk assessment is undertaken of their work tasks and the environments in which theyconduct theirwork to determine whether these pose any significant risks to the health, safety or welfare of mother or child. The assessment must then state any actions that will be taken to ensure neither mother nor child are exposed to theserisks whilst at work....

Hazards - Reporting a hazard

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:26:23 +0100

Hazards are situations/objects that have the potential to cause harm. We often come across these in our daily lives and think that "it is dangerous, I hope someone does something about that"....

Safe use of goals/goal posts

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:03:09 +0100

A number of serious injuries and fatalities have occurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goal posts.The introduction of an appropriate risk based system of work will go a long way topreventingsimilar incidents occurring in the future. Those running activities that require goal posts, for example, football, hockey and so onshould undertake a risk assessment and develop a system of work and supervision that looks at a range of risk factors to include:

Goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely into the ground....

Generators

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:38:41 +0100

Generators are often viewed as an easy solution to circumstances where electrical power is either not present, or the supply has been interrupted. There are however some key hazards that need to be considered when these are to be used. These include:...

Flammable liquids - storage and handling

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:26:39 +0100

The presence of flammable liquids and chemicals in the workplace is a necessary but potentially dangerous reality for many U.K. businesses....

Communication and consultation

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:55:53 +0100

A key stage in the development of a health and safety culture is the involvement of key stakeholders. This means, managers, trade union representatives, employee safety representatives and other organisations making use of our properties/facilities....

DSEAR

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:33:10 +0100

What is DSEAR?

DSEAR stands for the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002....

Control of substances hazardous to health and REACH

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 15:23:39 +0100

What does COSHH mean?...

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:02:30 +0100

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) refers to a range of screen-based equipment such as computers, laptops, tablets, and other display screens used at work. Where such equipment is being used regularly then there is an expectation that a DSE Assessment is undertaken....

Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals - UFAS

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:32:49 +0100

As a result of the continuing high rate of false alarms from fire detection and alarm systems, throughout Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) now adopt a ‘call challenge’ policy in relation to calls arising from the operation of an automatic fire alarm system (whether received via an emergency 999 call or from an alarm receiving centre, (ARC))....

Management arrangements for asbestos

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:56:01 +0100

South Lanarkshire Council has a legal obligation under the following legislation to ensure asbestos is effectively managed in properties it owns or operates:...

Administration of medicines and medical treatments

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:47:36 +0100

The administration of a medicine is a common but important procedure that occurs in many of the council’s Service areas. The manner in which a medicine is administered will often determine the gains to be had, or whether people suffer any adverse effect from their medicines....

Electricity at Work

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:54:43 +0100

Electricity can cause serious injury and death if it is not managed correctly. As an employer the council has a duty to protect people from harm whilst at work and to do this the standards laid down by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are used....

Thermal Comfort (Hot and Cold Weather)

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:54:01 +0100

Thermal comfort during periods of hot weather....

Severe Weather Arrangements

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 13:07:19 +0100

Severe weather is defined by the Met Office as: “Weather which has the potential to cause danger to life or the widespread disruption of communications or transport”. The types of severe weather referred to in this definition are varied and include severe storms and gales, persistent low temperature and heavy snow, heat waves and major flooding. In all of these circumstances there is the potential to increase the health and safety risk to employees, clients, service users, pupils and contractors of the council. Advice and guidance to reducing the risk of injury/ill health during such weather extremes can be found in MA63 – Severe Weather. MA63 includes a generic severe weather risk assessment together with sample controls that are applicable to many of the severe weather types typically affecting Scotland....

First Aid

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 13:40:08 +0000

Legislation exists that requires employers to examine the risks present in a workplace, evaluate the likely injuries/harm that may occur, and put in place a first aid provision to mitigate these injuries. There are a number of ways that an organisation can achieve compliance and the chosen methodology will often be linked to the types of injuries that are foreseeable. Accidents in an office are likely to be less life-threatening than those that might take place as managing trees in woodland and so different first aid resources will be needed for each of these scenarios. Deciding what needs to be provided comes from the First Aid Risk Assessment....

Work related stress

Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:36:21 +0100

Stress has a constant presence in our lives and it can often be beneficial however extended exposure to stress can potentially lead to ill-health (anxiety, depression and so on). Employers are expected to consider how work activities might contribute to the overall stress of an individual. South Lanarkshire Council aim to support employees that are suffering ill-health as a result of stress no matter what the source. Employees can approach Employee Support or the Counselling Service for help and managers can use the resources on this page to help reduce the stressors being experienced by an employee...

New and expectant mothers

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 13:52:21 +0100

An employer is required to undertake a risk assessment of all work activities. This assessment must aim to include hazards that could pose a health and safety risk to new or expectant mothers. As a result of this, there isa need to take action to remove or reduce the significant risk. This information should be made available to all employees of childbearing age, as it is possible for the first 4-6 weeks of pregnancy to go undetected....

Agile/Home working

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 17:47:22 +0100

This page aims to offer guidance around the actions that should be taken while you are working at home. This will help create a safe working environment reflective of the expectations associated with the Health and Safety at Work Act and associated legislation....

Covid-19

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 11:14:02 +0100

Covid-19, whilst no longer considered a pandemic, continues to feature as a community illness and present a danger to those that have particular vulnerability....

Driving at work

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 10:25:31 +0000

Twenty road deaths each week involve people who are at work. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations obligates employers to undertake risk assessments on all work activities. Driving a vehicle of any type whilst at work is considered a work activity and so the legal expectations placed upon the council is to risk assess driving at work, identify relevant controls to reduce risk and put in place relevant information, instruction and training. A range of resources exist to help managers and employees to manage the risks that are associated with driving whilst at work and this page will give you access to the main guidance document entitled “Driving at work”, but also:...