Feature Articles

With daylight saving time coming to an end at 2am on Sunday 31 October 2021, and starting again at 1am on Sunday 27 March 2022, employers should decide what this means for staff who are working when the clocks change. Stacie Cheadle, employment law writer at Croner-i, outlines the points to consider.

The UKMHA (the UK Material Handling Association), which consists of the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) and the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA), runs an annual safety campaign called Safety Drive throughout October. Britain sees 1100 fork lift truck accidents a year so this is a timely reminder to consider the safety issues associated with this equipment, as Grainne Kelly reports.

Fork lift trucks are potentially very dangerous pieces of work equipment.

The maintenance of general fire precautions is already a legal requirement under the respective UK fire safety regulations. However, there is likely to be more formal guidance produced in relation to this requirement in order to improve fire safety. As Mike Sopp explains, meeting legislative compliance by following British Standards should form part of the overall management of fire safety in all regulated buildings.

Escalating food prices, energy bills, and political tension accompany a recent jump in the cost of gas. With no other contender mature or agile enough to take its place, natural gas occupies a unique position in the UK’s energy sector. Jack Barwise explores the current energy crisis, the role of global gas shortages, and what businesses can expect in the coming months.

The Government publishes annual road accident statistics some nine months in arrears of each given year and the 2020 figures were released on 30 September 2021.

Employers are morally and legally obliged to provide “suitable and sufficient” health and safety training and must ensure that workers are fully aware of the risks and hazards they face in the working environment. Toolbox talks are a useful way of focusing on health and safety issues.

Can we “design out” risks before we get to the workplace? Andrew Christodoulou investigates.

Barrister Robert Spicer reports on court rulings.

The pandemic has accentuated trends that were already changing how companies operate and skills needed for the future. Health and safety management is not exempt and must be updated to keep pace with changing times. Jon Herbert reports.