Technical

Technical pages are produced by our Geoff Isenman, who would welcome your feedback and suggestions. Geoff can be contacted at geoff.isenman@wmsa.org.uk or on 0778 696 3055.

The Independent Regulatory Challenge Panel NEW

The Independent Regulatory Challenge Panel will look into complaints regarding advice given by HSE or LA inspectors about health and safety which you think is incorrect or goes beyond what is required to control the risk adequately. The panel will consist of independent members who will have the competence and experience to assess advice that has been given on regulatory matters. For more information go to The Independent Regulatory Challenge Panel.

HSE New Woodworking Information Sheets NEW

HSE have published the following revised Woodworking Information Sheets, please follow the links for downloadable pdf file versions.

WIS 3 (Revision 1) Horizontal Beam & Vertical Saws www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis3.pdf

WIS 32 (Revision 1) Safe Collection of Woodwaste: Prevention of Fire & Explosion www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis32.pdf

WIS 35 (Revision 1) Safe Use of Power-operated Cross-cut Saws www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis35.pdf

WIS 36 (Revision 1) Safe Use of Manually-operated of Cross-cut Sawing machines www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis36.pdf

Red Tape Challenge

From 30 June, health and safety regulation became the focus of the Government's Red Tape Challenge, launched by the Prime Minister in April to give people the chance to have their say on regulations that affect their everyday lives. The Challenge is therefore an opportunity for people to directly influence the future of health and safety regulation, to simplify health and safety and to support business growth in Great Britain.

The Government will act on the comments they receive, so it is important that there is a well-informed debate.

You can find out more at www.hse.gov.uk/news/red-tape-challenge, or alternatively, join the debate now at http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ and air your views on which regulations should stay, which should go and which should change.

HSE introduces new arrangements for reporting of injuries and incidents

From 12 September 2011, statutory reporting to HSE of work-related injuries and incidents under RIDDOR (the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995) will move to a predominantly online system.

Revised online forms will make the reporting process quick and easy. Fatal and major injuries and incidents can still be reported to HSE's Incident Contact Centre by telephone as at present.

In addition, HSE's Infoline telephone information service will end on 30 September 2011. Businesses seeking information on health and safety can use HSE's website - a huge knowledge bank where people can access and download information on all aspects of work-related health and safety, as well as HSE's official guidance, completely free of charge.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/

HSE Launch new FAQ website pages relating MDF and its uses and dangers

For more information follow the HSE link MDF FAQs

HSE launch website for workers in woodworking sector

HSE have launched a newly redesigned website for workers in the woodworking sector.

The woodworking industry is one of the most dangerous in the manufacturing sector. Last year over 300 people suffered major injuries and over 1100 were off work following an accident for more than 3 days. The new website aims to make it easier for workers, supervisors and managers to fully understand the risks they may face and learn how to deal with them.

The new look site can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2010/hse-woodworking.htm

WMSA/HSE - Technical Q & A

We are in regular contact with HSE on behalf of WMSA members and from time to time issues under discussion produce HSE clarification of a general nature which we believe would be of interest to all of our members.ï¿½

Click here for the WMSA/HSE Technical Q & A page

BSI Woodworking Machinery Standards

Issued or revised from 1.4.2010

The following list of BSI Woodworking Machinery Standards are available for purchase directly from the BSI shop http://shop.bsigroup.com/ as either a PDF download or hardcopy.

For simple reference, a number of regional libraries allow free access to the standards and generally allow up to 10% of the standard to be photocopied at standard photocopy rates.

Click here to see list of BSI Standards

Proskills - Review of Training and Qualifications within the Wood Industry

All woodworking educational qualifications are undergoing a complete review by the newly formed Wood Industry Board of Proskills the government sponsored Sector Skills Council. The review will involve all existing vocational and academic qualifications for the industry.

The Proskills wood industry Qualifications Reform Group's role is to develop and review new and existing standards and qualifications to meet the increasing demand of business. WMSA members are eligible to join the group in developing and reviewing standards and qualifications.

One of the aims of this review will be to approve and publish an Accredited Training Provider network for the wood industry. Some members currently offer their own in house' training courses and these courses may well be eligible for approval by the QRG. WMSA members who wish to be considered as an Accredited Training Provider and/or submit their course material for approval by the QRG should do so as soon as possible, either direct to Proskills or via geoff.isenman@wmsa.org.uk.

Proskills are currently developing a web based skills management tool called Profile. Eventually this will be populated with all available qualifications within the wood industry and be used by employers to locate suitable training for employees and for employees to identify what training is available to enhance their career prospects. We understand that Profile will contain details of all Accredited Training Providers and the standards and qualifications approved by the QRG. It is therefore important for members to participate in this review process if they wish their training programme to receive wider recognition.

Contained within the new Proskills web site (still under construction) are a number of interesting reports on the Wood Industry.

All reports can be accessed at http://www.proskills.co.uk/wood/research

Or to link to an individual report:

Reports and Statistics on the Wood Industry

To download the Timber Industry Facts leaflet, click on the link below:

New Machinery (Safety) Regulations

From 29^th December 2009 the new Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 came into force. Please click on the links below for the new Directive and to see how it compares with the old Directive.

The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

Latest guidance and comparison links relating to the new regulations from BIS and HSE.

BIS Guidance Supply of Machinery Regs_2008

The_New_Machinery_Directive-comparison_with_old_Directive

New Publications

HSE Publications / Safety DVD

HSE have just launched a new DVD; Health & Safety in the Woodworking Industry. It is an updated amalgamation of the previously available Woodworking Videos. The DVD is a priced publication and costs 11.50. If you wish to purchase a copy please follow the link http://books.hse.gov.uk/hse/public/saleproduct.jsf?catalogueCode=9780717663309. The DVD is designed for users of woodworking machinery.

Statistics

Health and safety statistics 2008/09 have just been published. Full details can be viewed at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/hssoct09.htm?ebul=stats/oct-09&cr=01.

We are continuing to press HSE for more meaningful statistics which include details of the types of machines that are involved in UK accidents. Currently HSE do not have this information but we are hopeful this will change for 2009/10

Training

Wood Industry Education & Training

As you may have read in the press much of the wood industry supply chain has recently agreed to work together as a group with regard to training within the industry. This has led to the development of a strategic partnership with Proskills who will form a specific Wood Industry group within their organisation. WMSA have joined the new group and will take a proactive role in determining the future strategy for wood industry qualifications. Click here to read more...

Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)

Although it is already clear that there's lots to tackle over the coming months, we can see that a really pressing issue of the moment is Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV). HSE are indicating that it will switch focus from users of dust extraction to suppliers of the equipment. The general determination of HSE to make a difference in this sector is flagged up by their free seminar on 9th June at Uttoxeter racecourse. More about the HSE dust extraction initiatives...

HSE LEV Seminar - Uttoxeter June 2009

The Health & Safety Executive in association with the WMSA held a free seminar for suppliers to the Woodworking Industry at Uttoxeter entitled 'Time to Clear the Air - Dust Extraction in the Woodworking Industry'. Click here to read more about it.

HSE Updated advice on COSHH

HSE have recently re published their COSHH Leaflet INDG136 (rev 4) Working with substances hazardous to health.

The fourth revision is available in pdf format through this HSE link http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf

LEV Dust Extraction update

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to investigate the occupational risks facing those in the furniture and woodworking industries, more than 10 years after the last checks found the official standard was routinely ignored. It says about 50 people a year are diagnosed with nasal cancer related to their exposure to wood dust, while others have asthma as a result of their occupation. A statement from HSE said: 'Funding has been secured for HSE to commission a piece of research, alongside intelligence gathering activities undertaken by HSE, to update our understanding of exposure risks in the woodworking industry'. Sample checks on employers by those HSE more than a decade ago indicated that workers were exposed to higher than permitted levels of wood dust at more than a quarter of sites. Two-thirds exceeded the limit some of the time.

Two links below highlighing HSE concentration on LEV inspection offences which may be useful in persuading WMSA member customers that their annual LEV inspection is important and a lot less expensive than a fine.

Fine for exposure to wood dust

Improvement Notice Fine

Download these Key Documents

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

The Supply of Machinery Regulations 2008

LEV - Appendix 3 Inspector's Test Equipment

LEV - Clearing the Air - A simply guide to buying and using local exhaust ventilation

LEV - Controlling Airborne Contaminants at Work - A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV)

LEV - HSE Frequently asked LEV Questions