27APS UK LTD |
BEST PRACTICE REPRESENTATIVE 2018
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
reported in 2016 that there are an
estimated 12,000 deaths each year
due to past exposures to respiratory
agents at work.
A range of lung diseases can be
caused by exposures in the workplace
including diseases which are very
serious – such as cancer and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease –
which can often be fatal. Estimates
of self-reported “breathing or
lung problems” according to the
Labour Force Survey currently show
around 18,000 new cases each year.
Moreover, there are 41,000 new and
longstanding cases among those
who worked in the previous year,
and 147,000 among those who have
ever worked. LEV, usually referred
to as dust and fume extraction, is
one of the most common control
measures employed to prevent
exposure in the workplace. The LEV
industry has recognised that, in
future, it must ensure that engineers
within the industry are fully trained
and examined to a higher and
accreditedlevel.
The Institute of Local Exhaust
Ventilation Engineers (ILEVE) was
formed in 2010 to bring about
a significant improvement in the
effectiveness of the equipment and
services provided by the LEV industry
and to raise awareness in providing a
platform for competent LEV engineers
and service providers.
Adrian is the honourable secretary on
the steering committee of ILEVE and
is committed to this venture. With the
continuing support of industry, the
relevant agencies and associations are
confident regarding future success.
The ultimate goal, according to ILEVE,
is, “To reduce the levels of ill health
caused by poor workplace air quality
by improving the knowledge and
practices used by people providing LEV
equipment, systems andservices.”
Government–business climate
To date, there does not appear to be
much in the way of a negative feeling in
our market sectors towards Brexit. The
pain is just the process of getting there.
Politicians are becoming more aligned
with industry and its needs. As things
stand, Britain needs to increase
its technically trained workforce.
Technology, especially factory
automation, is increasingly replacing
lower-skilled repetitive jobs. The
jobs that survive this require more
engineering and management skills
while being both more enriching and
better paid than ever before. Growth
simply isn’t achievable without people
joining the company, and a shortage
of technical personnel in the industry is
a major issue.
Adrian also believes it’s wrong to
burden micro and SME businesses with
all the administration related to the
collection of taxes, especially when
using the stipulated HMRC software,
which can be frustrating and time-
consuming. We feel that perhaps
the government could instead carry
the burden of administration and
reconciliation for PAYE, employers’ NI,
corporation tax, pension, maternity
pay, VAT and the online filing of
accounts – though we recognise this
could be costly. Team at work while
completing wobble
board challenge
Each year
thousands of
people die or
suffer ill health
as a result of
breathing in
dust, gases, and
vapours at their
workplace
“
“
Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett
Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles
