2014 -
August
ENFORCEMENT - 29.08.2014
Tougher penalties now more likely
Since 1 July 2014 the courts have been using sentencing guidelines when dealing with environmental offences. Should you be worried?
PACKAGING - 29.08.2014
Compliance with packaging regulations
You are not sure whether the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 apply to your business. How can you find out, and if they do, what steps should you take to comply?
RECYCLING - 29.08.2014
Disposal of paper cups
Every day your waste bins are filled with disposable paper drinks cups which come from high street coffee shop chains, vending machines, etc. Can these be recycled or must they be put into general waste bins?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 29.08.2014
Funding available for energy efficiency
A deal struck between the Green Investment Bank and ReEnergise is making finance available to businesses that want to invest in energy efficiency projects. Is this worth a look?
GREEN INITIATIVES - 29.08.2014
A green mobile phone?
Mobile phone companies have tried every trick in the book to get you onto their network. Now Vodafone is playing the “environmental” card. So, are some phones much greener than others?
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - 29.08.2014
Identify where to save resources
The Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment has produced a new tool that will help you to make your business more resource efficient. How does it work, and could it be useful?
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - 29.08.2014
Develop a plan
If you are just starting out, or looking to refocus your green efforts, identifying what to tackle, and when, can be a useful exercise. Use our new environment - continuous improvement plan to help do this.
PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING - 28.08.2014
Options for portable appliance testing
Rather than paying a contractor to undertake portable appliance tests (PATs), you have decided to buy the testing equipment and to train staff to do them instead. What are your options?
HOMEWORKING - 28.08.2014
More requests for homeworking?
A shake-up of flexible working legislation is likely to prompt more requests to work from home. How should you deal with the health and safety implications?
MANUAL HANDLING - 28.08.2014
Taking the strain out of order picking
If your staff work in a busy warehouse, research completed for the HSE might be of interest to you. What were the results of the study and are there any issues that you really should address?
ASBESTOS - 28.08.2014
Over-cladding your asbestos roof
Your roof is long past its life expectancy and you’re concerned about the ongoing risks from the asbestos cement it’s made from. You’ve heard of a process called “over-cladding”. Would this solve the problem?
FIRST AID - 28.08.2014
Updated first aid guidance
The HSE has updated its simple guidance leaflet which identifies the steps businesses should take to manage first aid. Has much changed and what are the implications?
CONSTRUCTION - 28.08.2014
Protect vulnerable members of the public
A case heard in June 2014 concerned the death of a resident who stumbled into part of a building under refurbishment. The operator of the care home was prosecuted but they weren’t alone in the dock. Who else was there and why?
WORK AT HEIGHT - 28.08.2014
Do your staff work on top of vehicles?
If your work involves loading and unloading vehicles, be aware that the topic is still on the priority list for inspectors. What led to the prosecution of Inex Works Ltd in June 2014, and how can you avoid the same mistakes?
DISMISSAL - 26.08.2014
Long-term sickness: when can you safely dismiss?
You have an employee who is signed off long-term sick and, currently, showing no signs of a return. How long must you wait until it’s safe to dismiss them on incapacity grounds?
FLEXIBLE WORKING - 26.08.2014
Flexible working: can you ask what it is for?
Any employee with at least 26 weeks’ continuous service now has the statutory right to request a flexible working arrangement. If they do, can you demand to know what they want it for?
PAY - 26.08.2014
Bound by an external HR consultant’s mistake?
When Sheffield City Council received a collective grievance about pay, it brought in an HR consultant. She wrongly informed staff that they were entitled to a much higher rate. Was the employer bound by the consultant’s mistake?
EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY - 26.08.2014
Should you stop employees wearing headphones?
Apparently, more and more employees are wearing headphones at work to listen to music; 25% of them are risking noise-induced hearing loss as a result. Could you be liable for this type of injury if you don’t stop them?
RECRUITMENT - 26.08.2014
New hires: do you have all their details?
Whenever a new employee starts working for you you’ll need to obtain certain personal details from them. What’s the minimum information you should ask for and how can it be obtained easily?
DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES - 26.08.2014
Can you increase a disciplinary sanction on appeal?
Let’s suppose an employee has exercised their right to appeal against a disciplinary sanction. Having heard their appeal, can you hike the sanction if you consider the initial decision was too lenient?
SICKNESS ABSENCE - 26.08.2014
The new Health and Work Service
The new Health and Work Service (HWS) will start being rolled out in October 2014. Once it’s launched, employers who follow its advice about medical treatments will receive a tax break. What is it?
