News: H&S Seminars; GCSE Results Decline; Industrial Accident Risk

Free Health and Safety Seminars in Solihull

On the 12^th and 13^th September, the British Safety Council is hosting several free information sessions at the Health and Safety Midlands Exhibition and Seminar. The event is taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum and will include expert speakers on new developments in the fields of health and safety policy, environmental law and management.

Rosi Edwards, the Regional Director of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for Wales, Midlands and the South West will join Chris Green from Weightmans LLP, Mark Tyler from Salutaris Legal, Neil Budworth from E.ON UK, Nattasha Freeman from GBR Phoenix Beard and Howard Dawes from the British Safety Council to provide interesting and informative seminars at the free event.

Full details of how to register for this event are available on the British Safety Council website.

Slight Decline in GCSE Results for the First Time in 24 Years

As GCSE results day comes round again, this year has seen a minor decline in the results received by young people across the country. 69.4% of pupils had A* - C results, compared with 69.8% in 2011, and the number of A and A* grades this year was 22.4% this year, compared with 23.2% in 2011.

This is the first time in 24 years that the GCSE results have been lower than the previous year, and are due to the: “introduction of more stringent syllabuses (particularly evident in Science and English this year) as well as a heavier emphasis on terminal assessment (40% of assessments must now be taken at the end of the course, restricting the extent to which candidates can accumulate marks by sitting and resitting modules throughout the course), and tougher rules on the setting of grade boundaries”, according to Ian Toone, the Senior Professional Education Officer at Voice.

Public to be Better Informed About Industrial Accident Risks

A new European Commission directive has been put into place to ensure that members of the public who live or work close to industrial plants are made aware of the possible risks and dangers they could face.

The Seveso Directive has been updated to protect people against major accidents, and the changes will mean that members of the public will have access to information about any risks associated with local industrial plants, with additional information about what to do in the event of a major incident. The information will have to be made available electronically, and will include:

• How alerts will be sounded
• How people should act if there is a major accident
• Rules on public participation and consultation in planning land-use projects

In addition to these new standards, inspections of plants will be more robust to ensure better enforcement of the rules that keep workers and members of the public safe. The new procedures will have to be in place from 1 June 2015.

(Photo Credit: comedy_nose)