Blogs
IKEA recalls children’s drum kit amid safety concerns
The international retailer IKEA has issued a recall on one of its children's products after concerns that it could pose a health risk. The toy drum kit includes drumsticks that have a rubber ball attached to the ends, and this is the component that has raised concerns. Parents in Essex who have purc....
Millions of car recalls cited as a positive action
The large number of recalls by car manufacturers has been cited as a positive development by members of the industry and demonstrates a proactive attitude towards consumer safety. Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency show that, over the past five years, millions of cars have be....
Worker maimed in work crush accident
A worker who was employed for 20 years at a company located in Dundee in Scotland was injured in a workplace accident that resulted in the loss of two of his fingers. Staff in Harlow, Essex, may be aware of the dangers of working with heavy machinery and the need to follow safe procedures no matter ....
Zero hours – A step forward
The Exclusivity Terms in Zero Hour Contracts (Redress) Regulations 2015 ("the Regulations"), in force as of 11th January 2015 now provide some concrete protection for zero hours workers. The Regulations make any dismissal of an employee working under a zero hour contract automatically unfair if t....
Man dies after overdose of chemotherapy
A man has died in hospital following errors made by medical staff. Residents in Harlow, Essex, may be shocked to hear that he was incorrectly diagnosed as having sciatica, when in fact he had tumours in his back, and then, after the cancer was discovered, he was given an overdose of chemotherapy. Th....
A&E death rate at five year high
The death toll at hospital accident and emergency departments has reached a five-year high according to the National Patient Safety Agency. The figures, gathered from all across the U.K. including Essex, show that hundreds of people die each year as a result of errors and misdiagnosis. Medical sta....
HSE reveals improvement in workplace health and safety
The Health and Safety Executive has released its latest health and safety statistics. Workers in England could be surprised that although 142 workers died in workplace accidents during the 2014-15 provisional year, this figure is down from the previous five years. Also, 76,000 work injuries were rep....
Thousands of knock-off bicycle parts sold online
The problem of counterfeit bicycle parts was highlighted following an accident involving a cyclist after the carbon fibre handlebars he had purchased online snapped while he was biking. Consumers in Harlow may be tempted to purchase bargain priced goods on Internet sites such as eBay. However, they ....
Legal highs and alcohol misuse – Management within the workplace
Acas has just issued guidance on the recognition and management of the use of legal highs and alcohol in the workplace and its connected impact. Statistics show that alcohol is the cause of 5% of all sickness absence recorded within the workplace. The cost of alcohol excesses and misuse for emplo....
Flexible Working – Can you have your cake and eat it too?
As a nation we are supposedly moving towards a more family friendly and flexible attitude regarding working hours, working patterns and place of work. This is evidenced by the introduction of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) in April 2015 and the announcement that the Conservative Party will consult on t....
The Rules of ‘Social’ Engagement – The Christmas Party
The festive period is a whirlwind of lunches, get-togethers and ultimately, the work Christmas party. This can be a troublesome time for employers as they struggle to gauge a balancing act between Mr Christmas and Scrooge. The organising and planning of the Christmas party can be utterly stressfu....
Hoverboard toy explodes while charging
A novelty hoverboard toy that is expected to be a hot buy for Christmas exploded while it was being charged at a home in Kent. The explosion caused £25,000 of damage to the house after the owners plugged the toy to charge up in their kitchen. Families in Essex and across the U.K. have been urged to....
