Finch Journal

Problem-solving is a skill needed by OSH professionals (Occupational safety and health) at all stages of their careers. IOSH asked Finch’s experienced OSH manager and industrial hygienist Dr Steve Cowley for his advice on how to do it well.

Over 6 articles, Morag McWilliam takes a look at employees’ exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and who might be at risk. Morag details what employers must do to manage the health risks, control measures which should be applied, exposure limits, the use and maintenance of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems, health surveillance, exposure monitoring and training.

In the next 6 articles, Morag McWilliam takes a look at employees’ exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and who might be at risk. Morag details what employers must do to manage the health risks, control measures which should be applied, exposure limits, the use and maintenance of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) systems, health surveillance, exposure monitoring and training.   

Finch’s Melvin Sandell and LEAPS Jon Ruddock to present at Safety and Health Expo 2023.

If you’re working with chemicals, safety data sheets (SDSs) are essential, so that you are aware of the hazards and risks associated with using and handling the material. SDSs also help you understand how different substances react under certain circumstances and if there are any special precautions that need to be taken. Morag McWilliam and Tristan Pulford explain in this article how this is important because materials need to be stored and handled correctly.

If you’re working with chemicals, safety data sheets (SDSs) are essential, so that you are aware of the hazards and risks associated with using and handling the material. SDSs also help you understand how different substances react under certain circumstances and if there are any special precautions that need to be taken. Morag McWilliam and Tristan Pulford explain in this article how this is important because materials need to be stored and handled correctly.

Finch is incredibly proud to be sponsoring the FDF Awards again, this time we are sponsoring the Manufacturing Innovation category. 

Asset Management Expert Paul Wood delves into safety in relation to plant & equipment and how maintaining compliance with the applicable regulations, will form a strong foundation upon which to achieve the zero-harm. The first part looks at the regulations applied during Pre-operation which you can catch up on here. This second part will consider the regulations applicable during operation.

In the first and second parts of this article, Steve discusses the selection, use and storage and maintenance of personal respiratory protective equipment. This final part explores training and education and draws everything to a conclusion.

Asset Management Expert Paul Wood delves into safety in relation to plant & equipment and how, by maintaining compliance with the applicable regulations, will form a strong foundation upon which to achieve the zero-harm.

With the UK net-zero greenhouse gas emission 2050 target, there is a growing demand for sustainable methods of decarbonising industrial production. Many industries now find that Hydrogen will be a fundamental component of their manufacturing process.

Dr Stephen Cowley is an experienced occupational health and safety expert spending many years of his career working in industry. In the first part of this article (link), Steve discusses the selection of personal respiratory protective equipment. This part explores the use and storage and maintenance.

An HSE Safety Alert was released last week about exposure to diacetyl vapour in food and drink manufacturing. It has been found that exposure to the vapour can lead to severe and irreversible lung disease. In this bulletin, Morag McWilliam lets you know what you should do if your processes include the use of diacetyl.

In 2022 Finch celebrated its thirtieth year in business. To commemorate we committed to raising much-needed funds for the local branch of Mind to give something back to the community.

Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) which had not been implemented before Brexit, are no longer to be implemented automatically as originally planned. In this article, Morag McWilliam discusses workplace exposure limits after Brexit and control measures that employers should implement following the ‘Principles of good practice for the control of substances hazardous to health.’

Dr Stephen Cowley is an experienced occupational health and safety expert spending many years of his career working in industry. In this article, which is split into 3 parts, Steve discusses personal respiratory protection and the steps the user can take to achieve the desired protection. This first part looks at the selection of personal respiratory protective equipment.

Following the recent publication of a white paper by the Institute of Asset Management (the IAM) looking at ‘How asset management can enable the circular economy’ it got Paul Wood thinking about how Finch incorporates this level of thinking into the support and services it offers its clients.

In part two of dealing with enforcement notices health and safety solicitor Sue Dearden chats with Sylvie Wright about the appeal process.

Measuring, monitoring and recording vibration exposure are not controlling vibration exposure, and it is the control that is key to protecting and preserving workers’ health. In this video, Teli Chinelis discusses vibration-monitoring devices and their pros and cons.

In this video health and safety solicitor Sue Dearden chats with Sylvie Wright about the difference between improvement and prohibitions notices, if there is any financial penalty with the service of a notice, how to try to avoid being served with one and the grounds for making an appeal.