Groundwork Business Briefing

Asbestos Regulations Changes

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 will come into force on 13 November 2006. The revised regulations will strengthen overall worker protection by reducing exposure limits and introducing mandatory training for work with asbestos. Most work with asbestos will still need to be undertaken by a licensed contractor but any decision on whether particular work can be licensed will now be determined by the risk involved. Two Approved Codes of Practice (AcoPs) will be published with the regulations, providing more details of what work can be licensed, what training is necessary and how to undertake work with asbestos containing materials.

Copies of ‘Working with materials containing Asbestos. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, Approved Code of Practice and Guidance’ are available from www.hsebooks.com, priced at £13.50.

Latest Picture of Occupational Ill-Health in Great Britain

The latest Occupational Health Statistics Bulletin reports that an estimated 2 million people were suffering from an illness which they believed was caused, or made worse by, their current or past work.

Based on these compilations it is reported that:

• over 50% of all cases of non-fatal work-related illness are musculoskeletal disorders or stress; 
• around 4,000 people die annually from mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer caused mainly by occupational exposure to asbestos;
• teaching professionals, health and social welfare professionals (including nurses) and corporate managers have higher than average prevalence rates of self-reported stress, depression or anxiety;

Recycling Demonstration Trials

WRAP has launched a tender opportunity to commission a series of recycling demonstration trials for small to medium sized businesses. The aim of the demonstration trials is to replicate and evaluate a series of good practice models, which have been developed following the completion of a series of feasibility trials.

The models to be replicated are focused on particular types of recycling services for particular sectors, and are:

• Multi material recycling service for a range of businesses, but primarily offices.
• Glazing and window installation recycling service.
• Glass container collection service for hospitality businesses.
• City centre cardboard and paper collection recycling service.

The good practice models include the key principles of the service, for example, pricing structure/contracts, recruitment of businesses, sales and marketing approaches and the sustainability of the service. Tenderers are expected to select one of these models and replicate the recycling service.

Britain Tops Energy Waste League

Britain is Europe's worst energy waster, a study has claimed. Bad habits such as leaving appliances on standby are likely to waste £11bn by 2010. The Energy Saving Trust surveyed 5,000 people in five countries for the study. They found that 71% of UK consumers admit to leaving stand-by buttons on once a week, while 65% of UK consumers leave chargers on once a week and 63% forget to switch the lights off when leaving the room. German consumers were top of the  energy efficiency league, with Spain said to be the next most efficient, followed by France and Italy. More than half of UK consumers surveyed (57%) said they would support the government introducing "environmental health" warnings on products that are not energy efficient while 49% believe more advice on energy efficiency should be available.

 

Buy Local, Spend Local

Rochdale Council is holding a ‘Buy Local, Spend Local’ event, in order to build closer working relationships with the local business community. Research has shown that small businesses can now offer the public sector serious advantages compared to large national organisations. In response to this the council is allowing key decision makers and purchasing professionals to see what local businesses have to offer. The move should make it easier for local businesses to compete, providing a boost to the region’s economy.

Regulatory Reform

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 came into force on 1st October this year. In response to these changes, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has produced a range of guidance documents for businesses on how to comply with the new legislation. These guides can be downloaded from:

www.firesafetyguides.communities.gov.uk

Groundwork is running a Fire Risk Awareness Seminar on 15 November.