Articles
Welcome to KMF’s News Articles. Here we list the various news items relating to health and safety which we hope you will find both interesting and informative.
Five Steps to Risk Assessment
What is a Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.
Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business too if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or you have to go to court. You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace so that you put in place a plan to control the risks.
How to assess the risk in your workplace
Step 1: Identify the hazards
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
Step 5: Review your assessment and update if necessary
When thinking about your risk assessment, remember:
1. a hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricty, working from
ladders, an open drawer etc;
2. the risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other
hazards, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be.
For the full leaflet " 5 Steps to Risk Assessment please go to 5 Steps to Risk Assessment Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous material that has been a popular building material since the 1950s. It is used as an insulator (to keep in heat and keep out cold), has good fire protection properties and protects against corrosion. Because asbestos is often mixed with another material, it's hard to know if you're working with it or not. But, if you work in a building built before the year 2000, it's likely that some parts of the building will contain asbestos. Asbestos is found in many products used in buildings, including ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boilers and sprayed coatings. Asbestos is a hidden killer that can cause four serious diseases (described below). These diseases will not affect you immediately; they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything. There is a need for you to protect yourself now.  Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure and by the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.  Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestos-related lung cancer is the same as (looks the same as) lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.  Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a serious scarring condition of the lung that normally occurs after heavy exposure to asbestos over many years. This condition can cause progressive shortness of breath, and in severe cases can be fatal.  Pleural thickening
Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.
FOR MORE DETAILS ON ASBESTOS GO TO - ASBESTOS THE HIDDEN KILLER
Health and safety brings candyfloss to a sticky end
The reality Come the summer sun and what tops off a great day out better than good, oldfashioned candyfloss? But if you believe some newspaper headlines this beloved sweet treat is under threat – because of the dangers posed by the stick it is spun around. The truth is that there are no health and safety laws banning candyfloss on a stick. Is the traditional form of this sweet disappearing because it is easier to mass produce and store it in plastic bags? Who knows, but it certainly isn’t health and safety leaving anyone with a bad taste in their mouth.
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