Tag: accidents

Food delivery firms must address rider safety concerns, says Workers’ Observatory

Food delivery companies such as Deliveroo should be forced to investigate accidents and address risks facing their Scottish couriers, say campaigners.

The call comes as the Workers’ Observatory – an Edinburgh project supporting fast food couriers – prepares to launch a manifesto in response to rider safety concerns such as traffic hazards.

Developed with the support of the STUC and Edinburgh University, the manifesto calls for riders to have better protections at work, and asks councils to step into gaps left by legislation by monitoring riders’ road accidents.

Riders – who are still considered by many companies to be self-employed despite a ruling by the UK Supreme Court that Uber drivers should be classified as workers – fall outside of UK health and safety laws.

The Workers’ Observatory collective, working with Edinburgh University sociologist Karen Gregory, claims that company policy of pay-per-delivery “incentivises risk taking”.

The group has gathered examples of traffic accidents and “near misses” experienced by Edinburgh food delivery couriers. Riders have told researchers they feel “pressurised” to take jobs in areas that feel unsafe because they worry refusing an order will affect the allocation of jobs.

Karen Gregory, who published a study on related safety issues last December, said: “The structure of paying riders “per drop” incentivises workers to deliver quickly, so that they are ready for the next delivery assignment.

“This can mean pushing it on city streets or racing through the city on a bicycle or scooter to minimise your delivery time.”

Cailean Gallagher, coordinator of the Workers’ Observatory, said: “Just like in other workplaces, when gig workers have accidents or injuries at work, these should be reported and monitored.

“Councils should be able to receive accident reports and then share the information with riders so that they can monitor the risks and hazards of their work and develop appropriate demands.”

Don’t topple hanging Christmas baubles

Ladder Safety at Christmas

Christmas is a time for celebration and festive fun, but it is also a peak time for tree and decorations related ladder accidents.

Every year, hospital A and E departments across the country report a rise in the number of people brought in during December after falling from heights, many of whom have toppled off ladders whilst putting up lights and decorations on trees both outside and in their homes.

ROSPA reports that in recent years, as many as 2.6million people have fallen off a stool or ladder while hanging up Christmas decorations. 

British safety ladder expert Henchman has five golden rules for safe ladder use:

  1. Assess the risks in scope and scale then consider and research most suitable equipment for the job in hand
  2. Where possible always have another person with you when using a ladder
  3. Uneven, sloping, soft terrain requires equipment fit for purpose
  4. Check the condition of the ladder, and do not use damaged equipment
  5. Always follow the instructions – they are there for your safety and vary by product and by application.

Henchman tripod ladders and High Step safety platforms are specially designed for safe working at height providing a stable footing on uneven ground for jobs ranging from domestic hedge trimming to a four-metre topiary sculpture. NOTE: Other ladders and platforms are widely available

Henchman managing director Tom Kitching said: “Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them. How often have we heard people saying, ‘it’s OK I’ve done this loads of times – I know what I am doing’ as they balance precariously up a ladder putting up outside Christmas lights?

“The sad fact is that it can, and does happen. Stretch out that little bit too far on an indoor step ladder to put a decoration on a top branch or lean the ladder against a tree or bush in the garden that suddenly gives way and you will fall, risking serious injury or even death.

Following basic rules and investing in the right ladder for the job could save your life.”

The UK designed and distributed Henchman lightweight aluminium ladders and High Step platforms are available in a wide range of sizes with prices starting at £225. NOTE: Other ladders and platforms are widely available

To see a video of Henchman safety ladders in action visit www.henchman.co.uk

Sun setting 73 minutes earlier sees 36% increase in evening rush-hour accidents

Scotland, the West and Northern counties see the biggest increase in risk of accidents in the evening rush hour  

The latest data from insurethebox, the UK pioneer of telematics insurance, reveals the true cost motorists pay for an extra hour in bed, with an overall 14% increase in accidents across the UK.

And the loss in daylight in the evening appears to have a particularly marked impact with a 36% increase in accidents between 5.00pm and 8.00pm.  Continue reading Sun setting 73 minutes earlier sees 36% increase in evening rush-hour accidents

Thousands of children’s homes could have potentially-deadly blind cords, RoSPA research shows

Thousands of children’s homes across the UK may have potentially-deadly blind cords – even in kids’ bedrooms – new research from RoSPA shows.

Of homes which have blinds in the child’s bedroom, one in three (33 per cent) were fitted more than five years ago, before new safety standards were introduced in an effort to prevent death and serious injury from cord accidents. In living rooms and hallways this figure rises to 38 per cent, and to 41 per cent in kitchens.

RoSPA is aware of 33 child deaths due to blind cords since 2001.

Worryingly, nearly two-thirds of blinds in children’s bedrooms have looped cords or chains, which pose the most severe strangulation risk. Nearly one in three homes (29 per cent) have no safety devices fitted on their blinds.

Liz Lumsden, community safety manager for RoSPA Scotland, said: “They may look harmless, but to a young child looped cords can be deadly if they get them caught around their neck.

“The new standards introduced in 2014 only apply to the manufacture and fitting of blind cords, meaning those fitted before that date are unlikely to be safe by design, or to have been supplied with safety devices.

“We urge all parents and grandparents, and anyone else who has children in their home regularly, to remove looped cords from their homes – particularly from their children’s bedrooms – and have new blinds fitted. If this is not possible there are cheap or free safety devices which can be fitted, such as cleats, which enable the blinds to be tied up.”

RoSPA’s blind cord safety tips:

  • Install blinds that do not have a looped cord, particularly in a child’s bedroom
  • Cords on blinds (and also curtains) that are elsewhere in the home should be kept short and out of reach of children – tie up the cords or use one of the many cleats, cord tidies, clips or ties that are available
  • Do not place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window
  • Do not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard on a cot or bed
  • Do not hang drawstring bags where a small child could get their head through the loop of the drawstring
  • RoSPA does not recommend that cords are cut, even as a short-term solution, because they could actually become more dangerous.

For more blind cord safety advice and resources, see www.rospa.com/blindcords

New campaign aims to prevent accidents among Edinburgh’s under-fives

A new public health campaign, Keeping Kids Safe in the Home, which aims to reduce the number of domestic accidents involving under 5s in Edinburgh, has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). Continue reading New campaign aims to prevent accidents among Edinburgh’s under-fives

‘Tis the season to avoid tree-related ladder accidents …

Christmas is a time for celebration and festive fun, but it is also a peak time for tree related ladder accidents. Every year, hospital A and E departments across the country report a rise in the number of people brought in during December after falling from heights, many of whom have toppled off ladders whilst putting up outside lights and decorations. Continue reading ‘Tis the season to avoid tree-related ladder accidents …

Taking care: Urban Union is considerate constructor

Industry award rekindles memories of Muirhouse accident

acident1

Last month, Urban Union’s Pennywell Living housing development received a silver award from The Considerate Constructors Scheme at the annual Scottish Considerate Constructors event held in the capital.

The Considerate Constructors Scheme is an initiative introduced by the construction industry to improve and enhance relations with communities where building works are taking place.

The Scheme encourages sites to adopt best practices beyond what is outlined in statutory requirements with the main areas focusing on impact on the general public, workforce and the environment.

In itself, the award is not earth-shattering news – these kind of industry awards are usually seen as shindigs, a jolly opportunity for companies, organisations and their clients to get together to slap each other on the back. BAFTAs for business, if you like.

But Urban Union’s award for their construction practices rekindled memories of a dreadful accident that happened just yards from today’s Urban Union site sixteen years ago this month.

On 10 August 1999 brother and sister Danielle (5)and William Welsh (6) died when they were run over by a lorry which was removing rubbish from a construction site behind Pennywell shops.

accident3

Danielle and William were playing outside their granny’s Muirhouse Crescent home when Danielle told her grandmother, Catherine Welsh, that she had found a 50p piece and was going to the shops. Mrs Welsh called them back, but they ran off towards the shopping centre, crossing a grassy bank on to an access road.

Construction work was taking place at the time, and as a lorry passed between a building and the grassy bank, the children ran in front of it. There was nothing the driver could do – it was later ascertained that the lorry’s speed was no more than five miles per hour – but the children ‘froze’ in front of the lorry and died in a horrific accident.

I remember the scene vividly – it was one of the first jobs I covered for NEN and I’ll never forget the anguished look on people’s faces as they took in what had happened on their doorstep.

While no one individual or organisation was found to be responsible for the tragedy, lessons were learned – albeit at an unacceptably awful cost – and safety standards have improved on construction sites. The Considerate Constructors Scheme is one example of this.

The Urban Union development in Pennywell was reviewed in five categories: appearance, respecting the local community, protecting the environment, safety and valuing its workforce. It received the silver award as it was deemed to have excelled across all five areas, since its launch last summer.

Urban Union’s mananging director Graeme Nicol said: “We are all delighted with this recognition from the Considerate Constructors Scheme. Our construction manager Brian Pettigrew and his team take great pride in delivering the Pennywell Living project to the highest standard.

“Most recently, as part of our commitment to the local community, a team of employees and our Urban Union mascot Ivor Goodsite, visited Craigroyston Primary School to teach pupils all about the different types of plant machinery and safety on site. This is an example of the work we do to ensure the local community is aware of the work going on, on their doorstep.”

So sometimes, industry awards really are something we all can celebrate. Congratulations, Urban Union.