Action to Tackle Fraudulent Asbestos Surveyors Defrauding Householders and Businesses and Threatening Health

The British Occupational Hygiene Society, the leading awarding organisation for professionals involved in the identification, protection and analysis of asbestos is leading a national initiative to drive out criminals from the asbestos surveying industry.

Asbestos, a substance found in hundreds of thousands of UK buildings becomes cancer causing when it is disturbed, resulting in around 5,000 preventable deaths a year. 

Identifying the presence of asbestos requires specialist knowledge to safely survey, identify likely places where is present and to safely take samples.

However, around 100 companies in the UK are offering asbestos survey services without any training or qualification or using fraudulent certifications. The result is seriously endangering the health of householders and often goes hand-in-hand with sharp business practice and unlawful and dangerous removal practices.

BOHS has been assisting trading standards and a separate investigation by the Daily Mail newspaper to bring fraudulent asbestos surveyors to justice.

Responding to a national initiative, announced this week to tackle qualifications fraud Ofqual’s action plan for the prevention of qualification fraud – GOV.UK, BOHS is announcing the launch of several initiatives aimed at keeping businesses and homeowners safe from this criminal enterprise.

A national Register of Qualified Asbestos Surveyors is being launched, in consultation with the Royal Society for Public Health, which also awards in this area. The register will go live next month to enable individual surveyors to have their qualifications checked by those using their services, their employers and regulators. 

The scheme runs alongside work being done by ARCA, the asbestos contractors trade body, to ensure asbestos surveyors using the CSCS scheme have validated qualifications when working on construction sites. It also underpins the national quality scheme run by UKAS to accredit asbestos surveying companies.

Asbestos surveyors will have six months to verify their qualifications and have the opportunity to join a voluntary complaints scheme run by the professional body for asbestos experts, the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM). Verified surveyors will be able to use a logo, with an embedded verification QR code to provide clients with assurance of certification.

FAAM will also be issuing a “buyer’s guide” in March, aimed at helping businesses and individuals make procurement decisions to minimize risk and help them comply with the law.

In addition, FAAM will issue a standards statement, which outlines the competences and skills required to undertake safe and effective surveys, bringing together regulatory guidance and standards to help businesses, lawyers and insurers have a clear understanding of the professional standard of competence and care for contracts and in the case of claims in negligence.

BOHS CEO, Professor Kevin Bampton told That's Business: “Last year the scale of fraud on homeowners had got to the extent that a Google search was more likely to offer you a scam provider than a legitimate one. You can’t see, smell or taste whether asbestos is present, but the health consequences of disturbing it can be very significant and it can be a blight on property. 

"Criminals have been exploiting a loophole in the law that puts the burden on the building owner to manage asbestos. By preying on fear and the difficulty in detecting the substance, they have been ripping off businesses and home-owners and putting their health at risk.”

He continues, “As the awarding organisation for those who have been trained in this complex area, we feel the need to do more to make the public aware of the risks. 

"We have to be clear that surveying a building for the presence of asbestos is a highly complex task and a qualification on its own is not enough. But without doubt, you should never employ a surveyor without a valid BOHS P402 or RSPH Level 3 Survey qualification.”

BOHS has been the leading awarding body for asbestos surveyors for decades, but recent years have seen an alarming growth in criminal activity, including the falsification of certificates. BOHS is a charity and registration including the cost of the complaints scheme and administration of the logo verification will cost each surveyor only £20.

“We strongly advocate that people use UKAS accredited surveying firms, but also recognize that there are excellent surveyors who are not in that scheme. 

"As the professional body, FAAM want to ensure that those who have a duty to manage asbestos can access the appropriate level of professional advice and guidance. 

"Our three-fold approach to tackle qualifications fraud, help intelligent procurement and make a clear statement of minimum standards of competence aims to help deliver this. We want to avoid as many unnecessary deaths and reduce criminal activity as far as we can.”

https://www.bohs.org

Workplace stress fuels shift in employee expectations around health support

• Over half (54%) of employees view access to mental health resources as a deciding factor whether to join or stay with a company

• 48% place the same importance on stress reduction programmes

• A third of businesses still not offering stress reduction support for their staff

As workplace stress continues to rise, new data from international recruitment firm, Robert Half, reveals British workers want their employers to do more to boost their physical and mental wellbeing.

The firm’s latest Salary Guide, which reveals skills commanding salary premiums, evolving pay expectations, and the importance of emerging perks and benefits, highlights a growing expectation for companies to offer health-focused benefits as part of their employee value proposition.

This sentiment comes at a time when data from the Priory reveals 79% of people in the UK feel stressed at least once every  month.

According to Robert Half, workers are seeking support from their employers to help tackle the strains on their mental wellbeing.

In excess of  half (54%) have stated access to mental health resources and employee assistance programmes would influence their decision to join or stay with a company, while a further 48% are drawn to companies offering stress reduction initiatives. 

With a third of businesses still not offering any stress reduction support according to the data, it’s clear tackling workplace burnout has become an urgent priority.

Supporting employee wellbeing through physical health initiatives also key

On top of the mental health support workers are seeking, a large number have also indicated a desire for additional perks to help improve their physical health. 

49% of employees say access to gym memberships influences their decision to join or stay with a company. Over a third (36%) also value in-office physical activities such as yoga and group exercise sessions, which 41% of employers currently don’t offer.

For employees working remotely, there also remains a desire for perks to keep them active. 36% of respondents indicated that access to virtual physical activity platforms is desirable, while 42% of employers still don’t feature this in their perks and benefits packages. 

Amid rising concerns about burnout and work-life balance, these findings underscore a clear call to action for businesses to prioritise health-focused benefits as a core part of their employee offering.

Matt Weston, Senior Managing Director UK & Ireland at Robert Half, told That's Business: “This data reinforces what we’ve long believed, employee wellbeing must be at the heart of every organisation’s culture. 

"Here at Robert Half, we’ve made meaningful investments in mental health resources, physical activity initiatives and flexible benefits to support our teams. When businesses prioritise wellbeing, they don’t just retain talent, they empower people to thrive.

“These findings reflect a broader shift in employee expectations, where wellbeing is no longer seen as a perk but a priority. With wellbeing clearly now a key factor in talent attraction and retention, companies that embrace holistic support for their workforce are better positioned to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.”

https://www.roberthalf.com/gb/en

Keeping staff healthy is good for them and good for business

It makes good business sense pays to keep employees healthy. Research published today reveals as little as 15 minutes of physical activity a day can bring enormous health benefits.

The study, published in The Lancet, reviewed physical activity levels of over 400,000 people and found that just 15 minutes of exercise a day can reduce the risk of all-cause death by 14% and increase life expectancy.

The workplace is a great place to encourage physical activity, providing an estimated 54% of the global population with the opportunity to improve their health. But how can the effectiveness of increased activity be measured?

An answer to this question comes from iGlobalFitness, who announced at today’s rebrand as iGlobalWellness, their commitment to supporting organisations to improve the health of their workforce with a suite of revolutionary wellness services. iGlobalWellness is a wellness consultancy service built on years of experience building programmes specially designed to help employers reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and morale, and lower turnover rates.

“Wellness programmes help employees feel valued, empowering individuals, and increasing productivity and profitability. We have worked hard over the last three years to put together a set of world class wellness programmes for the 21st Century,” points out a proud Paul Tomlin, CEO of iGlobalWellness.

The health and wellness of the workforce plays a major part in the success of the business. iGlobalWellness use strategic programmes to help organisations to promote positive health and wellbeing among their employees, enhancing performance and helping businesses to gain a competitive advantage.

Measurement and sustainability are key to the services provided by iGlobalWellness, ensuring organisations can easily evaluate the effectiveness of wellness strategies and enabling employees to incorporate the programmes into their busy lifestyles.

"These studies back what we already know - that doing a little bit of physical activity each day brings health benefits. We hope these studies will help more people realise that there are many ways to get exercise, activities like walking at a good pace or digging the garden over can count too," said England’s Chief Medical Officer, speaking to the BBC today.

With a global network of personal trainers, wellness facilitators and qualified coaches, iGlobalWellness can develop new wellness programmes for businesses or provide existing wellness programmes with support to make them more sustainable and effective. At their rebrand, iGlobalWellness launched their latest wellness services to complement the range of programmes they already provide.

The Wellness for Life workshop educates employees about behaviours necessary to lead healthier lifestyles, focusing on four key areas; iPhysical, iNutritional, iEmotional, and iSpiritual.

The Stay Active Challenge, a fun and engaging competition between corporate teams, was launched earlier this year and has already proved popular among businesses due to the motivating Boot Camps, Pound Punchers and Nutrition Consultations provided to Challenge participants.

Personal Wellness Programmes are customised to employee needs and provide regular reviews of Lifestyle, Health, Nutrition, Exercise and Daily activity with support from Wellness Facilitators and Activity Coaches.

All iGlobalWellness’ programmes are enhanced by the iAM, an exclusive, advanced activity monitor and online coaching system.

FACTFILE:-
iGlobalWellness is the first company of its kind to offer a worldwide network of personal wellness training services for both the corporate and consumer market. They work with companies to develop effective wellness strategies using a global network of resources to offer a range of sustainable and measurable wellness services, designed to stimulate employee participation, increase performance and drive employee engagement. They work closely with ActionAid, making an automatic donation for every employee who takes part in their programmes.

www.iGlobalWellness.com

www.StayActiveChallenge.com

Which is the most dangerous industry to work in?

New statistics reveal which industry in the UK has the highest fatality rate.

According to provisional figures compiled by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in June 2011, waste and recycling is currently the most dangerous industry to work in.

Five years ago there were seven fatal injuries per 1,000 workers in the waste and recycling industry but this figure has now risen to 8.7 deaths. Nine deaths were recorded in the industry during the period April 2010 to March 2011.

• Waste and recycling

Peter Woolgar, HSE’s head of waste and recycling, said: “The fact that nine people failed to come home safe and well from their jobs last year is a stark reminder to the industry that it still has a long way to go.”

The data shows that across all industries, there were 171 workplace fatalities in 2010/11 compared to 2009/10’s record low of 147.

Roger Bibbings, occupational safety advisor with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) called the rise in the number of fatalities “disappointing”.

Mr Bibbings said: “These figures show that continuing efforts in health and safety are required.”

The safety expert was particularly concerned that nearly half 2010/2011’s fatalities have occurred in two sectors – agriculture and construction.

• Construction

Construction has the highest number of fatalities for the year (50, with a rate of 2.4 deaths per 1,000 workers). The life of a construction worker can be extremely hazardous – with fatalities involving electrocution, being hit by falling objects and being trapped underneath vehicles appearing in the HSE statistics.

• Agriculture

The agriculture industry suffered fewer fatalities than the construction industry (34) but had the second highest rate (8 deaths per 1,000 workers).

Incidents involving fatal accidents in the sector included one in which a man was struck by a bale, one in which a man struck his head after being knocked to the ground by a bull and one in which a man was trampled to death by cattle.

• Other industries

Of the other main industries, manufacturing accounted for 27 fatal injuries (1.1 deaths per 1,000 workers) while in the services sector there were 47 fatal injuries (0.2 deaths per 1,000 workers).

• Tip of the iceberg?

Roger Bibbings of Rospa linked the rise in the fatality rate to major cuts in the health and safety budget.

He said: “Tragic as they are, notifiable fatal injuries are only the tip of a much larger iceberg; at least twice as many workers are killed on the roads while driving as part of their job; and thousands of workers are continuing to die annually from past exposure to hazardous agents such as asbestos.”

No qualification? Then you are not wanted, says report

Anyone looking for a health and safety job without suitable health and safety qualifications "need not apply" according to new research by NEBOSH.

For the 2011 NEBOSH Jobs Barometer found that only three of 100 nationally advertised health and safety vacancies failed to specify an appropriate level qualification or professional status.

Between 23rd March and 6 April 2011, NEBOSH (National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) examined one hundred job adverts for health and safety managers or advisors. In 93 cases, a NEBOSH qualification and/or Technician Membership of IOSH or higher was specified as a requirement for the job on offer.

Overall, 66 of the 100 positions mentioned at least one NEBOSH qualification. A NEBOSH Diploma was specified in 45 cases and a NEBOSH Certificate level qualification 37 times. As well as the NEBOSH General Certificate, employers were also seeking NEBOSH Fire and Risk Management, Construction and Environmental Certificates.

Membership of IOSH (The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health) at Technician level or higher was mentioned in 48 job adverts. Five mentioned 'Tech IOSH', 'Grad IOSH' was specified 17 times and 26 positions called for Chartered Membership (CMIOSH). Membership at all three levels requires accredited qualifications.

The average top-end salary advertised was £45,000 per annum. The majority of vacancies (29%) were located in London, with a further 28% in the Home Counties and South East. Around 1 in 6 (18%) were based in the Midlands or East Anglia, 7% in the North West, 7% in Wales and the South West, 5% in Scotland and 2% in Yorkshire and the North East. Slightly less than one in 20 (4%) vacancies were "flexible" on location. Many of the roles required travel throughout the UK and some overseas.

NEBOSH Chief Executive, Teresa Budworth, said she was delighted with the high standards being set by employers when it came to health and safety roles. "It's clear anyone seeking a job as a health and safety manager or advisor in the UK will struggle to find a position without appropriate level qualifications."

The 2011 NEBOSH Jobs Barometer also revealed that as many as 62% of advertised health and safety positions included responsibility for environmental management, up from 55% in April 2010. Over half (53%) of job titles refer to "environment", up from 42% last year. Job titles and responsibilities also included "quality", "facilities", "risk management", "assurance" and "well-being".

Teresa Budworth went on to say: "The role of the modern health and safety manager is being extended into various areas, particularly environmental management. Where this is the case, I would like to see more employers specifying further relevant qualifications.

"Our latest study showed that while almost two thirds of advertised positions included responsibility for environmental management, an environmental qualification, such as the NEBOSH Environmental Diploma, was only occasionally required."

NEBOSH will be exhibiting at this year's Safety and Health Expo, NEC, Birmingham which takes place from 17 to 19 May on Stand Q90, where you would be able to find details of the range of NEBOSH qualifications now available. Also see www.nebosh.org.uk/qualifications for details of qualifications in the vitally important field of health and safety.

Water coolers make staff healthier and boost productivity

‘A healthy workforce is a happy workforce’ well, that’s often said, but how often does anyone DO anything about it?  Those people who use the services of Angel Springs, because in the case of Angel Springs ‘a hydrated workforce is a more productive workforce’ is the rule.

Good levels of hydration within the office are proven to improve concentration, provide better mental and physical efficiency and a greater level of productivity. A bottle or mains fed water cooler are known to be the best way of encouraging water consumption in the office.

Leading water cooler service provider in the United Kingdom, Angel Springs offer a number of both bottled and mains fed water coolers.

All Angel Springs’ water coolers are offered on a number of different packages, each tailored specifically towards the needs of the customer and offering a large amount of flexibility.

Since being launched in 1989, Angel Springs have maintained a high standard of quality and customer service, something the company prides itself on.

Already the leading water cooler service provider in the United Kingdom, Angel Springs continue to add thousands of new customers per month.

All customer queries are dealt with professionally and efficiently by the Angel Springs customer services staff, all of whom are BWCA (British Water Cooler Association) qualified and offer a wealth of specialist knowledge.

Regional distribution centres allow Angel Springs to source the best quality water from locations such as the Cotswold Hills to ensure customers get the best quality for money.

To find out more about Angel Springs, visit the website: www.angelsprings.com or call 0845 370 1177.