22/12/2009 by Geoff.

I recently heard that a young girl had gone missing in a super market.

On hearing of the occurence the super market implemented a lock down - you couldn’t get into or out of the shop!

Subsequently the child was found in the toilets with two strangers. She had been groomed for kidnapping - the attempt failed due to quick thinking and having an emergency plan.

Has your business got one? 

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22/12/2009 by Geoff.

Directors, employers and employees need to be aware of the harsher sentences for Health & Safety breaches contained within the Health & Safety Offences Act, which came into force on January 16^th 2009.  The Act does not create any new offences but increases the maximum penalties available to the Courts in respect of many health & safety offences.There are significantly increased powers to imprison by altering the penalty framework set out in the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, which was considered too cautious with regards to criminalising offenders.  The new law reflects the current view that health & safety offences should be taken more seriously and that health & safety issues should be given more priority by companies.  It is primarily aimed at those who cut corners, thereby potentially putting workers and the public at risk.Most breaches of the Act will now potentially carry a custodial sentence of 12 months imprisonment for a conviction in a

and 2 years for a conviction in a Crown Court.  Fines which may be imposed by a

have been increased from £5,000 to £20,000, whilst fines imposed by a Crown Court remain unlimited.Prosecutions for health & safety breaches can be brought alongside prosecutions brought under the Corporate Manslaughter Act (see website article article).What action should companies be taking to protect themselves?·           Undertake a “healthcheck” of the existing safety management system to identify level of compliance to legislative requirements and best practice·           Ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments are in place for any significant hazards·           Consult regularly with employees in respect of any issues which may affect them·           Provide suitable Information, Instruction and Training to enable employees to execute their duties in a safe manner·           Conduct regular reviews of the Arrangements in place to ensure they remain suitable

·           Ensure support and advice is provided by a competent person

Or just contact EMS at enquiries@emseff.co.uk

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16/12/2009 by Geoff.

FROM TENDER SUBMISSIONS AND THIRD-PARTY AUDITS On many occasions the interpretation, preparation and completion of the pre-qualification questionnaires required by the majority of client organisations may fill you with dread? For small and medium size enterprises this exercise can prove daunting and extremely time consuming for those unfamiliar with the requirements and the standards involved.EMS Management Consultants can provide a useful service to bridge the gap - working with their customers to identify what they do already and formalise it into an acceptable format to present to outside agencies.

For further information on how

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16/12/2009 by Phil.

Having just been confirmed as an A1 assessor for NVQ ii in B-IT (Business improvement techniques), last week I then went onto sit a 2 hour exam (how many years since any of us did that?) to test my knowledge in B-IT. To the uninitiated thats LEAN or the Toyota Production System. I passed!!!!!!!!!!!!! And now I am on my road to Rita approval. The qualification is organised by the Manufacturing Skills Alliance and sponsered by the Sector Skills Council. Just eight more training weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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07/12/2009 by Geoff.

Simone Greasley our HR expert writes:

The Employment Tribunal statistics for 2008/2009 show that the average award for an Age Discrimination claim was £8,000.00.

Message to all employers? Know the rules. If you need some help contact us at enquiries@emseff.co.uk

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07/12/2009 by Geoff.

Are you in the construction industry? Do you want to be part of delivering sustainable construction?   Then visit www.constructionproducts.org.uk  The Construction Products Association aims to work with the construction products industry in the development of products and processes that contribute to a more sustainable built environment. 

There has been several updates this month in NetRegs:  Lights Out for Inefficient Bulbs: Restrictions on the type of lamps and light bulbs that can be manufactured and imported are being introduced to improve energy efficiency and reduce mercury emissions from lamps. Certain types of inefficient lamps and light bulbs will be banned. Site Waste Its Criminal - 10m tonnes of construction products are wasted every year, at a cost of £1.5 billion. Much of this site waste is harmful to the environment and costly to your business. Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) will help you manage site waste more effectively, reducing potential harm to the environment and human health. SWMPs are now a legal requirement in

Do you need assistance with your site waste management plans? If so why not give

.

Written by our environment expert.

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