Even heroes can get injured sometimes
Given that Han Solo can at any time take the Millennium Falcon into space in his ongoing battle against the Galactic Empire, it’s unlikely that he considered a simple broken leg capable of stopping him in his tracks.
However, it did just that. During the filming of Star Wars: The Forces Awakens, Harrison Ford suffered a broken leg and other injuries when he was struck by a heavy hydraulic metal door on the set at Pinewood Studios.
That left the producers, Foodles Production (UK) Ltd, facing not only the Stormtroopers but also investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The company has been told that it must appear at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 12 May to face court action over four alleged breaches of health and safety legislation.
“By law,” the HSE said, “employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers — this is as true on a film set as a factory floor. We have investigated thoroughly and believe that we have sufficient evidence to bring the case to court.”
As Foodles Production (UK) Ltd is the company responsible for producing the film, under health and safety law it carries responsibility for managing the risks created during production. The HSE believes that it has sufficient evidence to prosecute for two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, one of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and one of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Mobile phones while driving – still hitting the headlines
Whether in a hearse or a company van, employees spend considerable time out on the road and clearly need to stay in touch with their base during that time.
However, if they take or make calls while driving, they are breaking the law and under new government proposals stand to be more harshly punished for doing so.
An offence is committed when holding a mobile phone to read a text, check social media, take a photo or any other interactive communication function. This applies even when a driver has stopped at traffic lights or is queuing in traffic.
Now the Department for Transport has launched a public consultation asking for comments on plans to increase the fixed penalty notice level from £100 to £150 for all drivers.
The consultation is open for comments until 15 March 2016 and also seeks views on whether to increase the penalty points resulting from being caught committing this offence from three to four for ordinary drivers.
The intention is for it to go up from three to six for those that hold a licence for a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and commit the offence while driving an HGV, due to the likelihood that an accident involving such a vehicle is likely to be more serious.
The Department for Transport notes that the vast majority of first-time offenders will not incur a fixed penalty notice or penalty points but will still be offered a remedial educational course, although this chargeable option remains at the discretion of the police.
What view would be taken of the 9% of drivers surveyed last month who admitted to taking a ‘selfie’ while behind the wheel, or the 8% who used a video-calling application such as FaceTime or Skype, can only be guessed.
Help is at hand – getting the best from your SAIF approved health and safety advisors
Occupational Safety Systems Ltd, now Safety For Business Ltd (and NEWA Business Partners for those who remember so far back), has been providing health and safety advice to SAIF members for many years. But just what help is available?
Well firstly, free telephone and email guidance is available to all members of SAIF. It is simply part of your membership. If you are uncertain about a matter to do with health and safety, you are entitled to use our support service completely free of charge. You will not be sent an invoice or pushed to join a membership scheme. You have already done that by being a member of SAIF.
If you think you might need a more permanent relationship with Safety For Business, two options are available. Initially, Safety for Business can visit to see where you stand with health and safety, and provide a full report on what was found and what you need to do to improve health and safety. This beneficial service only costs the price of the travel, for which the company has to charge due to operating throughout the country, as does SAIF, and the costs can be a reasonably high expense.
After a visit you can leave it at that and will have an action plan to work on. But if you do want assistance to fully comply with health and safety legislation, the next option as part of your SAIF membership is a sizeable discount on our fees. This stands at 20% at the moment, so why not take advantage now. Pick up the phone and talk to a safety professional at Safety For Business by calling 08456 344 164.
What do you have to lose?