John Reynolds, managing director of Reynolds Training Services, recently sat down with Andy Comfort of BBC Radio Humberside to thrash out all things health and safety.
Speaking from Reynolds Training Services’ headquarters at the industrial training facility CATCH, in Stallingborough, John covers an array of hot topics including regulatory changes and process safety.
Listen to the interview
Health and safety interview: full transcript
Reynolds Training Services John: CATCH offers us a lot of scope in terms of clients such as BP, The Oil and Pipelines Agency and The University of Hull. They spend a lot of time at this facility with us utilising the storage tanks and process units that are here.
BBC Andy: So you have some big clients there – the likes of BP and The University of Hull?
Reynolds Training Services John: Let’s take The University of Hull. They came here partly because of the experience we have at Reynolds Training Services but also because of the facilities we can offer at CATCH. Hull’s second year engineering students, for instance, benefit from the real hands-on experience they get within the site itself.
BBC Andy: So you deal with the high hazard sector – what is that?
Reynolds Training Services John: This is a sector which is typically regulated under what is known as COMAH regulations. It is sites that have specific major accident hazards, not only just to the people working on the sites, but also from an off-site perspective.
We deliver training to them around process safety, occupational safety, as well as bringing in our NEBOSH and IOSH courses to support their own internal training.
BBC Andy: So you have to keep up with legislation because it’s changed a lot over the years?
Reynolds Training Services John: Yes. So take the COMAH regulations, for instance. They changed two years ago following a major change in European regulations which triggered a change in the UK regulations themselves. That went through a whole host of consultation with industry and Reynolds Training Services is now delivering training around those specific regulations
BBC Andy: People driving down the A180 see the big chemical works and factories and think, I hope they are safe. But it sounds like they are all based on safety?
Reynolds Training Services John: It is all based on safety. Their core objective is the prevention of major accidents with a view that, if an error does occur, they have controls in place to mitigate the fall out effectively and efficiently. The sites that we work with demonstrate that all the time we’re pushing that training through.
BBC Andy: Do clients like BP ask for particular types of training, do you have to tailor them at all?
Reynolds Training Services John: Yes, we tailor courses to suit clients’ particular environments. So, for the likes of BP, we can deliver that onsite for them but equally we can bring their delegates here and utilise the facilities at CATCH, tailoring it to their specific needs.
So we run a course at CATCH around bulk liquid operations, we are tailoring that for a client and then we’re tailoring it for another client in a slightly different way but delivering similar objectives.
BBC Andy: What does the future hold for your company?
Reynolds Training Services John: The future holds growth for us. We’ll continue looking at the high hazard sector itself but also at the service industries that support that sector and, in doing so, utilising CATCH as our backdrop within that delivery process.
On October 23, 2009, a large explosion occurred at the Caribbean Petroleum Corporation (CAPECO) facility in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, during the off-loading of gasoline from a tanker ship to the CAPECO tank farm onshore.
A 5-million gallon aboveground storage tank overflowed into a secondary containment dike. The gasoline spray aerosolized, forming a 107 acre vapour cloud, which ignited after reaching an ignition source in the wastewater treatment area of the facility.
The blast and fire formed multiple secondary explosions resulting in significant damage to 17 petroleum storage tanks and other equipment onsite. Eyewitness reports indicate that the fire burned for almost 60 hours. Petroleum products leaked into the soil, nearby wetlands and navigable waterways in the surrounding area. While there were no fatalities, the explosion damaged 300 nearby homes and businesses.
How did this happen?
CSB chairperson, Vanessa Allen Sutherland, said: “The CSB’s investigation found several operational and regulatory deficiencies contributed to the explosion at Caribbean Petroleum. We have recommended that EPA and OSHA require above ground storage tank facilities, like CAPECO, conduct risk assessments to determine the potential dangers of their operations to surrounding populations and sensitive environments.”
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have co-funded research to analyse the risk of workplace injury arising from common health conditions treated by taking prescribed medication. It is well known that these medications can cause side effects, such as drowsiness or poor concentration, which may put workers at increased risk of an accident.
IOSH recognised the importance of these issues and wanted to better understand the risk of workplace injury arising from common health conditions treated by taking prescribed medications.
Research Summary
The research, conducted by the University of Southampton, analysed a sample of 8,000 anonymous medical records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). They conclude that there is a moderate elevation of risk with some forms of physical and mental ill-health and their associated medications, but no case exists for a blanket exclusion of such individuals on health grounds.
Kate Field, head of information and intelligence at IOSH, underscored the importance of employers taking “steps to ensure risks to individuals and others are effectively managed”.
She added: “Good rehabilitation processes and a return-to-work plan with a focus on the individual can manage the process very effectively but we have lacked direct evidence of the risk of workplace accidents from physical and mental ill-health and associated medicines … the research by the University of Southampton provides new, robust, evidenced-based data on the risks.”
The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is an independent U.S Federal agency that conducts investigations into the root causes of chemical accidents at industrial facilities. The agency’s board are appointed by the President of the United States and then confirmed by the Senate.
CSB drive chemical safety change through investigations to protect people and the environment. Their ultimate goal is a nation free from chemical disasters.
What types of accidents do they investigate?
Accidents in chemical plants, oil refineries and facilities using chemicals
Toxic gas releases
Explosions
Other fatalities, e.g., confined space, hot work
Major environmental releases
Achievements in 2016
4 completed investigations
2 interim public meetings
26 successfully closed recommendations
Impact of US CSB 2016
Here is a video with more details on the impact CSB has had in 2016.
The Oil Companies International Marine Forum has issued recommendations to enable ship and terminal ESD systems to be linked so that manual activation by the terminal or ship will stop cargo transfer operations.
Linked ship/shore ESD systems have been a standard safety feature of LNG transfer operations for many years. Similar safety issues exist with oil and chemical transfer operations.
OCIMF explains: “The provision of linked ESD systems between ships and terminals has been hampered by the lack of an accepted industry standard for equipment to achieve the required connection.”
The information paper is co-sponsored by the Chemical Distribution Institute (CDI).
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More about the Oil Companies International Marine Forum
OCIMF is a voluntary association of oil companies having an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil and oil products. OCIMF is organised to represent its membership before, and consult with, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other government bodies on matters relating to the shipment and terminalling of crude oil and oil products, including marine pollution and safety.
The Health and Safety Executive has issued a Crown Censure to The Ministry of Defence (MoD) after an agency driver was fatally injured by a reversing vehicle. Mr Graham Wood, of Oxfordshire was crushed between a reversing lorry and a stationary vehicle on 19th November 2013, while delivering goods to an MoD site in Warwickshire.
Following the incident, HSE conducted a thorough investigation and found that the MoD failed to ensure a safe system of work and exposed their employees and those not directly employed by MoD, to risks to their health, safety and welfare. This is a direct breach of Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
After delivering the Crown Censure, Jane Lassey, HSE’s Deputy Director of Field Operations said:
“The risks arising from vehicle movements are well known and suitable measures required to reduce these risks are understood.“ Like any other employer, the MoD has a responsibility to reduce dangers to agency workers, as well as their own employees, on their sites as far as they properly can, and in this case they failed Graham Wood.”
Due to its Crown status the MoD cannot be prosecuted for breaching health and safety legislation. But it must still comply with its responsibilities as an
employer under the legislation.
A Crown Censure is the maximum sanction the HSE can bring, and it is issued when, but for Crown Immunity, there would have been sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction in the courts. There is no financial penalty associated with the Censure but, once it is accepted, it is an official record of the Crown body’s failure to comply with the standards set out in law.
The MoD has accepted the censure and has introduced a safe system of work including parking bays and defined walkways for pedestrians.
Jaguar Land Rover has been fined £900,000 and ordered to pay costs of £49,800 after a worker lost his leg in an accident at its Lode Lane plant in Solihull, UK.
The trial, which took place at Birmingham Crown Court, revealed that the incident happened when a Range Rover Sport vehicle was driven towards the production line.
The driver lost control of the vehicle and went into the back of another vehicle, causing a four-car shunt. The injured worker was crossing the production line when he was trapped between the second and third cars. This resulted in the worker having to have his right leg amputated. Two other employees suffered minor injuries.
The Health and Safety Executive conducted a thorough investigation and found that “the company had failed to ensure that the driver of the Range Rover, who was covering the shift, was familiar with procedures”.
John Glynn, an HSE inspector said “A worker has been left with life-changing injuries that were completely avoidable, it was only good fortune that prevented this from being a fatal accident. Jaguar Land Rover knew the risks of driving vehicles onto production lines and the possibility of shunt accidents, but failed to protect their workers.”
Jaguar Land Rover contested the case but was found guilty after trial.
In a statement, the company said: “Jaguar Land Rover is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all employees, and strives to continuously improve working conditions. We accept the decision and continue to work closely with the HSE to ensure that all reasonably practicable measures are in place to protect our employees.”
In recent years, health and safety law has been invoked arbitrarily by bosses as the reason why their employees can’t do something or why something they have traditionally done for their employees is no longer allowed. This was giving health and safety a pretty bad reputation. As such, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) decided to take matters into their own hands and created the Myth Buster Challenge Panel.
In recent years, health and safety law has been invoked arbitrarily by bosses as the reason why their employees can’t do something or why something they have traditionally done for their employees is no longer allowed.
This was giving health and safety a pretty bad reputation. As such, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) decided to take matters into their own hands and created the Myth Buster Challenge Panel.
What is the Myth Busters Challenge Panel and how does it work?
The Myth Busters Challenge Panel consists of an independent panel made up of 14 members who have extensive experience in risk management. The panel gives anyone, whether a company or individual, the opportunity to challenge or seek advice on a decision taken in the name of health and safety that they believe to be unreasonable or inaccurate. They will consider the overall facts of the case and their findings will be made publically available.
Here are some examples of cases brought before the panel
Case 407 An employer stopped proving funds for alcoholic drinks at a staff Christmas night out (off-site) citing health and safety. The panel found that while the employer may have a proper concern to discourage staff from overdoing it where it is funding a night out, claiming health and safety legislation as the reason for its refusal to fund Christmas party drinks on a staff night out was incorrect.
Case 388 Council bans refuse collection workers from wearing Christmas hats on the grounds of health and safety because drivers and other road users could be distracted. The panel found that there is no health and safety legislation that prevents refuse collectors wearing Santa hats. They went on to say that being sensible about health and safety can still allow everyone to have some fun too.
Have you been subjected to a decision made in the health of safety and think it is unreasonable or incorrect? Put your case to the HSE Myth Busters Challenge Panel.
Health and safety training and competency management systems are central to any business’s prosperity. From keeping people safe, compliance, process efficiencies, to cost-savings, safety systems are an essential piece of the puzzle.
Reynolds Training Services Ltd offers organisations the blended learning experience they’ve been looking for.
In 2017, take the pain out of the way you train. Access health and safety courses, training, consultancy and competency management systems in a way that’s convenient to you.
Safety options include:
Your site: Undertake training and management solutions direct at your site
Our site: Train at our world-class facilities in Lincolnshire
Online site: iLearn is the complete training management system, blended with eLearning and Competency Tracking
Let’s talk about your safety needs
Reynolds Training Services specialises in crafting custom safety courses and competency management systems around your actual needs.
RE: OPEN HEALTH AND SAFETY LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS
Dear Santa,
Let us prefix this health and safety letter by taking a moment to thank you for your tireless efforts year in, year out. Thank you Santa, thank you indeed – particularly for the fabulous trainset you left under the tree last year.
Be that as it may, we have a health and safety claus we’d like to pick with you. With eyes that twinkle and dimples so merry, it’s easy to look past the safety failures you make – each year – when working at height.
As a bringer of safety, however, it is our duty to take you task.
Santa’s been a naughty boy
When flying in your sleigh and prancing upon snowy roof tops, Santa, you are in clear violation of The Work at Height Regulations 2005.
As sure as your belly wobbles like a bowlful of jelly, these regulations apply to you as an employer and the individual in control of work at height.
In controlling any work activities at height, you must:
Make sure the work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people
Use the right type of equipment for working at height. Likewise, low-risk, relatively straightforward tasks will require less effort when it comes to planning
(insert graphic)
Safety’s not just for Christmas
Santa, let us summarise. You are a role model to children and workers around the world. Let us therefore implore you to lead by example.
Please remember Santa: safety is not just for Christmas, it’s for life. So these rules apply not only on the eve of the 24th but all year round.
