UTN Training Ltd - Health, safety and construction training

The demand for the CITB SMSTS course continues to grow and to meet this demand UTN Training have programmed in additional courses to help meet your appetite for this course.


You can choose from day release courses over a five-week period or from one of the five-day block courses we have programmed

You can see the dates available in our schedule section or as an alternative you can downoad a list of dates from our newsletter section.

Date: (07-05-2008)

Could we please ask for a minute of your time.
We are in the process of looking at adding some more courses to our portfolio.
In our newsletter section we have a small questionnaire for downloading.
If you could kindly fill it in and return it to us it will greatly assist us in selecting and developing the courses that you require.

Date: (03-04-2008)

The erection of additional steelwork will enable UTN to run extra part 2 scaffolding courses and therefore help meet the demand for this industry accredited course.
Ring any of the UTN team on 01924 377379 to book your place.

Date: (02-04-2008)

Extra capacity has seen part 1 scaffold places become available from July 2008 onwards.

Places around the country are at a premium and the addition of these extra places should prove popular within the industry rather than delegates having to wait while the end of 2008 or in some cases early 2009

Date: (02-03-2008)

Our scheduled course dates are filling up fast. To meet the extra bookings we have scheduled in additional open course dates to meet the demand.

The Additional Dates Are:

NRSWA Streetworks Ops/Sups (4/5 days)
March 25-28

First Aid at Work (day release over 4 weeks)
Apr 9,16,23,30

Scaffold Inspection (2 days)
April 17-18

CITB SMSTS (day release over 5 weeks)
Apr 23,30,May 7,14,21

CITB SMSTS (day release over 5 weeks)
May 20,27, June 3,10,17

CITB SMSTS (five-day block)
June 2-6

CITB SMSTS (five-day block)
Oct 20-24

CITB Site Supervisor Safety (2 days)
May 20-21

CITB Site Supervisor Safety (2 days)
Sept 24-25

CITB Site Supervisors Safety (2 days)
Dec 2-3

Date: (01-03-2008)

UTN Training have scheduled a one-day Safe Working at Heights Awareness Course to run at our centre in Wakefield on March 14th.

This is an open/public course which means clients can place as little as one delegate on the course.

The course contents can be downloaded from the Scaffold section of the courses offered area of the website

Call 01924 377379 to book your places.



Date: (28-01-2008)

A recent news article from the Construction News (10/01/08) headed TRAINING BOOST states:
"The Major Contractors Group has said all Supervisors on it's sites will have to attend Construction Skills Supervisors Safety Training Scheme"

The next courses for CITB Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) Will run at our Wakefield Centre On MARCH 6 - 7 and then May 20-21.
This 2 day course is the ideal stepping-stone course for delegates who are eventually going to move on to become Site Managers but are not quite ready to undertake the full five-day SMSTS course.


Date: (22-01-2008)

UTN Training are very pleased to be once again associated and attending this very worthwhile event at Askam Bryan College near York on 12th February 2008. In attendance from UTN Training in the main hall will be Ann-Marie & Dave, while Ray Johnson will be presenting the Traffic Management scenario throughout the day.


This Construction Safety Health Awareness Day is one of a series of partnership events to be run by the industry for the industry throughout the UK, as part of the Working Well Together campaign.


The event brings together employers, contractors, safety professionals, suppliers, professional bodies, Health & Safety Executive and small firms to raise awareness of the key issues facing the construction industry.

If you run a small building or contracting company and would like free advice to help you get to grips with current issues – this event is for you.

There is no charge for the event.

Ring the booking hotline to reserve a place:
Tel: 01904 772290
Email: kcp@askham-bryan.ac.uk

For information on the Working Well Together campaign:
Tel: 0845 2727500
Web: www.wwt.uk.com


Date: (22-01-2008)

We currently are able to offer Standard PASMA Tower courses for a rate of £1400 + vat per course (including certification, worth £15.00 per delegate)
This is for courses delivered at our Wakefield centre and includes lunch.
This price allow a maximum of 12 delegates to attend.
Please call any of the team for a quote if you are looking for delivery on your premises

Date: (21-01-2008)

Traditionaly the majority of UTN's courses have been scheduled to start at 09:00 am. There have been exceptions to this with such as scaffolding and SMSTS.

At the start of 2008 we will be looking to phase in that all our courses commence at 08:30. This has come about due to client and delegate requests.

The starting of courses at 08:30 will also help to secure car parking spots on the days when the site is exceptionally busy.

Date: (08-01-2008)

Our open course programme for 2008 is now available.
The early launch of our dates for 2007 proved to be a valuable tool to most of the Training Managers, as they were able to schedule and spread out there training and get organised early.
Hopefully the early publication of our 2008 dates will prove as popular.
Call 01924 377379 or email enquiries@utntraining.co.uk to have your 2008 dates sent

Date: (10-09-2007)

The deadline for expiry of none-dated SMSTS certificates is looming and has resulted in places on re-certification courses being snapped up.
We are running an additional course on Dec 3 & 4 to meet demand.
Call 01924 377379 to book your places.

Date: (10-09-2007)

Having carried out improvements to our training centre in Wakefield has resulted in additional space being made available. This extra space has been dedicated to scaffold training which means we now have some additional dates for 2007 which will please a lot of companies.
The extra dates are:
PART 1's
Aug 6-17
Aug 20-31
Sept 3-14
Oct 1-12
Oct 15-26
Oct 22-Nov 2
Nov 5-16
Dec 10-21

PART 2's
Sept 17-28
Nov 19-30
Nov 26-Dec 7

Date: (01-08-2007)

Courses are getting booked up very quickly. If you have checked the schedule and it is showing full, then please ring to ask for extra availability as additional courses are continually being programmed.

Date: (18-05-2007)

The demand for places on scaffold training courses has gone through the roof. 40 courses are programmed between now and the end of 2007. We do have some limited availability. Please call 01924 377379 to confirm remaining availability. 2008 dates to be confirmed shortly.

Date: (17-05-2007)

The take up of delegates looking to re-new their SMSTS Certificates is on the increase. we have had to programme an additional course to meet demand. June 20-21.
Did you know that from 1st January 2008 that all certificates with out an expiry date will be considered null & void and a new five-day course will have to be taken

Date: (02-04-2007)

Date: (02-04-2007)

Credit & Debit Card payments are now accepted by UTN as payment for courses.
Since setting up this facility in August the amount of companies and individuals choosing this method of payment has steadily escolated and is now becoming standard practice.
Unfortunately, due to banking instruction, there is a 2.5% surcharge when paying by this method

Date: (12-12-2006)

Since early November 06, UTN have had their 2007 open course dates available. These date cover the whole of 2007 right through to December.
This has proved to be a valuable tool to our clients as they have spaced their delegates on courses throughout the whole of 2007 which has enabled them to programme their work load.
Please ring Ann-Marie, Maxine or Paula on 01924 377379 to have a 2007 schedule email or posted to you.
Alternatively, you can download our 2007 open course schedule from our 'newsletter section'

Date: (11-12-2006)

UTN Training are based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire and are on the look out for self employed, fully qualified instructors who can cover any of the following subjects:
CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS)
CPCS Plant Taining & Assessment
Scaffold Inspection
Safe Working at Heights
PASMA Mobile Towers
NRSWA Street Works
Fully Qualified Scaffold Instructors.
If you are interested and want further information, then drop your details on an email to
enquiries@utntraining.co.uk

Date: (11-12-2006)

Demand has seen our scheduled open courses fill up very quickly. To meet the extra demand we have set up extra dates.
OPERATIVES Oct 23 - 26
SUPERVISORS Oct 23 - 27.

We have also set a course to run over two weekends.
Nov 4,5 & 11,12.
Ring Ann-Marie or Maxine to book your places. 01924 377379

Date: (13-10-2006)

The requirement for Re-Certification for delegates holding an SMSTS certificate dated 2001 is now starting to take effect.
We have a two-day course programmed to run at our centre in Wakefield on November 13th & 14th.

Please ring Ann-Marie, Maxine or Neil on 01924 377379 for any further details

Date: (31-07-2006)

UTN are now accredited by PASMA to deliver Mobile Aluminium Scaffold Tower Training. PASMA is now see as the recognised certification on Major Contractors sites. For details about courses please ring Ann-Marieor Maxine on 01924 377379

Date: (04-07-2006)

UTN Training have recently appointed Maxine McLaughlin as Sales Executive for CITB / CPCS Plant Machinery training & assessmets.
Maxine is available to take your bookings for training and assist with your passage through the CPCS system.
Please give Maxine a call on 01924 377379 with your plant training enquiries.


Date: (03-07-2006)

UTN Training celebrates is 10th year in business on June 14th.

Read more in our newsletter section where our latest newsletter is there for reading or downloading.


Date: (24-05-2006)

UTN are running a four-day CITB/CPCS Crane Appointed Persons course at their Wakefield headquarters on June 5 - 8.
This is an open course, so companies can book single or multiple places.
Contact Ann-Marie, Maxine or Neil on 01924 377379

Date: (05-04-2006)

The Scaffolding Assessed Route of Entry courses which are for experienced scaffolders who want to gain their CISRS Card are being withdrawn from the scheme at the end of June. We now have limited availability as companies are booking them in blocks.
If you miss the A - R - E's you will need to do the full training route to gain your CISRS Card
Ring Neil or Ann-Marie on 01924 377379 for more details

Date: (05-03-2006)

Our first newsletter of 2006 is now on line in our newsletter section to read or download.
Some of the items covered are:
Basic Scaffold Inspection
SMSTS Re-Certification
CITB Grant Applications
Scaffold Assessed Routes of Entry

Date: (09-01-2006)

To comply with recent changes, UTN Training are to launch a two-day basic scaffold inspection course from January 2006.
This will replace the standard one-day course we have delivered over the years
The extra day will allow greater in depth delivery to cover all the relevant legislation and requirements but will also incorporate the changes relating to TG20 and associated Work At Height Regulation (Apr 2005)
Once again UTN Training have responded to clients demands with the introduction of this course.
Open course dates are:
January 26-27
February 23-24

Date: (02-12-2005)

As from June 2006 the Assessed Route of Entry for experienced scaffolders to gain their CISRS card will end.
Scaffolders with with over 5 years have been able to take this shortened assessment route to obtain their basic card. Scaffolders with ten years have been able to enter the scheme at the advanced level in an attempt to meet the standard.
As stated earlier in the piece, this will stop at the end of June 2006.
From July 2006 onwards all candidates, irrelivant of experience, will have to take the full training route in order to obtain their CISRS card.
There is already evidence, as we at UTN expected, of experienced candidates rushing to book places on the assessment courses before the route expires.
If you are one of these experienced delegates, our recomendation is to book your places now before it's too late.

Date: (02-12-2005)

Don't delay in organising your training for next year. Our open course schedule for the whole of 2006 is now available.

Ring ANN-MARIE, LIZ or NEIL on 01924 377379 to obtain your copy

or email
enquiries@utntraining.co.uk

You can also visit our newsletter section and view or down load the 2006 schedule

Date: (03-10-2005)

The October newsletter is now online for viewing or to download.


Details of special block offer prices

Information about the closure of the Assessed Route of Entry Scheme for experienced scaffolders looking to gain a CISRS Card

Date: (02-10-2005)

A sudden upturn in enquiries has seen UTN re-launch the
SITE SUPERVISORS SAFETY COURSE

The course is aimed at giving the developing employee an overview and understanding of their responsibilities as a supervisor for the provision and upkeep of health and safety issues in a construction environment.

Early feed back has also indicated that companies also view the course as a good grounding for delegates who will need to attend the CITB Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) later in their career development.

Contact Ann-Marie, Liz or Neil
on
01924 377379
for further details.

Date: (30-08-2005)

Due to demand we have set up an extra
BASIC SCAFFOLD PART TWO COURSE
If you or one of your employees have attended a part 1 at least 6 months ago, it's now time to progrees to the next stage and attend your BASIC PART 2.
Sept 5 to 16
Only a couple of places left. Ring 01924 377379 to reserve your place before it's too late.

See our scaffold section for all the other scaffold courses delivered at our approved centre.

Date: (22-08-2005)

Our latest newsletter is now online to either read or download

Date: (27-07-2005)

The current UTN price of £447.00 + vat per person (including books & certification) for IOSH Managing Safely is proving extremely popular.
Places on the open/public courses run at our centre in Wakefield are always in demand.
The price has proved so popular that several in-company courses have been delivered on clients sites in the last couple of months.
Contact Ann-Marie, Liz or Neil on 01924 377379 for more details

Date: (27-07-2005)

There are only a couple of days left to register and enter for the chance to win a place on our August Site Management Safety Course.
See our latest newsletter for more details.

Date: (20-07-2005)

Client demand has seen UTN set up a Crane Appointed Person course at short notice.

The course will run on three consecutive days at UTN's Training Centre in Wakefield
JULY 6, 7, 8
There are a couple of spaces available should you be looking to get your staff trained in this discipline.

The charge for this course is

£450.00 + vat per person

Ring any of the sales team on 01924 377379 to book one of the last remaining places

Date: (22-06-2005)

Are you local to UTN Training & Wakefield?

Do you have sales experience?

We could have the job you have been looking for

Ring Ann-Marie NOW
01924 377379

Date: (19-04-2005)

Here at UTN Training we are always on the lookout for freelance self employed tutors & instructors

If you have the relevant qualifications to deliver such as
CPCS/CITB Plant Machinery
Confined Spaces
Scaffold Inspection
Mobile Aluminium Towers
SMSTS
Crane Appointed Person
Safe Working at Heights.

Then ring Dave on 01924 377379 for an informal chat.

Date: (11-02-2005)

UTN Training have recently sent staff tutor Rob Winterburn to CITB Training at Bircham to attend a five-day trench shoring course to update his existing skills and knowledge on the subject.

This has proved beneficial to clients seeking this particular course and already a number of courses have been delivered at our UTN Training facility in Wakefield.

The one day practical course has proved popular with customers and delegates who receive a certificate for:

Safe Working In Shallow Excavations
Including Trench Shoring

For further details on the course please contact Ann-Marie, Andy or Craig on 01924 377379


Date: (20-12-2004)

UTN Training have now available the full list of open course dates for 2005, January through to December.

This covers all our popular and standard courses such as:

NRSWA STREETWORKS
CONFINED SPACES
SITE MANAGEMENT SAFETY TRAINING SCHEME (SMSTS)
IOSH MANAGING SAFELY
SCAFFOLDING
& Much more.

The first four months can be viewed in the schedule section of this site or alternatively you can have the full 12 month programme by emailing enquiries@utntraining.co.uk
or ringing Ann-Marie, Andy & Craig on 01924 377379

Date: (20-12-2004)

This Crane Appointed Persons course has been an addition to the UTN portfolio over the last 6 months or so. The popularity of this three-day course has continued to grow with the January course fully booked as well as numerous company specific courses programmed.
The next open course course with places avaialble will run at The UTN Training Centre on February 23, 24, 25.

Ring Ann-Marie, Andy or Craig on 01924 377379

Date: (20-12-2004)

With a steady entrance in to the scaffold training market, UTN Training has continued to develop it's Wakefield based centre to now be in a position to offer the full range of approved scaffolding training courses.

A recent visit from the monitoring panel awarded UTN's centre the Advanced Training Level which is something that UTN's growing band of scaffold companies have been pushing the company to get as they look to get their staff the CISRS Card.


As Yorkshires only approved Scaffold Training Centre, UTN Training have been able to provide a local service for the scaffolding companies within their area. What has been surprising is the number of clients from further a field. Being situated close to the major motorway networks and only 2 hours from London by train has seen the industry welcome another player into the scaffold training market.

The range of courses available are listed below:
SCAFFOLD BASIC PART ONE TRAINING
SCAFFOLD BASIC PART TWO TRAINING
SCAFFOLD BASIC ASSESSED ROUTE OF ENTRY
SCAFFOLD ADVANCED TRAINING
SCAFFOLD ADVANCED ASSESSED ROUTE OF ENTRY

For details of available dates or for further information, Please ring Craig or any of the sales team on
01924 377379


Date: (28-09-2004)

CPCS Plant Training.Hundreds of construction workers whose jobs depend on operating plant on site could find themselves turned away from major sites in the New Year because they do not have the new CPCS card.

New regulations which come into force on January 1 next year will render the CTA plant registration card out of date. From then all plant operators will need a Construction Plant Competence Scheme card -CPCS - if they wish to work on any site operated by a member of the Major Contractors Group.

Anyone holding a valid CTA card will be issued with a new CPCS card which will have the same expiry date as their CTA card. Log books will be issued in which operators will have to show that they have put in at least 300 hours of practical experience over a period of 5 years - for each category of plant.

Failure to show a record of the 300 hours will mean the operator has to pass a CTA achievement test for each category and show that they have passed the CITB safety test within the last 2 years in order to renew their CPCS ticket.

CITB has been attempting to contact all CTA card holders by either telephone or letter, but many have moved from the address held by CITB. Employers are also warned to check that their employees will have the new card before January 1 or they may be faced with being refused access to some sites
.
Newcomers to the industry and anyone wishing to add a category to their card will have to pass the CTA achievement test in order to get a Trained Operator card valid for three years. They will then have to keep a work record book showing 300 hours per category and gain an NVQ/SVQ Level 2, and have their competence endorsed by their employer plus have passed a safety test within two years.

CITB explained that the main emphasis of the CPCS card is that it proves to employers and clients that the operator has the skills and practical experience to do the job effectively.
“Increasingly clients and employers are demanding proof of competency from all operatives on their sites so having the card will mean that you are able to prove this and therefore gain access to work on more sites”, said a spokesman.

Steve Fisher, Managing Director of UTN commented: “The introduction of this scheme has caused some confusion in some quarters judging by the calls we have had. The fact is that from January1st, 2004 many of the major contractors will not accept anything other than a CPCS card as recognition of competency and have said that without it operators will not be allowed on site.
”It is vital that small contractors who dos sub contracting work to the majors ensure that their operators have the new card or they could face being unable to complete their contract,” he added.

“We are happy to provide any information or help for companies to deal with the new scheme but there is not much time left”, said Steve.

Anyone who has not received a letter or whose details have changed since their current CTA card was issued should contact the CPCS on 01485 577877.

If you are unsure what you need to do, or you want more information, call Lisa at UTN on 01924 377379.


Date: (04-11-2003)

Health and Safety days prove great success

The three day HSE/UTN Health and Safety event held as part of the Working Well Together Campaign at the end of June were hailed a resounding success by delegates from all over the North of England.

The event was held at our Construction Training Centre in Wakefield.

Delegates were split into small groups at each half day session and saw practical demonstrations of how to deal safely with day to day hazards found on many construction sites.

Each day featured two half day sessions on different aspects of work in the construction industry.

Day one featured general construction including roof work, general site practicalities, manual handling and good housekeeping

On day two delegates saw different scenarios involving erecting scaffoling, scaffolding towers, access platforms and using harnesses.

Day three took delegates through all the legislation and safety measures needed if their work were to encroach on the highway, including how to locate underground services and how to correctly sign, light and guard a site.

Each day was introducted by David Dean, HSE Principal Inspector, Construction Division, who recalled many incidents where HSE inspectors had been called in following accidents.

"It is only by working together like this that we will see the 2002/3 improvements in the industry fatality statistics converted into a real trend of improvement", said Mr Dean.

"The HSE has to try to achieve the difficult balance of providing advice and undertaking reactive investigations. By participating in Safety Awareness Days the HSE gets its message across to many contractors and small businesses we might not usually see", he added.

The Working Well Together Campaign is an initiative developed by the Health and Safety Commission's Construction Industry Advisory Committee to raise standards of health and safety within the construction industry.

The campaign has the backing of Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, who told the industry: "No civilised society can accept a record like this. We must be committed to reducing the huge toll of human misery caused by injury and ill health on construction sites", he added.

UTN Managing Director, Steve Fisher, commented: "I was delighted to be involved with the HSE in this event and I look forward to being able to work with them on similar events in the future. These events can only be of benefit to everyone in the industry".

Date: (17-07-2003)

No longer will Yorkshire companies need to travel to Stockton on Tees, Nottingham, Lancashire or even Bircham Newton for their training.

Previously only Part One was delivered at UTN's Construction Training Centre but following great demand it was decided to expand the facility to include Part Two.

As from May 12 Scaffold Training will be available within easy reach of the major motorways networks when UTN receives accreditation for part two and Assessed Route of Entry (ARE) at its Wakefield headquarters.

Dates for the courses are as follows.
Part Two May 12 - 23
Part One May 27 - June 6

Contact Craig McKim on 01924 377379 for further information.

Date: (30-04-2003)

The benefits of attending will be:

a) A chance to be updated on legislation
b) To meet the tutors first hand
c) View the standard of presentation materials & facilities available
d) To ask questions on any areas of uncertainty.
e) Discuss and plan your training requirements.
f) Discuss cost benefits of block booking courses
g) A chance to meet your UTN sales advisor & UTN management

The programme of events will be as follows

08.30 Confined Spaces
09.40 C.O.S.H.
10.10 Abrasive Wheels
11.00 Scaffold Inspection & Aluminium Towers
13.00 Asbestos Awareness/Managing Asbestos
13.50 I.O.S.H.
14.40 NRSWA (Streetworks)
15.45 CITB/CTA Plant

Call the sales team 01924 377379 for help, or enter the newsletter section on this site to download the schedule and return slip.

Date: (17-03-2003)

HSE warning to construction industry to improve performance
Background
Between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001 there were 114 fatal injuries in the construction industry, eight of which were to members of the public. A further 5,046 people suffered major injuries, 317 of whom were members of the public. 9,920 workers in the construction industry suffered injuries that kept them off work for more than three days.
44 per cent of fatal injuries to workers in construction were caused by falls from height; 17 per cent - struck by moving vehicles, 8 per cent - struck by moving/falling object, 17 per cent - trapped by something collapsing/overturning, 14 per cent - other.

As result of this appalling record the construction industry committed to a step change in performance at the Construction Safety Summit, which took place on 27 February 2001.This commitment was demonstrated through setting challenging Revitalising targets and adopting action plans. The construction industry set the following Revitalising targets for improvement.
To reduce:
- the incidence rate of fatalities and major injuries by 40 per cent by 2004/5 and 66 per cent by 2009/10;
- the incidence rate of cases of work-related ill health by 20 per cent by 2004/5 and 50 per cent by 2009/10:
- the number of working days lost from work-related injury and ill health by 20 per cent by 2004/5 and by 50 per cent by 2009/10.


Despite this commitment provisional figures for 2001/2002 show that there were 79 fatal injuries to construction workers this accounts for 32 per cent of all worker fatalities.

During June 2002, a third of the 221 construction sites visited during an inspection blitz by the HSE in West Midlands were issued with prohibition notices.

Other similar blitz\'s have taken place:-
126 sites visited in the East Midlands resulted in 58 prohibition notices and 8 improvement notices;
110 sites visited in Cornwall resulted in 29 prohibition and 19 improvement notices,
50 sites visited in North and West Wales resulted in a third being served with prohibition notices.

As a result of inspections in London between 29th April and 3 May 2002, nine companies were fined a total of £28,000.. They pleaded guilty to charges brought under Regulation 6 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations 1996, for failure to carry out work at height in a safe manner.

HSE Warning

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned the construction industry to improve in the key areas of its health, safety and welfare performance, before an inspector calls

The Warning is spelt out in a new work plan construction inspectors will use in the year ahead. It describes the issues inspectors will concentrate on and groups being targeted as those most likely to influence change.

During planned visits inspectors will concentrate on falls from height and transport incidents, which collectively cause most fatal and major injuries, and ill-health caused by manual handling; Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS); noise induced hearing loss and allergic dermatitis, all of which are on the increase.

Are you doing enough?

What are you doing to reduce the risks to your employees and the risks to your business from prosecution?
Are your supervisors trained to recognise hazards and risks and how to deal with them?

Are your operatives training in basic health and safety and the specific health and safety for their trade and activities?

UTN can help, contact Ann-Marie or Sara on 01924 377379 for details of our range of off the shelf training and bespoke training to suit your requirements.


Date: (19-09-2002)

HSE warning to construction industry to improve performance
Background
Between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001 there were 114 fatal injuries in the construction industry, eight of which were to members of the public. A further 5,046 people suffered major injuries, 317 of whom were members of the public. 9,920 workers in the construction industry suffered injuries that kept them off work for more than three days.
44 per cent of fatal injuries to workers in construction were caused by falls from height; 17 per cent - struck by moving vehicles, 8 per cent - struck by moving/falling object, 17 per cent - trapped by something collapsing/overturning, 14 per cent - other.

As result of this appalling record the construction industry committed to a step change in performance at the Construction Safety Summit, which took place on 27 February 2001.This commitment was demonstrated through setting challenging Revitalising targets and adopting action plans. The construction industry set the following Revitalising targets for improvement.
To reduce:
 the incidence rate of fatalities and major injuries by 40 per cent by 2004/5 and 66 per cent by 2009/10;
 the incidence rate of cases of work-related ill health by 20 per cent by 2004/5 and 50 per cent by 2009/10:
 the number of working days lost from work-related injury and ill health by 20 per cent by 2004/5 and by 50 per cent by 2009/10.


Despite this commitment provisional figures for 2001/2002 show that there were 79 fatal injuries to construction workers this accounts for 32 per cent of all worker fatalities.

During June 2002, a third of the 221 construction sites visited during an inspection blitz by the HSE in West Midlands were issued with prohibition notices.

Other similar blitz\'s have taken place:-
126 sites visited in the East Midlands resulted in 58 prohibition notices and 8 improvement notices;
110 sites visited in Cornwall resulted in 29 prohibition and 19 improvement notices,
50 sites visited in North and West Wales resulted in a third being served with prohibition notices.

As a result of inspections in London between 29th April and 3 May 2002, nine companies were fined a total of £28,000.. They pleaded guilty to charges brought under Regulation 6 of the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) regulations 1996, for failure to carry out work at height in a safe manner.

HSE Warning

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned the construction industry to improve in the key areas of its health, safety and welfare performance, before an inspector calls

The Warning is spelt out in a new work plan construction inspectors will use in the year ahead. It describes the issues inspectors will concentrate on and groups being targeted as those most likely to influence change.

During planned visits inspectors will concentrate on falls from height and transport incidents, which collectively cause most fatal and major injuries, and ill-health caused by manual handling; Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS); noise induced hearing loss and allergic dermatitis, all of which are on the increase.

Are you doing enough?

What are you doing to reduce the risks to your employees and the risks to your business from prosecution?
Are your supervisors trained to recognise hazards and risks and how to deal with them?

Are your operatives training in basic health and safety and the specific health and safety for their trade and activities?

UTN can help, contact Ann-Marie or Sara on 01924 377379 for details of our range of off the shelf training and bespoke training to suit your requirements.


Date: (19-09-2002)

On Friday 1st March at Southampton Crown Court, Austin Brickwork Ltd and company director Julian Austin, were fined a total of £60,000.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the prosecution against after a forklift truck driven by a company employee knocked down and killed labourer Kevin Moyle, on a building site in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on 7 August 2000.

HSE's investigation found that the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 states: " Where an offence... committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to have been attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or a person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly."

The maximum penalty in the Crown Court for contravention of Section 2 and 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 is an unlimited fine.

utn offer a range of courses which are designed to keep you on the right side of current legislation. Please see COURSE SCHEDULE and COURSES OFFERED.




Date: (28-03-2002)

All mobile work equipment, this includes such items as fork-lift trucks, dumpers and tractors, in use before 5th December 1998 must be brought into compliance with Part III of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) by 5th December 2002,

If you are an employer, or are self-employed or if you are in control 'to any extent' of mobile work equipment, this part of PUWER requires you to ensure that it is safe to use by preventing or controlling risks.
For new equipment the requirement has been in effect since 5th December 1998.

The main risks involved in the use of mobile work equipment are from being struck by the vehicle, the equipment rolling over, the driver or passengers falling from the vehicle or being struck by falling objects, unauthorised start up of the vehicle, inadequate devices for braking and stopping, and restricted driver visibility.

Part III of PUWER addresses these risks by requiring dutyholders to take measures to ensure that the equipment is safe to use. These measures can include, for example, the retro-fitting of roll-over protective structures (ROPS), falling object protective structures (FOPS), seat restraints (seat belts, lap belts, etc) and driver visibility aids such as mirrors.

HSE's Director General. Timothy Walker, stated:-
"Unsafe mobile work equipment is responsible for a large number of deaths and injuries every year. Last year alone, three people were killed and 67 injured when struck by fork-lift trucks. We are committed to improving the safety of mobile work equipment and the coming into effect of Part III of PUWER 98 to all mobile work equipment is an essential part of this process."
Are you ready? Or will you be ready?
Remember if mobile work equipment which was in use before 5th December 1998 and still in use after the 5th December 2002 which does not conform to the requirements of PUWER you will be open to prosecution.
Are your employees trained in the use of mobile work equipment? We can help, contact us for further information.


Date: (22-03-2002)

The Health and Safety Commission has published new guidance recommending health and safety responsibilities for company directors and the board members of public sector and voluntary organisations.

The guidance will help directors ensure that health and safety risks involved in an organisation’s activities are managed properly and that they take adequate measures to protect their employees, employees of contractors and members of the public.

The guidance makes clear that each Board needs to:

 Accept its collective role in providing health and safety leadership in their organisation;
 Nominate a director to champion health and safety issues;
 Ensure that each member accepts individual responsibility and makes sure that their actions and decisions at work reinforce the messages in the board’s health and safety;
 Make sure all decisions reflect the intentions in the organisation’s health and safety policy;
 Encourage workers at all levels to become actively involved in health and safety;
 Keep up to date with relevant health and safety risk management issues and review its health and safety performance regularly, at least annually.

HSC chairman Bill Callaghan said:

“The best companies have told me that health and safety is the first item on the agenda of their board meetings and I want to see every company adopting that policy.

Health and safety is a boardroom issue. Good health and safety reflects strong leadership from the top and that is what we want to see. The company whose chairperson or chief executive is the champion of health and safety sends the kind of message which delivers good performance on the ground.

Those who are at the top have a key role to play which is why boards are being asked to nominate one of their number to be a ‘health and safety’ director. However, appointing a health and safety director or department does not absolve the Board from its collective responsibility to lead and oversee health and safety management.

We will be monitoring very closely the impact this guidance has on improving corporate responsibility for ensuring the effective control of health and safety risks.

I want to remind boardrooms, too, that health and safety is a key element of the corporate social responsibility agenda which will increasingly influence investment and consumer decisions.

Health and safety performance is an important part of doing good business. Those who cannot manage health and safety cannot manage.”

By following this good practice guidance directors will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.

‘Directors’ Responsibilities for Health and Safety’
can be found on HSE’s website:

www.hse.gov.uk/pibns/indg343.pdf




Date: (17-09-2001)

Change to safety laws urged as work deaths soar

The equivalent of 2 people per week are killed within the construction industry, according to latest statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The above figures show that construction is the worst industry for fatalities, following a 28% increase over the last 12 months.

Union leaders are yet again calling for a new law against corporate killing to help focus attention on this stark problem.

TUC official Jack Dromey commented that “The safety record in the Building and Construction industry will be transformed the minute a boss is jailed following the death of a worker”.

utn has already increased the number of Health & Safety courses both for operatives and managers in an attempt to reach a much wider audience.

utn Managing Director, Stephen Fisher, commented “that many new people were entering the industry with no experience, and the lack of awareness of safety issues at all levels was an obvious contributor to the high accident rate”.


Date: (06-08-2001)

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