HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

We join our country in mourning the passing of The Queen.May Her Majesty Rest in Peace. The Funeral is expected to be held at Westminster Abbey in about 10 or 11 days’ time, with the date to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace. It is likely to be declared a Bank Holiday, if it falls on […]
Fire Door Safety

With Fire Door Safety Week approaching – 19th to 25th September 2022 – this is an opportune time to highlight the critical role fire doors play in the preservation of life and building fire safety.Unfortunately, as Sentient Consultants visit and walk around premises undertaking Health and Safety Audits and Fire Risk Assessments, we are finding […]
Are Your First Aiders Prepared For Body Fluids?

Body fluids are an inevitable outcome of injuries or becoming ill at work and it’s something that’s not covered in significant detail in First Aid Training.Being prepared to deal with body fluid spills can make what can be an uncomfortable task a little easier and a lot safer.The main risk from bodily fluids is infection […]
CLIENT HEALTH AND SAFETY REMINDER

Selection, Control and Coordination of Contractors by Clients The case below should be a horrific reminder to all those involved where Contractors are being used to undertake work activities on Clients sites/premises. It is the Clients responsibility as well as Contractors to ensure the safety of anyone on the sites/premises.In the case below a metal spanner […]
THE NEONATAL CARE (LEAVE AND PAY) BILL

An announcement in the Budget in March 2020 confirmed the Government’s commitment (at the time) to support the parents of some 40,000 babies every year who are born prematurely and require prolonged medical treatment. It seeks to relieve the additional stress of having to juggle looking after a baby in Hospital with work, and to […]
EXTREME RED, LEVEL 4 HEAT WEATHER WARNINGS ISSUED

Current Extreme Weather Warning Period:Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July 2022 The Meteorological Office have just uprated their warnings for the first time to the highest alert, Red – Extreme Heat Level, and this covers parts of the northern region as far north as York, Leeds, Manchester areas. In other parts of the region, an […]
COVID UPSURGE

With the news that Covid-19 cases have surged again, we thought it might be useful to remind you what the current rules are around what you (or your employees) should do if you (or they) contract Covid-19 or are in close contact with someone who has.What are the (ever expanding) Covid symptoms?The NHS says many […]
NEW GUIDANCE ON FIT NOTES

As previously advised in our Information Update 2022/15 (15th June 2022) the law changed on 1st July with regard to who can issue Statement of Fitness to Work (“Fit Notes”). Fit Notes can now be issued by a variety of healthcare professionals, and the Government have produced updated Guidance – ‘Getting the most out of […]
EMPLOYING CONTRACTORS –
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HEALTH & SAFETY?

It is a commonly held misconception that when you employ a contractor to carry out work on your site, you effectively ‘sign over health and safety of the work to them’. After all, they’re the professionals, aren’t they? Or are they? How do you know? You might think that when you employ a builder, you’re […]
Changes to Statement of Fitness for Work (“Fit Notes”)

The Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 comes into effect from 1st July 2022.This means that more health professionals have been given the power to certify and issue a Statement of Fitness for Work (“Fit Notes”) to Employees who are absent from work because of sickness.Employees […]