The UK has just been hit by what for us is an extended cold snap. It has already brought chaos to Eurostar’s services to the continent, disrupted airports and caused major headaches for road users.
We have dealt with the risks of driving in poor weather conditions in an earlier newsletter see Driving Safely in Winter.
This time we thought it timely to remind employers of the potential risks that bad weather brings to their premises. (more…)
The European Union is at pains to ensure that designers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment take advantage of all the latest technological advances that might help to improve energy efficiency.
As part of the European Directive on the eco design of energy using products (Directive 2005/32/EC), a new Regulation came into force in January 2009 to limit the energy consumption of electrical and electronic equipment when in standby mode. The Regulation covers a wide range of products for use in domestic and office environments. (more…)
The increasing cost of fossil fuels and the government’s initiatives to reduce our carbon emissions mean that there is every incentive for organisations to check out their energy usage and costs.
It is widely accepted that many companies can make significant savings by introducing a formal Energy Management System. Nobody wants to be donating unnecessarily to the profits of the energy companies and savings in this area translate directly to the bottom line – serving to increase your profit and improve your cash flow. (more…)
Health and Safety Undermined
Health and Safety in the Workplace is a deadly serious business, although you might be forgiven for thinking otherwise if some of the press reports are to be believed.
We hear of numerous instances where events and activities that we once took for granted are now being cancelled, forbidden or wrapped up with so much bureaucracy that they are no longer viable – and all in the name of health and safety. (more…)
Unless you are disabled or know someone who is, you may never think about the difficulties experienced by those with impaired mobility should they need to evacuate a building because of fire, bomb alert or similar.
One could reason that the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act should serve to highlight the issue since premises must now make it easier for disabled persons to gain access. The corollary is that those who enter a building must also be able to get out – possibly needing to make a quick, unplanned exit. (more…)