Any moving machinery or equipment in the workplace has the potential to cause injury to users. Even fully trained operatives following procedures, with fully maintained machines, with prescribed safety features and using appropriate protective clothing and equipment, have to be mindful that things can go wrong.

A whole range of differing injuries can be sustained including:

Entanglement between moving or rotating machinery, whether this be contact with hair, hands, jewellery or clothing. This can include equipment utilising rollers, belts or pulley drives.

Crush injuries from pinch points, or from being struck by moving parts.

Entrapment can result from being ensnared between different parts of the equipment, or between equipment and walls or other objects.

Cut and abrasion injuries can be caused by blades, shears or other sharp pointed component parts.

Electric shock injuries from direct exposure to machinery powered by mains voltages.

Burns and scalds from contact with hot surfaces, or ejected fluids or hot gases.

In the UK between the period, 2010/11 and 2014/15, 20% of all fatalities from accidents through contact with machinery in the manufacturing sector (Riddor). Annually around 70,000 self-reported injuries are recorded annually, and almost 29% of these result in absences of over 7 days duration (Labour Force Survey). The higher incident of above average workplace injuries can be found in firstly, skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades, and secondly, process, plant and machine operatives.

One key area to reinforce the message of vigilance when using such machines, equipment or tooling is to clearly mark the dangers during operation or maintenance and servicing is to use recognised safety signs and machine labels. Label Source has a comprehensive range of such products for use on machinery or their areas of operation. These include; electrical hazard safety signs; lockout products; general hazard warning signs; personal protective safety signs; chemical hazard safety warning signs; and safety labelling.

For more information on these products, together with customised labelling please contact Label Source by e-mail (sales@labelsource.co.uk) or by telephone 0800 3761693 (in UK) or +44 (1443) 842769 (outside UK).

Health and safety helps countless people all over the world every day. It helps people to stay safe at work, in public places, and even in their own homes, and it ensures that those who put the safety of others at risk don't get away with it. Health and safety is an important and useful industry with a vital role to play in the modern world.

Sadly, as we've seen time and again, many people seem to think that health and safety's primary purpose is to serve as an all-purpose excuse for any occasion. The latest manifestation of this attitude came just yesterday, when a hotel in Llangollen, Denbighshire closed down without notice and pinned the blame on - you guessed it - "health and safety concerns" (source). The Wild Pheasant's management have cancelled all bookings, including wedding receptions, and placed the business into the hands of administrators, but no explanation appears to have been given beyond the one token mention of H&S.

This sort of thing is incredibly damaging to the health and safety industry, and especially to public opinion thereof. Many UK citizens are already far too sceptical of health and safety measures (or 'red tape'), and stories like this don't help at all. The closure of the Wild Pheasant will no doubt cause a good deal of disruption to numerous people's plans, and those individuals will now have to seek refunds and entirely reorganise their holidays or even their weddings. It's not hard to see how the people in that position might end up resenting the "health and safety concerns" that we're told led to this closure.

So, business owners of Britain, it's time to make a pledge: please do not blame health and safety for problems that have nothing to do with measures that, at the end of the day, are only there to protect people. And if you do genuinely feel that H&S is somehow the root of your troubles, at least give a more specific explanation than 'we're closing due to health and safety concerns'!

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Photo by Josie Campbell (geograph.org.uk)

It states in the Health and Safety (Safety Sign and Signals) Regulations 1996 the following "The regulations to ensure that safety signs are provided (or are in place) and maintained in circumstances where there is significant risk to health and safety that has not been removed or controlled by other methods" so in order to comply with the regulations you must ensure that there is safety and warning signs in place or you could face some serious penalties. But what if there is space restrictions stopping your from putting these signs in place? These Small Safety Signs are perfect for that exact reason!

These Small Safety Signs are made from semi-rigid plastic and have an adhesive backing allowing them to stick to any surface with ease! These labels cover the full range of safety sign classifications from Fire Equipment (e.g. Fire Extinguisher, Fire Alarms and Fire Assembly Points) to Mandatory Signs, such as "Wear Eye Protection" signs and "Wear Mask" signs. Each sign is colour coded and complies with ISO1070 and the Safety Sign and Signals Regulations 1996. These signs are perfect if space restrictions are stopping you from placing safety and warning signs in the area. 

Click here to view our full range of Small Safety Signs.