With many seasonal jobs available at this time of year, employers must prioritise the health and safety of gig economy, agency and temporary workers. Workers are as likely to experience an accident in the first 6 months at a workplace as they are over the rest of their working life. HSE's website has guidance on 6 ways to protect those who are new to the job. We also have advice to help users and suppliers of agency and temporary workers understand their health and safety responsibilities. If you are an agency or temporary worker, the law safeguards your health and safety and employment businesses (agencies) must ensure they follow health and safety requirements for every agency or temporary worker. |
Workers at laboratories are being put at risk of infection because of missing information on specimen request forms. If specimen request forms do not provide sufficient clinical information, then laboratory staff cannot identify the appropriate safety measures they need to apply to control exposure and possible infection. HSE investigations have confirmed several occasions when workers have been exposed to pathogens capable of causing severe disease. Dutyholders should ensure that: - specimen request forms contain all relevant clinical information
- laboratory staff act on clinical information provided
- record-keeping and IT systems are fit for purpose
Read the safety notice on the risk of exposure to biological agents for full details A £40,000 fine was issued after a worker fell through a ceiling during a house renovation. The worker had been installing first-floor joists alone when he slipped and fell from the first to the ground floor of the house. He spent nearly 5 months in hospital, having sustained serious injuries to his spinal cord which left him paralysed from the chest down. HSE's investigation found that: - the company failed to ensure work at height had been properly planned, and
- no measures had been implemented to prevent falls during the construction of the first floor
Read more in our press release: Construction company fined after worker left paralysed. HSE's website has detailed guidance on working safely at height. You can visit our news centre for more on recent enforcement cases. HSE's training courses are delivered by experts, both virtually and in-person, to help organisations comply with the law and keep workforces healthy and safe. Upcoming courses include:
Find out more about HSE's training and events.
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