What's been happening in the world of health and safety recently? Here are four top stories from the last 7 days:
Doncaster dig scuppered by asbestos particles
Archaeology enthusiasts in Doncaster were left disappointed this week when asbestos particles were found in soil samples outside St Peter in Chains Church on Chequer Road. This location had been chosen as the site for a dig to "uncover the borough's First World War heritage", but work was halted as soon as those overseeing the dig suspected that potentially harmful debris might be present under the ground. The trenches have now been filled back in.
See also: #BewareAsbestos with Label Source
Aberdeen council fined after near-drowning incident
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire councils were both hit with hefty fines this week in relation to an incident that occurred in 2012. An 11-year-old boy narrowly avoided death after being found unconscious under the water at Stonehaven outdoor pool; a court found that both the number and positioning of lifeguards at the pool had been insufficient, and the two councils have been fined £9,000 (Aberdeen council) and £4,000 (Aberdeenshire council) for failing to carry out a sufficient risk assessment.
See also: Hazards from Recreational Water-Based Activities
Bruton sculpture too hot to handle
A bronze sculpture in Bruton, Somerset, is to be fitted with a hazard warning sign to remind passers-by that the sculpture's surface can get very hot on sunny days. Man on a Bench by Giles Penny is a popular landmark in Bruton, but the town's mayor is concerned that visitors who sit on the sculpture for a photo opportunity may get a "shock" if the metal has been heated by the sunshine.
See also: Hot Surface Signs & Labels
Warning signs torn down at lake where teenagers drowned
Two teenagers drowned in the Thorpe St Andrew lake in Norfolk this Wednesday, and local news outlets have reported that safety signs placed around the area in question had been vandalised prior to the incident. A representative from the Norfolk Wildlife Trust - who run the site - expressed frustration over failed attempts to warn swimmers of the hazards and discourage them from entering the water. "We put signs up, but they have all been torn down or vandalised," said Brendan Joyce, the Trust's CE. "There were half a dozen signs at key points so there was no way they could have been overlooked."
See also: Cambridgeshire Policeman Highlights the Importance of Water Safety Signs
More health and safety news and insight here >>
Pictured (left to right): St Peter in Chains Church, Doncaster; Stonehaven outdoor pool, Aberdeenshire; Giles Penny's Man on a Bench, Bruton
