Issue 30

Accommodation & ElectricityPage 12

Taking the WEEEPage 13

chief environment and safety officer

Army Safety and Environment MattersIssue 30 – Autumn 2008

Get a Grip!Page 10

www.armynet.mod.uk/armysafety

Main FeaturePage 4

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Issue 30_v1.indd 1Issue 30_v1.indd 1 13/08/2008 15:37:0813/08/2008 15:37:08

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Army Safety and Environment Matters is the quarterly publication of Chief Environment & Safety Offi cer (Army), CESO(A) – www.armynet.mod.uk/armysafety Its primary aim is to promote good practice in safety and environmental issues throughout the British Army. If you wish to comment upon any article, make a contribution, or have a query regarding distribution of this publication, please contact: SO2 Coord, CESO(A), Airfi eld Camp, Netheravon. Mil 9 4321 8584 or Civ 01980 62 8584.

Army Safety and Environment Matters is produced for CESO(A) by Entec UK Ltd – www.entecuk.com

Printed on Revive Gloss – made entirely from waste paper containing at least 75% post-consumer waste. Strict environmental controls are adhered to during production and no chlorine bleaching is used.

All content Crown Copyright 2008.

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WelcomeSoldiers are expected to work in tough and dangerous locations. We are regularly reminded of this by the reports that come in from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it is NOT part of the deal that back in barracks,

on the vehicle park, in the garages or on exercise, that soldiers should also suffer injuries and worse – as they do routine work on and around the Army’s vehicles. These particular accidents are specifi cally designated by the Army as ‘Workplace Transport Accidents’. In accidents involving vehicles and personnel, the outcome is depressingly predictable. This is the topic of our main feature.

The arbitrary severing of the link to the ‘armysafety’ site on the www has been a hard blow to take – particularly for our civilian H&S Practitioners that support the Army. The complete CESO(A) website is still available - but now only through ArmyNET. (See News in Brief.)

It was interesting to note that the Illegal Disposal of Ammo story and the piece on the Post Op Tour RTA Campaigns, in the last edition of our newsletter, were further reported in a couple of the heavyweight Sunday papers. But remember – you read about it fi rst in ‘Army Safety and Environment Matters’ !

Morton Burdick Editor

Mil: 9 4321 8584Civ: 01980 62 8584.E-mail: [email protected]

News in Brief – Page 3A roundup of useful snippets for SHEF Practitioners.

Cover Story: Work in a Danger Zone – Page 4Accidents with vehicles at work.

AINC Quarterly Report – Page 7Accidents and incidents from the Army’s databank.

Radiation Roundup! – Page 8Reminders to keep RSOs and RPSs/WPSs up to date.

Reader Feedback – Page 9The chance to have your say.

Get a Grip on Manual Handling – Page 10Back to the basics.

MT Areas: Familiarity Breeds Contempt – Page 11Points to check around the workshop area.

Electricity & Accommodation – Page 12Some tips to avoid danger of fi re.

WEEEminder – Page 13You can’t just chuck it out!

SHE Auditing – Page 14What’s new (nothing to do with counting women).

Green Speak – Page 14Part 1 of a four part series.

Green Gem – Page 152 (South East) Brigade’s energetic successes.

National WHAT Week? – Page 16Useful links to upcoming campaigns.

In this Issue


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Army Safety Website Taken Off wwwPuzzlement and disappointment have been the reactions of many of the H&S community over the MOD decision to sever the www.armysafety.mod.uk link from the www.

The complete CESO(A) website is still available, but can now only be accessed through ArmyNET www.armynet.mod.uk/armysafety Unfortunately, access to ArmyNET is diffi cult for non-mil personnel – until you are registered. Civilian H&S Practitioners wanting access should ask a military colleague if they can ‘show them round’ ArmyNET and then ‘sign them in’ as a guest.

Once into ArmyNET, the keystrokes are straightforward. Select the ‘Units & Orgs’ tab at the top, then in the ‘Navigation’ box on the right, select ‘Specialist Units’ and click onto CESO(A).

Risk Assessment Form Re-Revised!The MOD Risk Assessment Form 5010a, in JSP 375, Vol 2, Leafl et 39 (introduced in April 2008) was revised in June 2008. It has now been re-revised! The latest forms are dated Aug 2008 in the bottom left hand corner of each page. This is the form that must be used with immediate effect. The Aug 2008 Form 5010a is available on the Defence Intranet through this link. http://defenceintranet.diiweb.r.mil.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B905DC5D-2FBC-41E9-9918-524AD7672FFB/0/MODForm5010a.doc An explanatory DIN will be issued on 22 Sep 08.

i DistractionListening to an iPod through headphones while carrying out military duties can distract drivers and equipment operators and put them into real danger. It is forbidden to use personal audio systems with headphones while driving (JSP 800, Vol 5, Annex A to Ch 10.) This ban is soon likely to be extended to cover all transport related activities in the workplace.

Possible Radio Hazard to Cadet Force Units The procurement of radios for cadet force units is currently being staffed by the BATCIS IPT. Pending the provision of these ‘Bowmanesque’ radios, some cadet units may have access to Bowman or Clansman radios. (It is known that some units already have a Harris radio which has an output of 20W.) There can be some hazards to personnel from radio frequency (RF) radiation, (primarily heating of the body) and given the age of the young people, (cadets are also classed as civilians in this case) specifi c caveats apply. Some general information is available in Leafl ets 35 and 22,Vol 2 of JSP 375.

The important point is that the Defence Electromagnetic Environmental Effects Authority (Def E3A) at Blandford has stipulated that the maximum output of any manpack radios used by cadets must be restricted to VHF – 4 Watts and HF – 1 Watt and this should be under direct adult supervision.

CESO(A) POC is the SO2 RAD on Mil: 9 4321 8584 or Civ: 01980 62 8584.

COS Land Forces Leads on Sustainable DevelopmentThe COS at HQ LF, Maj Gen Jonathan Shaw is the Army’s Sustainable Development Champion. Nominations for SD Champions at division, brigade and garrison levels will be required in due course.

An LFSO, currently being drafted by CESO(A), will give direction to the chain of command on SD which includes Environmental Protection (EP). It will provide the detail on what is expected for SD targets, concentrating particularly on energy and waste and will improve the governance of SD and EMSs throughout the Army.

Setback on Musicians’ Hearing ProtectionThis campaign has suffered a serious setback. In July it was learned that the funding for the project had missed the procurement deadline which would have enabled the earplugs to meet a ‘roll-out’ by the end of September. The whole bidding process now has to start again. It is unlikely that any bespoke earplugs for Army musicians will now be issued before Spring 2009.

FTRS Unit Safety Advisers RecruitedThe fi rst of the 78 new Unit Safety Advisers is now in post. These full-time advisers will be (predominantly) FTRS captains and will be located in the higher risk units and garrisons across the UK. As they are non-deployable, they will provide continuity and expert advice to COs, alongside the QMs, on all aspects of safety and environmental management. Details from Maj (Retd) Ian Groom on Mil: 9 4321 8588 or Civ: 01980 62 8588.

Queries on Laser Safety?JSP 390, Military Laser Safety is the fi rst document to go to for guidance. If you need further help on laser safety matters the Secretary of the Military Laser Safety Committee, Mr Matt Flower, on Mil: 9 352 35515 or Civ: 0117 91 35515 should be able to help, (his Mil e-mail address is: DES Wpns-DOSG-MLSC). (Note. The contact number for the MLSC shown on page 2 of Leafl et 34 in JSP 392, the Radiation Safety Handbook, is out of date.)

Army Radiation TrainingThe Nuclear Department at HMS Sultan has now started teaching the new Workplace Supervisor (Radioactive Materials) WPS (RAM) courses. In the past, most soldiers did the two-day Radiation Protection Supervisor’s (RPS) courses – which were criticised for being too nuclear-physics heavy! The new one-and-a-half-

day WPS course now aims to give students the practical daily skills to look after and also to despatch radioactive material. If you have views or want to give some feedback from these early courses contact SO2 RAD on Mil: 9 4321 8584 or Civ: 01980 62 8553.

New SO1 Safety Performance at CESO(A)Mr Daz Stevenson has recently joined CESO(A) from DES. He fi lls the newly created appointment of SO1 Safety Performance. His role will be to analyse data on accidents, identify any accident trends and ensure that any recommendations from past inquiries and reports are followed. Most recently, he was the BATCIS IPT Safety Assurance Offi cer. He can be contacted on Mil: 9 4321 8554 or Civ: 01980 62 8554.

CESO(A) Poster WinsIn a competition to fi nd the best poster highlighting the costs of climate change in the MOD, the CESO(A) Environmental Protection team entry was judged as the winner. The competition, to mark World Environment Day on 5 June was run by DS&C and sparked a good deal of interest. Jeffrey Rooke, received on behalf of CESO(A), a commemorative certifi cate signed by Mr Derek Twigg, USoS for Defence and Veterans. The winning poster was issued as an enclosure with the Summer edition of the newsletter and is also available electronically on the CESO(A) armysafety web site via ArmyNET.

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News in Brief

Comments?Contact the Editor – Mil: 9 4321 8584 or Civ: 01980 62 8553

w w w . a r m y n e t . m o d . u k / a r m y s a f e t y


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4FEATURE

Work in a Danger ZoneWhen ‘coming together’ is NOT the desired result! Workplace Transport Accidents - what are they, who needs to know about them and why?

Here is the scenario . . . The squadron commander was in a bit of a hurry. And unusually for him, he was also under a certain amount of pressure. The CO needed to see him in his offi ce NOW – and he was to bring the ‘offending’ inspection report with him – and an explanation!

Hmmm, OC Workshops still had the paperwork – so better get up to the REME (at the other end of camp) and collect it ASAP. As it was raining and he needed to get a move on, he jumped in his new BMW estate and ‘powered’ away.

Meanwhile, on the vehicle park at the front of the workshops, and also under his own bit of pressure prior to the OC’s walk round at midday, the MT Sergeant had been hunting for a forklift operator to shift a pallet of old track over to the salvage area. A newly joined ‘tels tech’, on a smoke break, said he thought he could drive a little Hyster – and he didn’t mind helping out for a few minutes.

The major swept up to the entrance of the workshop compound and, because of the urgency, the rain (and dare one say, his own importance?) he ignored the unit policy forbidding private cars on the vehicle park and drove straight across to the OC’s offi ce. Meanwhile (and after a few false starts) ‘Lewis Hamilton’, on the forklift truck thought he’d got the hang of it – but actually reversed out of the bay much faster than he had intended – and also found the rear wheel steering something of a challenge . . .

Common Workplace Transport AccidentsMoving vehicles hitting people or objects

Unguided reversing

People falling from vehicles

Vehicles overturning

Objects falling from vehicles

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A r m y S a f e t y a n d E n v i r o n m e n t M a t t e r s – I s s u e 3 0

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Well, the inevitable ‘coming together’ was just as predictable as it was unsatisfactory for both parties! Once the dust had settled, the paperwork was sent to the IMPACT Data Cell and the incident was reported to the Army Incident Notifi cation Cell (AINC) as a Workplace Transport Accident. This term, covers a wide variety of accidents but must always be used for those involving any vehicles in the workplace.

Although the HSE have recognised Workplace Transport Accidents for a long time they are a relatively new (18 months) classifi cation of accident to the Army. Previously, accidents in the work area involving vehicles were simply classed as either RTAs or RTIs* – and recorded on the FMT3-1 or 3-4 respectively. This gave a misleading view of both where the Army was having avoidable accidents and also skewed the statistics.

Workplace Transport Accidents are not just confi ned to ‘in barracks’ situations. They can happen at an engineer bridging site or in a QM’s echelon area on exercise, an artillery gun position during training or in a makeshift workshop area on operations. Workplace Transport Accidents also frequently happen as vehicles manoeuvre inside garages, workshops and in vehicle hangars. They will involve at least one vehicle and could involve nearby soldiers, solid objects (walls and garage doors), contractors or visitors as well as other vehicles – static or moving.

It is important that all these accidents are fully recorded by the AINC. This ensures that the circumstances of the accident will be analysed, the lessons learned and recorded and measures put in place to stop them happening again. This information could strengthen a case to improve training for soldiers.

It could provide helpful evidence to get funds to better separate pedestrians from manoeuvring vehicles or improve traffi c fl ow. It will also contribute to better planning and coordination and improved safety awareness for all personnel in the workplace.

But often as not it is simply carelessness that is the root cause of most Workplace Transport Accidents. People know the rules – but often say, when it’s all gone wrong, “I just didn’t think.”

What a pathetic excuse to give to your mate’s widow!

*RTAs involve ‘third party’ interests while RTIs are ‘green on green’ incidents. See JSP 800, Vol 5, Ch 15.

Where it Doesn’t ApplyThe public highway. (However, a goods vehicle loading or unloading on the public highway IS regarded as ‘workplace transport in this instance.)

Air, rail or water transport.

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Pathetic ExcusesI didn’t see it . . .

I didn’t think . . .

I was in a hurry . . .

I was only trying to help . . .

Nobody told me . . .

No one was there to help me . . .

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Workplace Transport Accidents

Further InfoJSP 800, Vol 5, Ch 9, Annex K.

JSP 437, PPE Catalogue.

Workplace Transport Safety: An Employers’ Guide, published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSG 136).

HSE Workplace Transport Safety Overview (22 page document that can be downloaded free through the link www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg199.pdf

The CESO(A) POC is the LAIT Master Driver on Mil: 9 4321 8338 or Civ: 01980 62 8338.

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High Vis SolutionsNSNs of items that can contribute to safety in and around Transport Workplace areas:

Yellow line paint 8010-99-225-2008

White line paint 010-99-225-2009

Traffi c cones (red) 9905-99-179-8754

Traffi c cone (yellow) 9905-99-858-9048

Hard hat 8415-99-132-1013

High Visibility Vests:– Small 8415-99-575-0670– Medium 8415-99-575-06711– Large 8415-99-575-0672– X Large 8415-99-575-0673

All available through your QM’s Department.

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FEATURE

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Quarterly Report

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AINC REPORT

The new AINC DIN is fi nally published as 2008DIN06-015. It matches, and is complementary to, the newly published LFSO 3216. The total number of incidents reported to AINC is projected to have exceeded 13,500 by 1 Sep 2008. Of those the number of potential compensation claims against the Army stands at around 460.

The AINC is about to expand into its second Portakabin and will recruit three new staff for the call centre. This is as a direct result of the increased reporting levels by units and the requirement to further analyse the accident statistics for the chain of command. An important upgrade to the database is keenly awaited which should iron out some of the long term software glitches that have plagued the system so far.

A selection of incidents mentioned below shows the wide variety of incidents currently being reported.

Selected Cases and LessonsFollowing the collection of normal household waste from several Army barracks, a Biffa truck, whilst preparing to load another skip’s worth of rubbish was rocked by an explosion from inside the truck. This explosion caused a fi re. The crew carried out their SOP IA drills which required them to ‘dump the

load’ from the rear of the truck. Once the burning waste was out, the driver attempted to dowse the fl ames. Moments later there was a second explosion which sprayed the driver with paint, burning his hand. He then moved away from the fi re until the emergency services arrived. The Fire Brigade put out the fl ames and removed the truck to an area where the rest of the waste was ejected to ensure it was safe. The driver had also suffered from the inhalation of hot vapours and was taken to hospital by the paramedics where he was admitted for observation.

This incident follows on from our Ammunition in Waste article in the last issue and clearly highlights the consequences of the incorrect disposal methods for certain hazardous items. In this case a large quantity of paint tins were dumped in the normal waste. If you have any doubts about the disposal route for hazardous items – seek advice.

A member of the public, attending a major county show, was injured whilst negotiating an infl atable obstacle course being run as an Army stand. He fell, and landed awkwardly hurting his shoulder. Members of St John’s Ambulance service took him away for treatment for a suspected fractured/dislocated shoulder.

The use of infl atables carries an obvious risk and it is important to ensure that where members of the public are being allowed to take part in Army outreach activities, that the information and guidance contained in JSP 375 Leafl et 57 (Safety at Public Events on MOD property and Elsewhere) is correctly

followed and suitable risk assessments are conducted.

A youngster was preparing to go horse riding at a military-run stable yard when she became thirsty. She was told that there was a bottle of water in a private tack room, so she went and took a drink, she then got on her pony and began the ride. After a short period she said she felt unwell, at which point she began to vomit. When questioned by her mother she told her that she had drunk something from a bottle that was not water. The bottle was collected and as the contents could not be identifi ed she was taken straight to hospital. The contents of the bottle were later believed to be muscle rub (mixed with water) for horses. She was kept in the hospital over night for observation.

This was a disaster waiting to happen. The result could have been much worse. All bottled medicines and ointments should be held in secure containers and kept well out of the reach of children. Private member tack rooms must be checked and cleared of any unlabelled/incorrectly labelled containers. The yard manager was instructed to ensure that a list of all controlled medicines for horses is kept within the locked pharmacy cupboard.

Contact AINCPhone

Mil: 9 4321 8458Civ: 01980 62 8458

E-mailMil: CESO(A)-AINC-(mailbox)Civ: [email protected]

Fax Mil: 9 4321 8450

Civ: 01980 62 8450


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SAFETY WARNING Uranium Radiation Check Source NSN 6665-99-193-3906

This instrument check source is most likely to be held by Postal and Courier units and museums. Any units or museums holding this check source must carry out the simple safety check detailed in DIN200806-017. It takes only a few minutes and the return of a single page form to the CBRN IPT at Abbey Wood.

Radon UpdateOver the last 18 months there has been a growing interest in radon gas issues across the MOD.

What is it? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas generated by the radioactive decay of uranium in minerals and rocks such as granite. Radon can build up in confi ned spaces, particularly underground, such as mines or basements, or in poorly ventilated areas.

Radon can also be found in conventional buildings as it can seep in through any gaps or cracks in the fabric of the building. It is prevalent in a number of areas in the UK including the Southwest and parts of Wales and the Midlands.

Prolonged exposure to radon gas has been shown to increase the risk of developing lung cancer, particularly in smokers.

Additionally, CESO(A) and Dstl are leading in contributions to MOD and Army policy on radon gas. This policy will be published fi rst as a DIN and then as an updated leafl et in JSP 392 in the autumn.

What are we doing about it? In order that we protect ourselves as a workforce from any risks posed by radon gas, Dstl Environmental Sciences Department (Dstl ESD) has been tasked to survey the Army estate to fi nd out which barracks are in areas designated by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) as Radon Affected Areas.

From a recent survey of over 1200 Army postcodes against the HPA Radon Affected Areas List, it appears that less than 10% of Army addresses showed any likelihood of the presence of radon gas requiring special monitoring. Dstl is now carrying out a surveillance programme of these sites which involves placing detectors into offi ces, storerooms and other workplace locations that might be at risk. After 3 months the detectors, are returned to Dstl and assessed and the unit notifi ed of the results. This letter also advises what specifi c actions need to be taken by the unit.


FactsThe concentration of radon gas in the air is measured in Becquerels per cubic metre (Bqm3) – named after Dr Henri Becquerel, who discovered radioactivity in 1896.

The action level for radon in the workplace is 400 Bqm3 (averaged over any 24hr period). The average concentration of radon in UK homes is 20 Bqm3.

Good ventilation stops radon gas building up.

RADIATION

Radiation Roundup!

Health Risks from the use of UV Tanning EquipmentSoldiers using any ultraviolet (UV) tanning equipment (e.g. sunlamps, sun beds, tanning booths) will expose themselves to UV radiation. This can cause injuries and ill-health either in the short term (e.g. sunburnt, dry and itching skin or conjunctivitis) or in the long term (e.g. premature skin ageing, skin cancer and cataracts). Exposure to UV from tanning equipment, before the age of 35 years, signifi cantly increases the risk of several types of skin cancer. Younger people appear to be more vulnerable to the cancer causing effects of indoor tanning.

Useful information

Advice from Cancer Research http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/sunsmart/staysafe/sunbeds/

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5 Points to consider before using UV tanning equipment:

Skin cancer. In the UK, the incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing at a faster rate than any other cancer except prostate. Using UV tanning equipment when young increases the risk of suffering from skin cancers in the future.

Premature ageing of the skin. In the longer term, too much use of UV tanning equipment will make your skin look coarse, leathery and wrinkled.

Sunburnt skin. Spending too long on UV tanning equipment can cause your skin to become painful and red, and it may blister and peel. Burning the skin through UV exposure can double your risk of skin cancer in the future. Some medical conditions, as well as pregnancy, can make you more vulnerable to sunburn.

Protect your eyes. Never use UV tanning equipment without proper eye protection. If suitable goggles are not worn you may suffer eye irritation or conjunctivitis in the short term and cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye) in the long term. Do not rely on closing your eyes or using cotton wool pads.

Check your skin. If you notice any abnormal skin reactions during the tanning session stop exposure at once and do not use UV tanning equipment again before seeing a doctor. If you notice any abnormal skin reactions after a tanning session do not use again before seeing a doctor. Seek medical advice promptly if you notice an unusual skin growth or a change in the size, shape or colour of a mole that occurs over weeks or months.

Radiation InspectionsWell done to the following units whose reports were graded as ‘Very Good’:

253 (NI) Medical Regt (V), Belfast – Maj Belam and his team.

2 Royal Irish Regt, Newtonabbey – Maj Topping and his team.

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Reader FeedbackThis new spot gives readers the opportunity to have their thoughts and comments published. Send in feedback by e-mail, snail-mail or fax.

EyewashA helpful comment on the ‘Get an Eyeful of this….’ article was received from Mr Paul Smith, the Deputy Garrison Health & Safety Advisor in Paderborn. He makes the excellent point that the regular fl ushing of eyewash showers should become common practice in places where they are fi tted. This not only fl ushes stagnant, possibly unhygienic water out of the system but also acts as a test that can be documented. German legislation requires systems to be fl ushed at least once a month, however, it is recommended that fl ushing takes place once a week. Ed: Thanks Paul. Useful to remind ourselves that you in Germany must follow German law as well as British regulations.

Praise for Summer NewsletterMaj Martin Jones, QM of 3 R Welsh, e-mailed in to say that in his opinion the newsletter content has improved recently. He said that the Summer, Issue 29, magazine “is excellent and is exactly what is required”. Ed: We try to make improvements with every issue. We aim to cover a wide variety of topical subjects. If you have a ‘pet peeve’ that needs to be aired – or you want to make a comment please get in touch.

WWW ComplaintsGlynn Ashman, BF Episkopi SHE Advisor – A quick question if I may, why does the old ARMY SAFETY website, (which contained plenty of good material) now need a password to get in via ArmyNET, it’s such a good site that I used to recommend it to quite a lot of personnel (especially if they cannot get onto the HSE website).Ed: We’ve had many messages from around the world complaining about the severing of the www.armysafety.mod.uk link on the www. Comments have come from Canada, Germany and this one, sent in from Cyprus is typical.

To contact the EditorPhone – Mil: 9 4321 8584 or Civ: 01980 62 8553E-mail – Mil: CESOA-SO2RAD or Civ: [email protected] – The Editor, Army Safety and Environment Matters, CESO(A), Airfi eld Camp, Netheravon, SALISBURY, Wiltshire SP4 9SFPlease tell us what you like and what you don’t like!

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Get a Grip on Manual HandlingContributed by Michael Newies, Andy Clements and Les Hulings at SEQM.

You know the drill. Large object dead ahead. It’s got to be shifted one way or another. So do you stop and think about it? Probably not. Chances are you’re going to have to apply some brute force to the situation. What you do next can either make or break the situation – literally.

And that’s where manual handling comes in. Entec and SEQM have run around 170 manual handling train-the-trainer (TTT) courses for the Army since 2004. To date around 2,500 men and women – soldiers and civilians – have been trained.

You get plenty of variety on these courses. Cadets and regulars, privates and colonels, you meet the lot. It’s not unusual for more civilians than soldiers to be on these courses either. It all makes for interesting dynamics!

One of the golden rules for manual handling is to avoid it where you can. If you do have to carry it out, use the correct lifting procedure to minimise the risks of serious injury.

How do you defi ne manual handling? Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992) puts it this way: ‘Any transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force’. So that makes it any activity that requires an individual to lift, move or support a load. Now ask yourself just how

much of that do you do in your job? – and you can see why

this is so important. Even picking up a light object from the fl oor can in some circumstances cause an injury.

More than a third of all reportable injuries involving time off work of over three days involve manual handling

and around 10% of major injuries are linked

to manual handling. It has a major impact on

all workplaces and costs the economy hundreds of

millions of pounds every year.

In the UK 1.1 million people reported that they suffered

from musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)

caused or made worse by work. It is estimated 12.3 million working days are lost annually due to work-related MSDs.

Who is at risk? Anyone involved in the moving and handling of goods and people. Injuries and suffering can be linked to any work involving handling of loads, even light loads if handled incorrectly. So it could happen to anyone – even you.

Teamwork does play a crucial role though. Watching each other’s back is quite literally the name of the game here. Andy Clements is a course instructor and in one course he split the group into 3 teams. He asked them to consider the best way to move a large load from A to B:

‘Group 1 got all competitive and started to manhandle the thing as quickly as they could. Group 2 arranged a tank transporter which caused more problems than it solved. Group 3 talked about what they had learned about manual handling and simply, safely and successfully completed the task quickest.’ How did they do it? Get yourself along to one of Entec’s courses and fi nd out!

SAFETY

Attendance details on these courses can be obtained from your Divisional Focal Point via the Unit Safety Advisor. Good advice on manual handling is contained in JSP 375 Volume 2, Leafl et 4.


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ENVIRONMENT

MT Areas: Familiarity Breeds Contempt

TOP TIPS IN THE SERVICING BAY

Provide labelled bins to segregate waste – remember, oily waste is hazardous and must be separated from general waste.

Contain pollution from leaking vehicles by using drip trays.

Mop up spills immediately with absorbent granules.

Make sure spill kits are readily available – check their contents regularly to make sure they are still complete.

Know your spill response plan and practise it at least annually.

Make sure oils, chemicals and solvents are appropriately bunded. Bunds should be at least 110% of the volume of the largest container or 25% of the total volume of liquids stored.

Ensure that defective level gauges and alarms on oil tanks are reported.

Carry out and record regular inspections of waste oil tanks and gauges and make sure the tanks are emptied in advance of them becoming full.

Minimise the manhandling of canisters and drums of liquid.

Need More Info?

Leafl et 10 of the Environmental Management System for Army Sites (EMSAS) provides full details.

The CESO(A) POC is SO2 EP(Ops) on Mil: 9 4321 8553 or Civ: 01980 62 8553

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Here’s a typical example of an MT servicing bay. Remember MT areas have the potential to cause not only environmental impacts but health and safety issues too.

Here are some points to consider:

Wastes such as oily rags, dirty solvents, antifreeze and coolant, brake fl uid, old tyres and batteries should be segregated prior to disposal.

Are there appropriate bunded areas/chemicals stores for oils, paints and chemicals?

Ensure risk assessments and suitable PPE is available for any visitors.

Is the work area safe?Is there adequate lighting and is the fl oor free from trailing cables and trip hazards? Look at the housekeeping.

How are emissions from vehicle exhausts dealt with?

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How many issues can you spot?

What Do You Think?Do you have any good ideas?

Let us know. Contact us as shown below:

SO2 EP(Poln) on Mil: 9 4321 8552 or Civ: 01980 62 8552

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Accommodation & ElectricityContributed by Chris Gray at Midas Safety Services Ltd.

The UK suffers more than 550 fatalities, and 13, 000 injuries in over 64,000 fi res each year. Fires and casualties in homes and accommodation blocks are on the increase.

In the last two years, deaths from fi res have risen by 14%, with a 50% increase in injuries. Many fi res can be blamed on poor electrical housekeeping. The following points are worth considering:

Extension LeadsWhen did you last inspect any of your extension leads for damage? Electric current passing through can heat up the cable and if the lead is close to carpets, mats, towels etc, these could be ignited.

Extension leads can easily be overloaded if not fully unwound or if too many appliances are plugged in. They can overheat and cause a fi re.

Be careful not to run extension leads underneath mats and carpets, as you will not be able to see if they are damaged.

Television SetsTelevision sets, if left on standby, can start fi res. Last year in Australia, the entire stock of Loewe branded televisions; (Made

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in Germany) was withdrawn from sale, after a number of them started fi res. If possible, turn TVs off at the mains, instead of relying on the standby setting – this will save electricity too.

Wall Mounted HeatersA Health and Safety Warning Notice 97/19 has been issued regarding Visolite wall mounted heaters. Two of these heaters were found to have failed, and caused fi res on MOD properties. Temperatures reached over 160oC, enough to ignite wall timbers and melt other electrical appliances! If you fi nd these heaters contact the Modern Housing Solutions Helpdesk immediately.

Electrical WiringIt is diffi cult to check wiring in a building, however, there are some warning signs to look out for:

– Hot plugs and sockets.

– Fuses that blow for no apparent reason.

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– Brown burn marks on sockets.

– Lights that fl icker/buzz.

Common Sense Reminders!

Don’t overload sockets.

Don’t use tape to mend or join cables, throw damaged cable away!

Never cut off sealed plugs (with a tail) to use them again.

Remember, fi re inspections, electrical equipment inspections, etc are there to help you stay safe. These inspections must be carried out by properly trained staff, who are well aware of the dangers of electrical fi res, and want to keep everybody on camp as safe as possible.

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SAFETY


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WEEEminderNot sure what needs to be WEEEcycled? Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is anything with a plug or a battery – don’t just dump this waste outside the accommodation in the hope that it will get picked up!

ENVIRONMENT

TakeAction

Identify waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). If you see a ‘crossed out’ wheelie bin symbol on the item, you can’t throw it out with the rubbish.

Your WEEE waste should be collected by the local authority. However, where this is not the case contact your QM or Unit Waste Manager for the correct means of disposal.

If you are buying a new electrical product the retailer must provide you with help to get rid of the old one. This may be via their own take-back scheme for which they may make a charge, or they must at least provide details about local WEEE facilities.

Don’t just chuck it in a skip...

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Need Advice? Contact your Unit Waste Manager if you’re unsure of what waste constitutes WEEE.

For more information contact SO2 EP(Poln) on Mil: 9 4321 8552 or Civ: 01980 62 8552.

Categories

Large appliances

Small appliances

IT and telecommunication equipment

Consumer equipment

Lighting

Electrical and electronic tools (except large stationary industrial tools)

Toys, leisure and sports equipment

Medical devices (except infected and implanted products)

Monitoring and control instruments

Automatic dispensers

Examples

White goods

Kettles, radios, toasters and irons

Computers, monitors and printers

TVs, videos and hi-fi s

Light fi ttings and used light bulbs. Note, fl uorescent tubes are hazardous waste

End of life tools including handheld drills, saws and sanders

Multigyms, keyboards and game consoles

End of life medical devices, e.g. defi bulators and heat lamps

Electronic pressure gauges and weighing scales

Snack vending machines

Army WEEE includes


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SHE Auditing UpdateHang on - SHE – is this another name change? Why is it suddenly SHE and not SHEF you ask?

MOD has now adopted the acronym ‘SHE’ because the ‘Fire’ element is implicit within the ‘S’ (Safety). You may see either term used. It makes no difference – they both mean exactly the same. So what else is new on the auditing front – which actually matters?

There have been two signifi cant changes recently. Firstly Commander Regional Forces has disseminated a new policy on the frequency of auditing. In the past, some units have been audited infrequently because of the lack of audit resources. This will change. The aim is now for most units to be externally audited once every two years (and complete a self-assessment audit in the intervening

year). Some ‘high risk’ units will be externally audited every year – while very low risk units will audited over a three-year cycle.

This will involve an additional resource bill which, in the short term, will be met by CESO(A) staff and the H&S contractor, National Britannia. In the longer term it is expected that the additional Unit Safety Advisors currently being recruited will be able to take on part of this burden.

Secondly, this new policy has been accompanied by a revised SHE Question Set (QS). This has been developed by CESO(A) with the Divisional Focal Points. It is a far more comprehensive QS which will do more than just establish

whether the correct procedures are in place. It will assess how effective the procedures are, how well they are understood and how they might be improved. It also has a clearer marking matrix which will ensure fairer marking across the board. It will mean that units will now have less infl ated scores – that is no bad thing if it helps to identify areas where we must continue to improve. This newly agreed QS must be used by all SHE auditors. A separate QS is being prepared to cover cadets units as their circumstances are quite different. This will be staffed widely for comment once the fi rst draft has been prepared.

CESO(A) POC is the SO1 Audit on Mil: 9 4321 8398 or Civ: 01980 62 8398.

AUDITS

Green Speak. . . Green Terms Clarifi ed – A to G

Air Pollution This is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials into the atmosphere. This can cause harm or discomfort to humans and animals and damage the environment and plant life via acid rain and smog.

Biofuel Biofuels are any kind of fuel made from living things, for example:

Wood, wood chippings and straw.

Biogas (methane) from animal manure. Methane can also be produced from landfi ll sites.

Ethanol, diesel or other liquid fuels made from processing plant material or waste oil.

There is some debate on biofuels – land that has been previously cultivated for food is now being used to produce biofuel crops. This has the effect of pushing up the prices of staple foods such as corn or soya.

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Carbon FootprintThis is a measure of the impact on the climate by releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. All the Army’s activities such as energy used for heating, lighting, running equipment and travel contributes to the size of our footprint.


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Green Gem

The Energy Advisor of 2 (SE) Bde, Mr Robert Macpherson, volunteered to register his Brigade, which includes 12 ‘major sites’, for the Energy Effi ciency Accreditation Scheme in 2007. The scheme, managed by the Carbon Trust, aims to recognise the efforts of organisations towards managing their energy, focusing on their energy management commitment, their actual project investment and any signifi cant energy management improvements made.

The Brigade became the fi rst army formation in the UK to successfully receive its accreditation. The independent assessor commented that 2nd (SE) Brigade’s commitment to energy management scored very highly in his assessment; “The organisation’s structure and

procedures are excellent and the commitment shown by key personnel throughout the Brigade is most noteworthy. Credit must be given to the motivation and dynamism provided by the Brigade Energy Advisor”.

Robert Macpherson stated “Major sites within the Brigade area account for £5.4m in energy costs at present – these costs are likely to increase dramatically very soon. We can not control how much we pay at Brigade level – but we can control how much we use. Energy used for heating contributes the most carbon dioxide pollution to climate change. These major sites therefore have specifi c objectives to manage and reduce energy consumption. The assessor visited a number of sites to discuss energy with

local staff. 36 Engr Regt at Invicta Park, Maidstone and The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Dover, demonstrated real commitment to energy effi ciency. In fact, 36 Engineer Regt have just been rewarded fi nancially through the Energy Reduction Incentive Scheme, for reducing energy use on site. This is down to good local management and excellent consumption records.”

It is MOD policy to accredit the whole of the MOD under this scheme. Please contact the Army SO1 Utilities at D Infra, Ms Wendy Blyth on 9 4331 2333 for further details or alternatively speak to your divisional or brigade Energy Advisor.

The CESO(A) POC is the SO2 EP (Ops) on Mil: 9 4321 8553 or Civ: 01980 62 8553.

Excellence in Energy Management in 2 (South East) Brigade

Discharge ConsentA permit allowing the discharge of named substances into the drainage system. The discharge consent will also quantify volumes, temperatures and concentrations of substances permitted. If you want to discharge to surface water such as a river or stream you need to apply to the Environment Agency. If you want to discharge into the drainage system you should apply to your water authority.

Environmental Management System (EMS)This is a structured and documented system to manage the Army’s impact on the environment. The Army’s EMS is called Environmental Management for Army Sites (EMSAS) and provides a way to manage daily activities and protect the environment. All units/sites must have an EMS in place by Dec 2008.

Food MilesThis is the number of miles the food has travelled from its place of production to your plate. Better use of seasonal, local produce reduces food miles.

Greenhouse Gas Carbon dioxide, along with methane and other gases, in the atmosphere are ‘greenhouse gases’. These gases absorb some of the sun’s radiation that would otherwise be lost to space. This causes the Earth’s atmosphere to be warmer than it would otherwise be. Man-made emissions of carbon dioxide have caused the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to increase by about 30% since pre-industrial times, and this is a major cause of global warming.

ENERGY


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National WHAT Week? Some dates for your diaries!

TacheBackSeptemberGrow a tache during September, get your mates to sponsor you and raise vital funds for research into prostate and testicular cancer.http://everyman-campaign.org/involved/activity/tacheback.html

Yummy Mummy WeekSat 20 – Sun 28 SeptemberGrab the girls and have a Yummy Mummy Night In or Out whilst raising money for children with cancer and their families.http://www.yummymummy.org.uk/

Beach WatchSat 20 & Sun 21 SeptemberGet involved in surveys of your local beach.http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/

World Car Free DayMon 22 SeptemberWorld Car Free Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet. See if you can cycle, walk or take public transport to work, instead of the car.http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

SSAFA ‘Big Brew Up’ 6 - 12 Oct 2008

Last year’s Big Brew was a record breaker for SSAFA. Around the world, from Akrotiri to Aldershot, Gosport to Gütersloh and Kinloss to Kabul, hundreds of tea parties and ‘Big Breakfasts’ took place. With your help, we can make this year’s Big Brew Up even better.http://www.ssafa.org.uk/bigBrewUpForm.asp

European Shark WeekWed 8 – Tue 14 OctoberSharks are among the most threatened animals on the planet.Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year. Europe plays a major role in the depletion of sharks. Sign a Shark Fin supporting the Every Fin Counts campaign.http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=28596

European Campaign for Safety and Health at WorkMon 20 – Fri 24 OctoberThis campaign is intended to promote the benefi ts of completing and implementing a risk assessment. The campaign seeks to demystify the risk assessment process to show that it is not necessarily complicated. For more information visit:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/index.htm

Energy Saving WeekMon 20 – Sun 26 OctoberIf we all commit to save just 20% of the energy we use every day, together we can help fi ght climate change.http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/support_our_campaigns/energy_saving_week

National Stress Awareness DayWed 5 NovemberThe purpose of the Day is to educate businesses and individuals about the positive steps they can take to reduce stress - and so achieve benefi ts including improved productivity and job satisfaction, and reduced sickness absence. http://www.nationalstressawarenessday.co.uk/

MOD Road Safety WeekMon 10 – Sun 16 NovemberEvery day on UK roads, nine people are killed and nearly ten times as many are seriously injured. In 2008, Brake is promoting the theme of ‘Family Safety - Protect the Ones you Love’. http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/

National Gutters DayFri 28 NovemberRoll up your sleeves and dig the ladder out of the shed – spending just a little time to clear leaves and other debris from your gutters and drains could actually save you from having to spend hundreds of pounds at a later date to put right any damage caused by blockages. Note: make sure your ladder is securely fi xed – you don’t want to spend Christmas ‘plastered’ with your feet up do you?http://www.spab.org.uk/

DIARY DATES

Go to work on a space hopper on World Car Free Day?Let us know ofany wacky ways that people come to work in your unit – preferably with a photo!


http://everyman-campaign.org/

http://www.yummymummy.org.uk/

http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/

http://www.worldcarfree.net/wcfd/

http://www.ssafa.org.uk/

http://www.sharktrust.org/content

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

http://www.energysavingtrust.org

http://www

http://www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk/

http://www.spab.org.uk/


Documents

Issue 30