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The Health and Safety Executive have completed an inspection initiative focussing on the prevention and management of sharps injuries in forty NHS organisations. Health and safety breaches were found in 90% of the services visited and inspectors issued improvement notices to 45% of those NHS organisations. In this article Richard Griffith sets out the key findings of the inspection initiative and considers their impact on district nursing practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on industrial health and safety in Europe. The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has expressed concern over the increasing volume of hydrocarbon releases in the offshore industry. Figures released showed that there had been no improvement in this type of incident in 2007-2008. Among the main causes of injuries were related to slips or falls, being trapped, struck by or striking against equipment, among others. To this end, the Health & Safety At Work Etc. Act was implemented and since its introduction, safety performance has improved by over 70%. In Germany, a new version of the Chemical Law porives several guideines into German right. It aims to protect people and the envirnmental against the harmful influence of dangerous chemicals and mixtures.

Presents news briefs on industrial safety as of March 2001. Details on the water quality research award to be given by the Water Environment Research Foundation; Proposal for increased penalties on safety violations in Australia; Information on safety improvement program initiated by Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP; Launching of a government web site by the Health and Safety Executive of Great Britain.

The article reports on the issuance of a revamped risk assessment guide to simplify risk assessments by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain. According to Jonathan Rees, HSE's deputy chief executive, good risk assessment is the way to save lives. Five Steps to Risk Assessment has been revised and simplified for the average business person. Advice and tips on five key elements to an effective risk assessment is provided in the 11-page booklet. The booklet can be downloaded at www.hse.gov.uk/risk.

The article presents information about the launch of a debate on the causes of risk aversion in health and safety, organized by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the House of Lords in Great Britain. Lord Philip Hunt of Kings Heath said that since 1974 when the Health and Safety at Work Act was passed, the rate of workplace fatalities has dropped by two thirds. The hazards in construction have, if anything, got greater since the 1970s, but the rate of fatal accidents has fallen dramatically. But yet there is a perception that things are getting worse. As part of HSE's determination to build an integrated debate, the launch includes a new Web forum and discussion document which provide an opportunity for everyone to be involved in the debate and take part in live discussions which will ultimately benefit the British society as a whole. The HSE is seeking to involve key opinion formers from all areas, including the media, CBI and Local Government through round table events, a Web forum and other events designed to get people communicating and get to the root causes of risk aversion.

The article reports on the British Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) warning that many workers are being exposed to fluids which could lead to diseases such as asthma. HSE emphasized that fluids used in the metalworking industry, which could be contaminated, can be hazardous when inhaled or rubbed into the skin.