From rollercoaster accidents to fancy dress costumes, it's been a busy week in the world of H&S...
- The health and safety story that's been dominating the headlines this week is the incident that occurred at Alton Towers on Tuesday. According to the Metro newspaper, 4 people were hospitalised - and a further 12 injured - in a collision between two carriages on the 'Smiler' rollercoaster at the Staffordshire theme park. Other sources (including the BBC) have reported that the park's staff did not call 999 until 11 minutes after the crash. The Health and Safety Executive is currently conducting an investigation, and the park remains closed at time of writing.
- A representative for Hugo Boss UK Ltd plead guilty to charges of contravening health and safety regulations on Wednesday, and the company will be sentenced later this month. The charges were brought against Hugo Boss after four-year-old Austen Harrison was crushed by a two-metre-high mirror that was not properly fixed to the wall in the company's Bicester Village store in 2013; the boy suffered severe brain damage as a result of the accident, and eventually died after being taken off life support.
- Claudia Winkleman has successfully forced a number of big-name retailers to tighten their health and safety standards with regards to children's fancy dress costumes. Winkleman's eight-year-old daughter suffered serious burns after her Halloween costume caught fire last October; according to the Express, the Strictly Come Dancing host was "incensed to discover that the costumes only have to be tested to the same level as toys". Since the accident, Winkleman has been campaigning for stricter regulations on children's fancy dress products, and it seems that her hard work has been rewarded - several large British supermarkets (including Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Asda) will now ensure that all children's costumes meet the same health and safety standards as nightwear products.
- The UK's first privately-funded NHS hospital was also under scrutiny for fire safety failings this week. The Cumberland Infirmary (located in Carlisle) was criticised by Cumbrian's Fire Brigades Union who called the hospital a "major" safety risk and highlighted the inadequacy of the building's fire proofing measures, which - according to the Independent - "did not meet the required protection standard to allow for save [sic] evacuation". The fire fighters have urged the hospital's stakeholders to re-assess the fire safety procedures and materials that have been put into place, warning that "vulnerable patients" could be in particular danger if changes are not made.
- Technology giants Apple found themselves at the centre of yet another fire safety story this week when their Beats Pill XL speakers were recalled on the ground of being a potential fire hazard. The product was launched back in 2013, but - as thefourohfive.com pointed out - "it remains Apple's responsibility to identify, alter or discontinue fault goods being sold under their jurisdiction". The company's official statement is as follows: "Apple has determined that, in rare cases, the battery in the Beats Pill XL may overheat and pose a fire safety risk".
- We end this week's round-up with yet another example of somebody blaming health and safety for something that has absolutely nothing to do with health and safety. Of course, we're used to ridiculous "elf 'n' safety" fiascos in Britain, but this particular story actually comes to us from the USA: it seems that the Louisiana Girl Scouts are refusing to accept transgender members due to - you guessed it - "health and safety" concerns. The HSE haven't covered this story on their brilliant Myth Busters blog, but if they did, we imagine they'd advise the Louisiana Girl Scouts to stop blaming H&S for their own personal views on who should or shouldn't be allowed to join!
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