The number of cyclists injured in England has increased by almost a quarter in the last five years, according to official figures. (Not all on the road)

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said 13,368 riders were admitted to English hospitals in 2006-7, up from 10,795 in 2002-3, a 23.8% increase.

In 2006-7, the latest figures available, some 1,873 cyclists were injured after colliding with cars or vans and 129 were in collisions with lorries and buses.

Some 9,191 were injured in incidents involving no other vehicles and 518 hit stationary objects. A further 208 cyclists collided with other riders and 89 crashed into people or animals.

However, the figures for 2006-7 were lower than the previous year, when 13,533 cyclists needed hospital treatment.

Police forces across the UK will step up their fight against drink and drug drivers as part of a new campaign in the run up to Christmas.

Officers will be increasing the use of roadside breath tests as well as 'field impairment tests' such as balance and co-ordination exercises to detect drug use. Police also warned revellers of the dangers of still being over the limit the morning after a night out.

They advised designating a non-drinking driver or making alternative arrangements such as getting a cab home from festive celebrations.

New radio and internet adverts are to be launched alongside TV adverts, cinema and in-pub advertising to help get the message across.

Campaigners will also be working with Coca-Cola Great Britain to help tackle drink driving through its 'Buy one Coca-Cola and get two more free' deal for designated drivers at one of 2,500 participating pubs.

This year will see more roadside stop and check operations than ever before, at all times of day and night and on all types of road. Police Offices will be stopping a large number of drivers and where appropriate, will arrest and bring offenders before a court.

A man from the north east of England who had a heart attack after suffering from work-related stress and depression, has received £175,000 in compensation.

The gentleman in question had regularly worked twelve hour days and most of the weekend. Unable to cope with the workload, he suffered stress and anxiety and eventually had a heart attack in November 2004. He survived, but remained "seriously depressed" and was unable to return to work, taking early retirement at the age of 60.

Court proceedings began in 2006 and Northumberland NHS Care Trust admitted they had been negligent in exposing the man to working conditions that put him under stress. However, at the time they did not accept that the heart attack and depression suffered had been caused by their negligence.

There is a constant belief that driving can result in stress. Does this ruling and the previous award bring into question just how am employer needs to exercise their duty of care.

A woman who had won nearly £110,000 in compensation from her employers for stress-related illness, has successfully fought off a bid to have the ruling quashed.

Mobile phone company O2's appeal against a decision that it was in breach of its duty by failing to relieve the pressure of an employees job was rejected by the Court of Appeal.

The woman was a regulatory finance manager with O2 when she claimed to have reached "the end of her tether" due to work pressures, and could not cope with some aspects of her job.

Three Court of Appeal judges heard how she had warned her employers of how she felt, but that they had failed to relieve her situation, and in May 2002 her mental health broke down. She has not worked since.

She was awarded a total of £109,754 by a judge at Oxford County Court last December. The judge said her illness should have been "reasonably foreseeable" to her employers.

In its appeal, O2 challenged the way the judge had dealt with the case and claimed there was no proper evidence to support the finding of foreseeability or the decision that the company's conduct contributed to her illness. It said there had been no warning signs of a breakdown in her health.

However, Lady Justice Smith, sitting with Lords Justices Sedley and Wall, said the obvious inference from the history this lady’s condition was that she "tipped over the edge because nothing significant had been done to recognise and address her need for a rest and for a change to her work requirements".

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned the electrical contracting industry of the tragic consequences which can result when safe working procedures are not practiced when working on live electrical systems.

The warning follows the death of 26 year-old Michael Adamson, of Edinburgh, who was electrocuted in August 2005 when he came into contact with a live conductor in a cable on which he was working.     

Mitie Engineering Services (Edinburgh) Ltd, Roddinglaw Business Park, Edinburgh were fined £300,000 at Dundee Sheriff Court today after being found guilty of charges under Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at a hearing on Tuesday 14 October.  Two company directors and the project manager were acquitted of charges under Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Mr Adamson, a qualified electrician, was working at the JJB Sports Centre and Retail Outlet, which was under construction at the Gallagher Retail Park in Dundee.  He was installing cables, fixtures and fittings when the incident happened.  Despite being labeled ‘not in use’, the cable he was working on was live; it had not been safely and securely isolated from the electricity supply. 

Mr Adamson was not provided with the necessary test equipment to prove the cable was dead, nor the means to securely isolate the circuit.

HSE Principal Inspector Jim Skilling commented after the case:

"The Health and Safety Executive has found that across the electrical contracting industry there is widespread violation of the safe working practices. 

Each year there are around 2000 incidents at work involving electrical injury, including electric shock, and about 20 of these result in fatalities.  The industry’s complacency in accepting dangerous practices is startling.

Michael Adamson’s death could have been prevented had his employer ensured that safe working practices were being carried out in accordance with the company’s own written procedures.  Managers and supervisors in this industry must take active steps to ensure that their electricians work safely."

HSE has since supported SELECT (Scotland's trade association for the electrical, electronics and communications systems industry), Electrical Safety Council, Electrical Contractors’ Association, National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contractors, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology in publishing targeted guidance on safe isolation procedures in the electrical contracting industry. 

However, the information on safe working practices in this guidance is not new and was well known to the electrical contracting industry for a long time prior to Mr Adamson’s death.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned about the dangers of falling from vehicles following the death of a Central Scotland tanker driver who fell three metres from the top of his vehicle because his employer failed to provide a safe place to work.

The warning came after the employer Carntyne Transport Ltd of Glasgow pleaded guilty to a charge laid under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which requires employers to provide a safe place and safe systems of work.  

At Cupar Sheriff Court yesterday, they were fined a total of £5000.    

At 6.30am on 9 February 2007, the driver of the tanker, Mr James Robert Hutchinson from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire was found by two farm workers.  It appeared that he had fallen three metres from the midpoint of his tanker after setting the valves for a delivery of liquid animal feed.  There was no safety rail on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

HSE Inspector Robert Fraser said:

"Mr Hutchinson’s death was entirely preventable and arose from the clear failure to carry out a risk assessment and ensure there was safe access to the top of the vehicle.

"Although Workplace Transport injuries form a fairly small part of all accidents at work, they are more likely to result in serious injuries and much more likely to lead to fatalities. 

"HSE figures have shown that every week one person dies from a slip, trip or fall at work and every 25 minutes, someone breaks or fractures a bone at work. This is unacceptable and employers should ensure that they do everything in their power to prevent this type of accident occurring."

Figures issued by the Health and Safety Executive today revealed that every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related diseases, and this number is set to increase.

Former tradesman and England and Arsenal footballing legend, Ian Wright, has given his support to help highlight the importance of the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) "Asbestos:The Hidden Killer" campaign which is running throughout October and November and aims to reduce the rising death rate by educating today's tradesmen about the danger that asbestos presents to them. 

Ian Wright was shocked when he learnt that 20 tradesmen a week were dying from having been exposed to asbestos in their working lives.  "I used to be a plasterer before becoming a professional footballer, and was really surprised to learn that the number of deaths is actually on the increase year on year.  If that was footballers dying, the whole of the premiership would be wiped out in just three months." 

Steve Coldrick, Director of the HSE's Disease Reduction Programme says, "We need to educate tradesmen about how asbestos and its dangers are relevant to them.  We want them to change the way they work so that they don't put their lives at risk."

"I can really relate to the situations tradesmen find themselves in and urge them to take care," added campaign ambassador, Ian Wright.

Steve Coldrick explained why a major campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the real risk that tradesmen face, "Exposure to asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths, with around 4,000 people a year dying from asbestos-related disease. The overall number of deaths is rising because a large number of workers who have already been exposed to asbestos dust around 40 years ago will go on to develop mesothelioma, a terminal cancer or other asbestos related diseases."

1,000 (25%) of the 4,000 now dying each year are tradesmen and while the number of deaths in traditional industries has plateaued, deaths in trades continue to rise.

"The HSE campaign is vital because research shows that only one in ten tradesmen know that exposure to asbestos can prove fatal" says Jill Morrell, Head of Public Affairs at the British Lung Foundation. "The asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is a cruel disease which as yet has no cure. We must do all we can to prevent more people dying from this preventable disease"

Many workers, particularly tradesmen, think that they are not personally at risk of exposure to asbestos and the diseases it can cause. They think that since asbestos was banned many years ago, the problem has been dealt with and therefore it is not relevant to them. The reality is very different.   

Even today asbestos presents a real and relevant risk to plumbers, joiners, electricians and many other maintenance workers. Asbestos may be present in any building constructed or refurbished before the year 2000, and it is estimated that around 500,000 non-domestic buildings could contain asbestos. These buildings all need repair and maintenance work from time to time and when the asbestos fibres are disturbed e.g. by drilling or cutting, they are likely to be inhaled as a deadly dust.

If asbestos-containing material is in good condition and in a position where it cannot be disturbed or damaged, it is safer to leave it where it is and ensure that the risks are managed. Those responsible for managing building maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings, have a duty to inform tradesmen if asbestos is present in a building they are working in. Depending on the type of asbestos-containing material, and providing they have been trained and the proper controls are in place, they may be able to work on the project. Asbestos sprayed coatings, board or lagging on pipes and boilers - should only be tackled by licensed workers.

Posters and radio adverts will encourage tradesmen to get a free asbestos information pack by calling 0845 345 0055 or by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/hiddenkiller for further information. The free information pack provides information on the dangers of asbestos, highlighting where asbestos-containing materials may be present in buildings, what they look like, how they should be dealt with and where to find training.

Knowles Loss Adjusters has teamed up with Mitchell & Co Solicitors Agents to form a joint venture dedicated to road traffic accident investigations.

The business, Knowles Mitchell & Co, which will combine the existing RTA divisions and expertise of both firms, will have a board split between director Daren Hales and George Gager of Mitchell & Co and David Parker and Patrick Lineen of Knowles.

Mr Gager said: "Both companies have proven track records in providing professional services to their insurer and legal clients in respect of RTA liability investigation, fraud investigation and surveillance.

"With the investment of new internal systems we are now able to further assist our clients in obtaining relevant information at an early stage to enable liability decisions to be made within the time scales set out in the new reforms recently recommended by the Ministry of Justice."

Mr Parker added: "Knowles has been looking to expand its side of the RTA investigations and having known and admired Mitchell & Co for a great many years and it seemed the natural way to go forward.

"Knowles Loss Adjusters will remain the same and naturally will carry on serving our clients with the quality they are accustomed to, in respect of construction, property and general liability claims services."

Congratulations to those student qualifying during the Winter Quarter 2008

Organised by AIRSO The Association Of Industrial Road Safety Officers, the Annual National Blue Light Users' Conference is aimed at all those who manage or train drivers who during the course of their work drive emergency vehicles. It is also relevant to those who manage health and safety and occupational road risk issues for all staff within the emergency services and those who are involved in casualty reduction.

Over the years the Conference has become an important event in the diary for the emergency services and has gained a reputation and credibility with Government and its agencies and other organisations concerned in any way with the emergency services.

Dean Hyde DnA Group Managing Director Addressing the NBLU Conference

Dean Hyde spoke to over 200 delegates attending the conference with regard to increasing staged accidents and the importance of training investigation techniques to counter fraudulent road traffic claims.

The two day conference in Hinckley was extremely well attended and had some very interesting keynote speakers the aim of the conference is to provide the delegates with the appropriate knowledge required to enable them to professionally brief their employers, organisations or authorities with the aim of ensuring legal and procedural compliance and circulation of best practice, thereby ultimately ensuring that we have the very best and safest emergency service drivers and riders.

Dean Hyde speaking to Owen Lower, MAIRSO, Senior Driving Instructor from the Suffolk Constabulary and Chairman of the 2008 National Blue Light Users' Conference (Left) and Andrew Howard MBE, Chairman AIRSO (Right).

The following best practice tips to avoid becoming a victim are based on an insurance guidance, aimed to reduce claim claims costs and premium inflation.

Induced collision fraud represents a growing threat to public safety, estimated to cost hundred of million pounds per year by UK insurers. Gang members either purchase and insure low value vehicles or use hired vehicles, and then force innocent members of the public to crash into them. By 'inducing' an innocent driver to collide with them, the fraudsters can rely on an almost automatic acceptance of insurance liability. Multiple fictitious claims are subsequently submitted for the driver and (often fictitious) passengers.

According to insurers, the average insurance bill per induced collision is £25-30k.

Common methods of inducing crashes

The DnA Group have taken delivery of a new incident investigation unit, this high spec vehicle carries state of the art reconstruction equipment as well as being utilised to carry students to on-site investigations as part of their training.

The Certificate presentation day in Spring 08 at the DnA Group HQ. The successful candidates were presented their Certificates by Mr Alan Monro CEO DnA Group.

From Friday 22nd February the DnA Group and it's partner organisations ALM Training Ltd, INUK, LSS & ISS move to their new home at the Newark Beacon a brand new state of the art business innovation centre.

The facilities include subsidised restaurant facilities, relaxed areas and high tech conference and training facilities commenserate with the continuing expansion of the DnA Group as one of the UK's leading providers of Incident, Fraud & Claims Investigation & Training.

For deatiled directions to our new venue, visit www.newarkbeacon.co.uk

Students who qualified during the period covering Winter 07-08 receive their certificates at a special presentation ceremony. Presenting the certificates was DnA Group UK Chief Executive Mr Alan Monro.

Thieves are robbing long-distance coaches by sneaking dwarves into the luggage holds in sports bags.

Once inside, they slip out from their hiding places to rifle through the belongings of unsuspecting travellers.

Then they take their loot back to their hiding place and wait to be collected by another gang member when the coach reaches its destination, reports The Sun.

They have stolen thousands of pounds in cash, gems and other valuables in recent months.

Swebus, which ferries thousands of Brits across Sweden, has been among coach firms targeted.

A spokesman said: "We have had reports about several thefts by dwarves on the stretch between Vasteras and Stockholm.

"We're thinking of installing video cameras."

A Stockholm Police spokesman said: "We are looking at our records to identify criminals of limited stature."

www.ananova.com

From Adrian Of Cambridge

SOBERING THOUGHTS ABOUT MOTOR VEHICLES

SIA Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment (PRIA)

The SIA have published a PRIA on their website. However any regulation & training is still under a consultation phase and this PRIA sets out the main aims and general understanding behind any such regulation.

Of course licencing will apply to all areas of investigation under the proposed guidelines.

However, it is the competency issue which poses the biggest question. The proposed entry level qualification is being discussed at the moment with several organisations which includes ICCI with the awarding bodies who are working with the SIA.

You may be aware that the same type of licencing has taken place in other industries and the SIA have taken examples from such industries when looking at the criteria for investigators.

The financial services industry have an entry level qualification which is supplemented by further training and qualifications in specific products and tasks and the same will apply in this industry.

We have already consulted with work providers, who have stated that if an investigator approaches them who has just merely the entry level qualification it may not be enough to satisfy their criteria to provide work and the investigator may have to demonstrate further competency through specific qualifications in certain areas of their requirement.

The SIA will accredit centres throughout the UK to deliver the entry level qualification and those centres will have to be able to meet the criteria for delivering National Qualifications.

The basic level qualification will be developed around National occupational Standards ratified by QCA and available on the National Qualifications Framework. The ICCI have a meeting in September with the awarding body and other organisations to develop these units.

A further communicae will be posted on this website for Association members after that meeting has taken place.

In summary, the regulation of Investigators is a welcome move, the word investigator covers many disciplines and National Occupational Standards should be developed for all aspects of investigation so that investigators can show that they have met core competencies and thus promote confidence with work providers and the continuation of personal development through CPD and further training.

Dean Hyde Dip Sc FAPII

President ICCI

The Compensation Act 2006 received Royal Assent on July 25th. The Act will regulate claims management services and those providing services, which will include Personal Injury Investigators, who will have to seek authorisation to carry out services in this regulated sector.

There has been a consultation paper released concerning the application form for authorisation and a proposed scale of fees.

The consultation will be concluded on the 18th Sept 2006. The College will post any further updates concerning this issue later in the year.

ALM have undertaken a programme with the Army to train the Land Accident Investigation Team and Master Drivers. Many skills are widely taught throughout the MOD and ALM have been selected to enhance the skills of existing Army personnel and provide a civilian qualification in the process.

The first of 34 trainees started training in July 2007 and ALM have been very pleased with the results that the Army personnel have experienced so far and look forward to extending their contract to both the Navy and the Royal Air Force in due course.

A businessman who claims his wife was killed on a pedestrian crossing because it was dangerous has been backed by traffic experts.

Moments after Leo Iravanian dropped his wife Iveta near her office and waved goodbye, she was knocked down by a coach as she walked in front of the fourth and final lane of traffic.

Now, after a three-month fight to prove that his safety conscious wife had not ignored the lights, he has discovered they failed to meet minimum safety standards.

Experts said the time pedestrians had to cross the road after the green man disappeared was less than half Department for Transport guidelines.

Anyone stepping on the crossing at the end of the green pedestrian phase would have only five seconds to reach safety before the green light for traffic came on.

But the 14.3-metre crossing should have a 12-second safety margin.

Mr Iravanian, 42, had already driven away when his wife was killed. He said: "I will never give up until I get justice for Iveta.

"My wife was very aware of her safety, she would never have gone through a red light.

"I didn’t know she had died. She didn’t deserve this."

From John Of Gloucester