Santia’s Responseline provides a health, safety & environmental information service to organisations with a solution via the phone or email within 48 hours. The highly qualified team of professionals provide technical interpretation, practical advice and answers in a wide range of health, safety & environmental topics from asbestos to fire safety. They use an extensive knowledge base with computerised data retrieval systems and comprehensive library resources. Bespoke helplines can be developed to meet organisational needs too. Santia holds the CCA Global Standard by the Customer Contact Association in 2009. Responseline service will empower your audience to ensure compliance and best practice in your organisation.
2 popular questions the ResponseLine team are receiving at present & their recommended answers.
Q Do we have to provide outdoor workers with sun screen?
A Employers do not have duty to provide sunscreen. They should ensure that their risk assessment considers work in the sun, shade, covering up and job rotation.
The Health and Safety Executive advises that employers should:
- Include sun protection advice in routine health and safety training
- Encourage workers to keep covered up during the summer months
- Encourage workers to use sunscreen of at least SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 15
- Encourage workers to take their breaks in the shade, if possible, rather than staying out in the sun.
- Consider scheduling work to minimise exposure.
- Site water points and rest areas in the shade.
- Encourage workers to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
- Keep workers informed about the dangers of sun
- Encourage workers to check their skin regularly for unusual spots or moles that change size, shape or colour and to seek medical advice promptly if they find anything that causes them concern.
Q Is it correct that turban wearing Sikhs don’t have to wear hard hats on construction sites?
A Following a campaign by the British Sikh Federation, Sikhs working on construction sites are exempt from the requirement in the Construction (Head Protection) Regulations 1989 to wear hard hats. Therefore, the duties on employers and self-employed persons in these Regulations to provide head protection, and ensure that it is worn, do not apply in connection with the wearing of head protection by a turban-wearing Sikh.
No other workers are exempt from the Regulations.
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