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Health & Safety FAQ's

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Question

There has been an accident at work, what do I need to do

Answer

For more information on reporting an accident, please visit our

Health & Safety pages.

Further advice from RIDDOR (External link)

Question

Can you give me advice on dealing with asbestos ?

Answer

Officers from Environmental Health can give advice on dealing with asbestos.

Alternatively please follow this link for our on-line advice.

Question

Can you give me advice on home safety ?

Answer

The Home Safety Network website provides information on the following :

General Home Safety, Burns and Scalds, Carbon Monoxide,Chemicals, Choking, Clothing Fires, DIY Accidents, Drowning, Electric Blankets, Falls, Fireworks, Gardens & Bikes and Packaging,

and also contains links to many other safety websites.  Please follow here to enter their website (External link)

Question

I am organising a fireworks display later this year. Are there any guidelines I should follow ?

Answer

If you intend to organise a bonfire or firework display you must contact the Environmental Health department on 01380 734888 or email env.health@kennet.gov.uk.

We will require the following information no later than 2 weeks before the event :

1. a Risk Assessment

2. a Method Statement i.e. number of people attending, a plan, who is going to carry out the display, fire safety, emergency contacts etc.

The following Health & Safety Executive (HSE) publications will help you to carry out these assessments;

  • No. HSG124 - 'Giving your own firework display' / ISBN 0-7176-0836-0 / £5.75

  • No. HSG123 - 'Working together on firework displays' / ISBN 0-7176-2478-1 / £8.95

  • No. INDG163(rev1) - 'Five Steps to Risk Assessment' / FREE

These can be ordered from the HSE website www.HSE.gov.uk (External link)

For further information on fire works visit www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks (External link). Their website includes information on :

  • Organising safe & successful firework displays

  • Accident Statistics

  • The 2005 promotional campaign

  • Giving Talks on Fireworks

  • Legislation and

  • Selling Fireworks.

THE FIREWORK SAFETY CODE

  • Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114

  • Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks

  • Keep fireworks in a closed box

  • Follow instructions on each firework

  • Light them at arm’s length, using a taper

  • Stand well back

  • Never go near a firework that has been lit.

  • Even if it doesn’t go off, it could still explode

  • Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them

  • Always supervise children around fireworks

  • Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves

  • Never give sparklers to a child under five

  • Keep pets indoors

This code is also available in Hindi, Bengali & Gujarati at www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks (External link)