Employment Minister Chris Grayling commissioned the independent review in March 2011 and appointed Professor Ragnar Löfstedt – Director of the King’s Centre for Risk Management at King’s College, London – to chair it.

Professor Löfstedt has made recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of unnecessary regulation on businesses while maintaining Britain’s health and safety performance, which is among the best internationally. The Government has accepted his recommendations.

Judith Hackitt, the Chair of HSE, said:

“Professor Löfstedt’s insightful report will go a long way to refocusing health and safety in Great Britain on those things that matter – supporting those who want to do the right thing and reducing rates of work-related death, injury and ill health.

“We must have a system of health and safety which enables employers to make sensible and proportionate decisions about managing genuine workplace risks.

“Simplifying and streamlining the stock of regulations, focusing enforcement on higher risk businesses, clarifying requirements, and rebalancing the civil litigation system – these are all practical, positive steps.

“Poor regulation – that which adds unnecessary bureaucracy with no real benefits – drives out confidence in good regulation.

“We welcome these reforms because they are good for workers and employers but also for the significant contribution they will make to restoring the rightful reputation of real health and safety.”

HSE said it would meet the timetable set by the Government for implementing those recommendations for which it was responsible.

Another Government regulatory reform initiative, the Red Tape Challenge, will report in the New Year on further possible changes to the stock of health and safety regulations.

The chemical manufacturing firm is a major hazard site and a Top Tier location, which regulated under the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 1999. Hence, it is the obligation of the chemical provider to thwart any major incidents from arising and if it does occur then they should take all needed control actions to limit its bearing on the community and the surroundings.

The Chester Crown Court heard that the accident that occurred on August 23, 2007 could have gravely injured the workers at the factory if they were present at the time of the accident. The accident occurred due to the blunder of an employee who added more than the specified quantity of solid chemical to a container containing a liquid compound, when it failed to produce a reaction. He mistakenly expected that increasing the amount of solid compound would start the reaction. However, the reaction speedily grew into an unrestrained chemical reaction that had not controlled. This reaction was very swift, discharging and filling the production area with deadly, combustible fumes. Though no person was present at the time of the accident and its released offshoots at the production area, an employee did return to check what had transpired for the alarm to ring. However, he soon ran out of the spot due to the suffocating fumes all around.

An inquiry by the HSE subsequent to the incident revealed that the firm based in Wincham, Northwick had majorly erred in not evaluating the risks associated with the chemical reaction. The firm also did not confirm that following the incident, adequate control procedures taken. Apart from this, the employee also found to have not received sufficient training and directions. Since his superiors also not properly supervised him, he could not recognize the danger associated with raising the quantity of the chemical.

In response to an increasing demand from smaller businesses, RPFI now are running ‘open access’ courses from our training facility in the Midlands in addition to our bespoke in-house courses.

Our ‘Open Access’ Competent Person Training courses are aimed at businesses who only require 1 or 2 people to be trained to carry out fit testing or who prefer off-site training.  Attending a course at our Midlands centre can work out more cost effective than having a bespoke course run in-house and has the added bonus of mixing with other Fit Testers and learning from their experience.

The next course being run is on Thursday 1^st September in Qualitative Fit Testing for which an Introductory Price is being offered of £395 ex VAT per person (normally £450).

If you wish to book a place or enquire about our future training dates then please call on 0870 486 6454 or email us at info@rpfi.co.uk. We shall be more than happy to chat about your requirements and send you any information you require.

Though various occupational health hazards are causing illnesses among employees, asthma caused due to workplace pollutants like dust, latex, isocyanates or flour is burdening the economy in UK to a very large extent.

According to a reputed journal Thorax, millions are spent each year from the country’s treasury towards workplace asthma. However the most noted factor was that, though workplace contributes majorly to inflicting employees with asthma, an employer’s contribution towards its treatment costs is minimal i.e. 3 to 4%.

The research pointed out that an estimated 3,000 new employees are identified with occupational asthma each year. Yet this condition seems to be under diagnosed.

The research followed all information on costs of all workplace asthma as well as the impact costs. Male and female workers who had developed occupational asthma after exposing to workplace pollutants were included in the research. All these information was used to analyse the costs of workplace asthma on an individual’s life including all direct and indirect costs; based on six possible circumstances. The financial impact was then divided among individuals, employee and state as they were most likely to bear the costs. Direct costs comprises of all health care services, benefits and insurances availed by the individual while indirect costs includes his productivity and income loss. The experts observed that total costs made up over time at 2003 prices when direct, indirect and employer costs were added up.

The experts on the research noted that costs for male workers were more than double the costs for female workers. Calculations showed that an estimate for true costs was between £72 and £100 million for people suffering from workplace asthma for their entire lifetime; which came around to £3.4 to £4.8 million a year. However total costs could be way up to £135 million as nearly a third of workplace asthma was thought to be underestimated. Thus in totality, an individual’s contribution was nearly 49% while that of state was 48% towards total costs to workplace asthma with an employer contributing a negligible percentage.

Nevertheless, the experts suggested that the definite savings can be made if measures were taken to improve workplace conditions by reducing the levels of exposure to workplace pollutants causing workplace asthma.

To purchase or make enquires email us or call 0870 4866454

List Price (Basic Model): £230

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Available in a manual or automatic version.

The Qfit™ Respirator Fit Tester is a pump driven nebuliser for Bitrex® and Saccharin to qualitatively fit test the  respirators. It makes testign easier and quicker whilst reducing the likelyhood of error when compared with hand operated fit test kits.

At the push of a button, the Qfit™ fit tester generates the test agent with a pump driven nebuliser using pre-filled cartridges. This eliminates repetitive stress disorders, the nuisance of handling and refilling solutions (and the associated leakages) and reduces error rate.

The Qfit™ Automatic Fit Tester uses a built-in timing sequence to automatically execute the fit test protocol and can be operated in either a handheld or remote mode.

The QFit Basic comes with all the equipment requried for qualitative fit testing whilst the Deluxe version has extra equipment to make the testing process even easier.

Features & Benefits:

• The only HSE 282/28 compliant automated nebuliser for BITREX® and Saccharin
• Easy, accurate and repeatable  
• Reduces work by > 95% thus saving time and money
• Eliminates repetitive stress disorders associated with standard nebulisers
• No mess leakage problems with pre-filled cartridges
• Light weight, portable, battery operated
• Generates a consistent test agent with pump driven nebuliser
• Significantly reduces clogging of Saccharin solution

Kit Includes:

• Qfit Powered Nebuliser with rechargeable battery
•  AC UK power supply
• 2 x elbow with extension tube
•  Fit Test Hood
• 1 x combo box of Bitrex Sensitivity & Test Cartridges (enough for up to 32 tests)
• 1 x combo box of Saccharin Sensitivity & Test Cartridges (enough for up to 32 tests)
• User Manual
• Quick Start Card
• One Year Warranty

To purchase or make enquires email us or call 0870 4866454

List Price (Deluxe Model): Automatic £350 or Manual £330

.

Available in a manual or automatic version.

The Qfit™ Respirator Fit Tester is a pump driven nebuliser for Bitrex® and Saccharin to qualitatively fit test the  respirators. It speeds up the testing process and reducesthe likelihood of error when comparedwith standard nebulisers.

At the push of a button, the Qfit™ fit tester generates the test agent with a pump driven nebuliser using pre-filled cartridges. This eliminates repetitive stress disorders, the nuisance of handling and refilling solutions (and the associated leakages) and reduces error rate.

The Qfit™ Automatic Fit Tester uses a built-in timing sequence to automatically execute the fit test protocol and can be operated in either a handheld or remote mode.

The QFit Deluxe includes a remote hand nebuliser meaning you can leave the nebuliser on the desk whilst testing instead of holding it. This can be of great benefit if carry out testing for prolonged periods. Also included is a Carry Case for the kit and a Hood Case  (see full Kit List below).

Features & Benefits:

• The only HSE 282/28 compliant automated nebuliser for BITREX® and Saccharin
• Easy, accurate and repeatable
• Reduces work by > 95% thus saving time and money
• Eliminates repetitive stress disorders associated with standard nebulisers
• No mess or handling of solutions with pre-filled cartridges
• Light weight, portable, battery operated
• Generates a consistent test agent with pump driven nebuliser
• Significantly reduces clogging of Saccharin solution

Kit Includes:

• Qfit Powered Nebuliser with rechargeable battery
•  AC UK power supply
• 2 x elbow with extension tube
•  Fit Test Hood
• 1 x combo box of Bitrex Sensitivity & Test Cartridges (enough for up to 32 tests)
• 1 x combo box of Saccharin Sensitivity & Test Cartridges (enough for up to 32 tests)
• User Manual
• Quick Start Card
• One Year Warranty

Extra Deluxe Kit

• 1 x Carry Case
• 1 x Hood Case
• Remote Hand Nebuliser
• Qfit interactive instructional CD

Moldex Qualitative Fit Test Kit (Bitrex) for disposable and reusable half mask respirators

The kit contains all of the contents necessary to conduct a qualitative fit test for disposable and reusable respirators. The HSE requires that anyone who wears a respirator needs to be face fit tested beforehand.  The Moldex Bitrex Fit Test Kit meets the requirements established by HSE Document 282/28.  Bitrex challenge agent has a bitter taste that indicates breakthrough in respirator fit.

Includes:
Head and shoulder cover
Two nebulisers
6 phials of sensitivity solution
6 phials of test solution
Fit test CD

To purchase or enquire about this item please email us - or call 0870 4866454 for an immediate response

Guide Price: £5,700 - contact us for up to date prices & promotions

The Portacount^® Pro Respirator Fit Tester is the easy way to reliably fit test tight-fitting respirators (except P1).

It eliminates many of the issues associated with qualitative fit test methods (see Comparison leaflet below). No other fit tester can quantitatively fit test as most types of respirators – gas masks, SCBAs, respirators and disposables. If the mask requires fit testing, count on the Portacount Pro fit tester to provide the fastest and easiest HSE accepted fit test method.

RPFI Test Method Comparison

Features and Benefits

• Simple and easy to use
• Quicker fit testing time compared to qualitative testing
• Supplied Fit Test software automates the test and stores results automatically
• Software has ‘problem solving’ funtion so reason for a failed test (i.e. where and why a mask is leaking) can be found and eliminated
• Optional stand alone operation (no computer required)
• Allows fit testing with employee’s own mask
• Color touch screen lets you operate the instrument with a touch of your finger or stylus
• Use with external computer to generate reports and print fit test cards
• Measures fit factors greater than 10,000
• Computes respirator fit factor using microscopic particles in ambient air
• Optional Card Printer allows you to print employee fit test cards

Applications

• Quantitave respirator fit testing (QNFT)
• Disposable filtering-facepiece fit testing for Series 100, 99, P3 and HEPA masks
• Half mask fit testing
• Full-face mask fit testing
• Gas mask fit testing
• PAPR mask fit testing
• SCBA mask fit testing

Included Items

• Carrying case
• AC adapter
• Alcohol supply (enough for approximately 240 hours of operation)
• FitPro™ Fit Test Software on CD
• Operation and Service Manual
• USB computer interface cable

To purchase or enquire about this item please email us - or call 0870 4866454 for an immediate response

For more details or a quote please email us - or call 0870 4866454 for an immediate response

Guide Price: £7,725 – contact us for up-to-date prices & promotions

The Portacount^®Pro+ Respirator Fit Tester reduces the issues associated with qualitative fit test methods. If the mask requires fit testing, count on the Portacount Pro+ fit tester to provide the fastest, easiest  fit test method.

Features and Benefits

• Quicker fit testing time compared to qualitative testing
• Fit test ANY tight-fitting respirator including P1 and P2 disposables
• Supplied Fit Test software automates the test and stores results automatically
• Software has ‘problem solving’ funtion so reason for a failed test (i.e. where and why a mask is leaking) can be found and eliminated
• Stand alone operation — no external computer required
• Use with external computer to generate reports and print fit test cards
• Reduced need for an external particle generator
• Color touch screen
• COSHH compliant for all respirators, including P1
• Switch between different respirator types in under a minute
• Optional Card Printer allows you to print individual fit test cards

Applications

• Quantitative respirator fit testing (QNFT)
• Disposable filtering-facepiece fit testing for P1, P2 and P3
• Half-mask fit testing
• Full-face fit testing
• Gas mask fit testing
• PAPR fit testing
• SCBA fit testing

For more details or a quote please email us - or call 0870 4866454 for an immediate response