When the news of a fire in a London tower block broke recently, most people’s minds would have gone to Grenfell Tower, and the worst case scenario that might unfold. Thankfully, the fire was extinguished successfully, with everyone successfully evacuated from the building. Nevertheless, the fact that such a fire could take place so long… Read More
India, the world’s most populous nation, is also its largest importer of asbestos. The deadly substance is linked to a range of devastating respiratory diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Yet despite this, asbestos continues to be used widely across the country, with no obvious end in sight. While the appeal of asbestos is… Read More
This year’s King’s Speech made a number of eye-catching policy proposals on behalf of the new Labour government. For us, one of the stand-outs was a promise to reform the Mental Health Act. While not a surprise, the decision to feature it in the speech shows that it will be a focus for Labour, and… Read More
The Health and Safety at Work Act revolutionised workplace safety in the UK (it’s kinda what our campaign is about). However, the law also had unheralded impacts outside of the workplace. Perhaps the most evident, far-reaching and long-lasting was Section 6, and the impact it had on the way products and equipment were designed and… Read More
The 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act is an opportunity to look back, and see how far safety has advanced in 50 years. It’s difficult to imagine a time in living memory when there were no health and safety protections for workers in many industries, and where there was little liability… Read More
More than two decades after asbestos was widely banned, new laws about the substance are few and far between. Proposals by the European Union then were both unexpected and highly welcome for many observers, both in the EU and further afield. Unfortunately for everyone with a stake in regulating the substance, the latest news isn’t… Read More
Thrillseekers looking for the ultimate rollercoaster won’t have to settle for a mere 205-foot drop. Hyperia, the newest and tallest rollercoaster in the UK, has been reopened after an interrupted launch. The ride had been closed after just one day of operation following “standard technical pre-opening procedure checks”. There’s no indication that the ride was… Read More
You no doubt remember the recent news about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge in Baltimore – prominently featured in The Wire – collapsed after being hit by an out-of-control container ship. The bridge was cleared of traffic after the captain of the ship issued a mayday, but six construction workers… Read More
“If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going”. It’s a phrase that has followed the American aircraft manufacturer through decades of dominance, both at home and abroad. Not without reason, either: while competitors such as McDonnell Douglas struggled to overcome high-profile accidents – most notably with its DC-10 aircraft – Boeing was long considered the gold… Read More
We’ve harped on enough about the ongoing risks of asbestos. Thousands of tonnes of asbestos were imported into the UK, and most of it hasn’t left. Instead, it litters old properties and brownfield sites, slowly degrading and waiting to be dealt with. It’s a mess that someone will have to clean up eventually, but nobody… Read More