ISSUE SPOTLIGHT: HEALTH & SAFETY


ISSUE SPOTLIGHT


The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire attended a double celebration at a private ambulance service in Milton Keynes. Joe Barclay and his wife Joanna


were invited to the ceremony at Thames Valley Ambulance & Paramedic Service, in Bletchley, to formally open a new training suite and recognise employee Gary Davies, 60, who has been working in the ambulance industry for 40 years. Director Sue Farrell, said: “We


were absolutely delighted when the High Sheriff came to present a trophy to Gary and unveil our training suite.


The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire unveiling the new training suite at Thames Valley Ambulance & Paramedic Service. (L to R Jim Farrell, Sidney Bailey, The High Sheriff and his wife, Sue Farrell and Mark Wells-Pestell, TVAPS training manager)


CHANGES TO H&S DUTY OF SELF-EMPLOYED


In the UK, the Health and Safety at Work Act (HASWA) imposes a general duty on self-employed people to conduct their work in a way that ensures they and other persons affected by their activities are not exposed to significant risks. This is backed by the Management


of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, which require the self- employed to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of any significant risks to themselves as well as to others affected by their work. However the law could be changing


Every type of business, including self-employed professionals, needs to pay attention to HEALTH & SAFETY issues, and has a duty of care to its staff and the people it comes into contact with


AMBULANCE SERVICE MILESTONES “We decided to set up a purpose


built training suite because we were getting demand for first aid training from various companies and other health care services along with the general public. “This means we can now provide


courses on topics such as first aid, health and safety, food safety and fire safety. We also provide driver training.” She said: “Although Gary joined


us in November last year, we also wanted to celebrate his remarkable achievement in the industry”.


For more information, visit www.thamesvalleyambulance.co.uk


Beckie Staincliffe, director of EHSC


and affect the self-employed operating certain activities. Beckie Staincliffe, director of European Health & Safety Consultants


(EHSC), said: “It is proposed from April, certain self-employed persons will be exempt from this general duty in respect of themselves and other persons (not employees), except those undertaking activities on a prescribed list. “This means, if a business falls outside the following criteria:


agricultural activities, landscaping, construction, electricity, equipment and plant examination, maintenance and testing (as prescribed), health & social care and waste management, they will be exempt from the legislative requirements.” Beckie warns: “Those who are self-employed need to have evidence


available to their client/insurer of them managing H&S. If there was an accident or a member of the public was harmed, due to your activities/ inactivities the business needs to demonstrate how they complied with the law.”


Tl: 01908 261921 W: www.ehsc.co.uk APRIL/MAY 2015 inbusiness 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16