What's new at HSE » Fire and explosion

Scotland events

Fiona — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:50:28 +0000

Details of three additional events have been added to the Scotland events page these are: Scottish Fire and Forensic Conference 19 November 2008, Health and Safety in Care Homes (Lanarkshire) 4 February 2009 and health and Safety in Care Homes (Edinburgh) 5 February 2009.

View further information on these events

Domestic safety issues in local authority and other rented housing

Fiona — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:56:02 +0000

This Sector Information Minute provides background information to operational staff about domestic safety issues affecting local and public authorities in the context of landlords’ duties in social housing and other domestic accommodation.

It includes information from HSE domestic safety alerts on scalding risk from heating systems and explosion risk from redundant back boilers previously circulated to all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.

View SIM 07/2008/07

Company fined after employee suffers serious burns

Fiona — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:28:56 +0000

HSE has warned companies to protect employees from dangerous substances. The warning comes after a 59-year-old man was engulfed in flames following a petrol leak.

View employee suffers serious burns press release

Report of explosion at Corus UK Ltd in 2001

Fiona — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:26:36 +0000

This report concerns the events of 8 November 2001 at the premises of Corus UK Ltd, Port Talbot, South Wales. The explosion of one of the company’s blast furnaces led to the tragic deaths of three employees and injury of a number of other people. The explosion caused widespread alarm and concern throughout the locality.

The report is available in English and Welsh.

View report

Myth of the month - October 2008

Peter — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:06:46 +0000

Despite the story of a rugby club showing a film of a bonfire instead of lighting a real one, health and safety legislation doesn’t ban them.

Find out the truth behind this myth

DVD: Signposts for health and safety

Julian — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:30:49 +0000

Originally broadcast on BBC2 as 10 half-hour programmes - a variety of small businesses show how they have successfully dealt with health and safety at work issues.

Visit the Signposts page and view extracts from the DVD

Public consultations alerts

Gavin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:40:09 +0000

Sign up email or mobile phone text alerts to be informed about new consultations, reminders and results of consultations…

Warning on handling hazardous materials after prosecution

Fiona — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:12:27 +0000

The HSE has told companies, particularly those in the major hazard sector, that they must ensure their workforce follows approved company safety procedures.

The warning comes after BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd was ordered to pay £50,000 in fines and costs of £15,000 at Cardiff Crown Court after a worker was severely burned at its site in Glascoed, Monmouthshire.

View press release

DVD - Signposts for health and safety

steve — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:20:58 +0000

A compilation of films for small businesses, Originally broadcast on BBC2 as 10 half-hour programmes. A variety of small businesses show how they have successfully dealt health and safety issues. The content has been updated as much as possible to reflect for example, recent changes to smoking in the workplace and noise exposure limits.

Signposts for health and safety - DVD

Storing and selling fireworks

Fiona — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:16:14 +0000

HSE guidance and information on storing and selling fireworks has been updated.

View the storing and selling fireworks guidance

Buncefield Investigation Board publishes 8th report

HSEnews — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:18:19 +0000

The Buncefield Investigation Board’s 8th report is titled: “Recommendations on land use planning and the control of societal risk around major hazard sites”.

The report sets out the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board’s third set of recommendations, this time on the subject of land use planning and societal risk around major hazard sites.

Recommendations on land use planning and the control of societal risk around major hazard sites [PDF 1.5MB]

Letter on safety alerts sent to local authorities

Fiona — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:46:03 +0000

The letter introduced and provided brief background to the two HSE safety alerts on (i) scalding risks from domestic hot water systems and (ii) risk from redundant solid fuel back boilers. Similar letters reflecting administrative differences was sent to all LAs in Scotland and Wales. The information was also provided to the Department for Communities and Local Government in England, the Welsh Assembly Government, and the Scottish Government.

View letter

Worker suffers burns after acetone catches fire

Peter — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:52:08 +0000

HSE has warned companies to protect employees from flammable cleaning liquids after a Leicester man suffered burns to his hands and legs after some acetone caught fire. Leicester-based Parmeko Plc was fined and ordered to pay costs at Leicester Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty for failing to ensure the safety of an employee whilst he was handling acetone, a flammable liquid.

Read the press release in full

Aerosol companies warned after explosion kills worker

Fiona — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 22:06:05 +0000

HSE has warned aerosol companies of the need to adopt good industry working practices when the change over of propellant is required. The warning follows the prosecution of North West Aerosols Ltd of Liverpool, following a major fire on their premises in December 2005 where one man was killed and three others received serious burns.

View press release

Cylinders in Fire - National Stakeholder Group

Fiona — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:49:54 +0000

The Cylinders In Fire National Stakeholder Group (CIF-NSG) was formed in November 2006 to collectively understand and resolve the issues surrounding cylinders involved in a fire and in particular with Dissolved Acetylene (DA) cylinders.

Further information

Spontaneous ignition of hydrogen

Fiona — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:14:52 +0000

This report is part of a project to investigate the phenomena of spontaneous ignition of accidental hydrogen releases. Over the years there have been reports of hydrogen leaks igniting for no apparent reason.

View research report

Geoffrey Podger issues challenge to major hazard industries

HSE news — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:15:07 +0000

HSE Chief Executive, Geoffrey Podger, today challenged the major hazard industries to take more responsibility for tackling the safety issues it faces.

View the press release in full

Workplace fire safety updated

Fiona — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:49:07 +0000

Information on the workplace fire safety page of the fire and explosion website, on HSE’s role in fire safety has been updated.

View the updated information

Flammable liquid cabinets

steve — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:33:45 +0000

HSE issues supplementary guidance to the employer/dutyholder on the matters to be considered in determining the quantities of flammable liquids that may be safely stored in process areas, workrooms, laboratories and similar working areas.

The guidance complements information given in the Technical ACoPs and Guidance Documents L135 & L136 issued in support of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002

Read the guidance in full

ICL investigation: Completion of legal proceedings

Fiona — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:42:53 +0000

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) welcomes the completion of the criminal prosecution, which arose out of the joint investigation into the explosion and building collapse at the ICL site in Maryhill, Glasgow on 11 May 2004.

Read the press release