Lithium-ion batteries are widely used across multiple industries due to their efficiency, portability and sustainability. They are integral to modern workplaces, powering everything from consumer electronics to industrial equipment. However, despite their advantages, they pose significant safety risks, primarily due to thermal runaway, fire hazards and toxic gas emissions.

Lithium-ion batteries can be found in:

• Consumer electronics, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and cameras.
• Electric vehicles (EVs) – cars, bikes and scooters.
• Renewable energy systems – solar battery storage units.
• Industrial equipment – including power tools, drones and robotics.
• Medical devices such as portable monitors and ventilators.
• Household appliances, including cordless vacuums and electric toothbrushes.

Despite their potential hazards, lithium-ion batteries offer numerous benefits:

• Low maintenance: No need for constant water refilling.
• Long lifespan: Lasts for at least eight years with proper care.
• Safety: No immediate health hazards under normal operation.
• Quick charging: Technological advances allow for rapid charging.
• Superior depth of discharge: Efficient energy use.
• Eco-friendly: Reduced environmental impact compared to traditional batteries.
• Operates in extreme temperatures: Functions in diverse environments.
• Unlimited cycle life: Enhances longevity and cost-effectiveness.

There has been a lot of negative press about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion battery fires are primarily caused by thermal runaway, an uncontrollable rise in temperature. Contributing factors include:

• Overcharging – excessive voltage can overheat the battery.
• Physical damage – punctures or impacts may cause internal short circuits.
• Exposure to high temperatures – proximity to heat sources accelerates degradation.
• Electrolyte breakdown – leads to gas emissions, increasing fire risks.
• Inadequate battery management systems (BMS) – f ailure to regulate charging/discharging.
• Ageing batteries – degraded cells are more prone to failure.

Thermal runaway is a self-sustaining chain reaction leading to fires and explosions. It occurs when the battery temperature exceeds 60°C, triggering an internal reaction. Toxic and flammable gases are released, leading to swelling and rupturing. Once the gases ignite, a fire ensues, often difficult to extinguish.

Obligations and best practice

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO), the Responsible Person (RP) must:

• Conduct fire risk assessments, including lithium-ion battery risks.
• Implement fire safety measures, such as proper storage and fire suppression systems.
• Ensure staff training on fire response and battery handling.
• Maintain fire safety equipment and comply with legal standards.

Waitrose has partnered with a digital mapping tool provider to help more than 2,000 farmers across the UK assess the state of nature on their land and develop plans for improvements. British farmers are the backbone of our food system, and this partnership with Land App is about supporting them to secure a sustainable future for their farms.

The supermarket has forged a partnership with Land App as it strives to assess the state of nature on all UK farms supplying for its own-brand product ranges by 2026.

Waitrose’s parent company the John Lewis Partnership first launched a sweeping ‘plan for nature’ in October 2022.

Under the partnership with Land App, farmers in Waitrose’s supply chain will gain free access to advanced mapping tools. Land App enables farmers to gather real-time data on the environmental health of their land, with information measured in relation to dozens of sustainability metrics (more than 60), evaluate and act on to support the adoption of nature-friendly farming.

This then enables reporting & Waitrose will monitor progress year-on-year.

On the following:

• Adaptation and resilience

• Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions

• Climate & nature

• Social sustainability

• Strategy and delivery

• Supply chain management

Once farmers have baseline information about the environmental health of their land, they will be supported to identify areas for improvement and implement impactful changes. Beyond receiving advice in the app, they will be supported to connect with ‘accredited professionals’ from organisations including the Wildlife Trusts and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group.

Farm resilience

Building resilience and sustainability on farms is more crucial now than ever. It not only supports nature, reduces flooding and mitigates the effects of climate change but also secures food production for future generations.”

A 2024 survey from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) confirmed that eight in ten farmers have seen either ‘fairly negative’ or ‘very negative’ impacts to their land and infrastructure from flooding recently. 65% of respondents confirmed a year-on-year fall in profits.

The period between October 2022 and March 2024 was officially the wettest 18-month stint on record for the UK. Nature-based solutions can help farmers cope with wet weather by enhancing water absorption, slowing runoff and reducing erosion.

These pressures, compounded by other issues including low farm-gate prices, export challenges post-Brexit, and changes to inheritance tax, have prompted farmers to protest in Westminster in recent weeks.

Farmers need to see a coherent and signposted plan for change with details of the risks posed and the support available to farmers.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries. The figures also show that 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/24, while 61,663 workers sustained a self-reported non-fatal injury in the workplace during the same period.

The statistics reveal that 1.7million workers reported they were suffering from work-related ill health in 2023/24, an estimated 0.8 milliondown to stress, depression or anxiety.

An estimated 33.75 million working days were lost in 2023/24 due to self-reported work-related ill health or injury.

HSE’s statistics also reveal the impact that the work-related ill health and workplace injuries are having on Britain’s economic performance. Preventing or tackling work-related stress can provide significant benefits to employees, improving their experience of work and their overall health; and also to employers including increased productivity, decreased absenteeism and reduced staff turnover

In 2022/23, the estimated annual costs of workplace injury and new cases of work-related ill health reached £21.6 billion.

Age discrimination in the workplace is a pervasive issue that affects many aspects of employment, including hiring decisions. From a health and safety perspective, age can be a significant factor, with employers often making assumptions about older workers’ abilities and risks. How age might influence hiring decisions from a health and safety viewpoint, highlighting the legal, ethical and practical considerations involved.

The intersection of age and workplace safety Workplace safety is paramount in any organisation, and employers have a duty to ensure a safe working environment for all employees. This responsibility often leads to careful consideration of potential employees’ physical and mental capabilities, which can be influenced by age. While it is illegal to discriminate based on age under laws such as the Equality Act, age-related concerns about health and safety still play a role in hiring decisions.

Common assumptions and stereotypes

• Physical ability. Employers might assume that older workers are more prone to physical limitations, such as reduced strength, stamina or agility. This can be particularly relevant in industries that require manual labour, heavy lifting or prolonged physical exertion.
• Cognitive decline. There is a stereotype that cognitive abilities decline with age, affecting memory, reaction times and the ability to learn new skills. In safety-critical roles, this assumption can lead employers to favour younger candidates who are perceived as more mentally sharp.
• Health risks. Older individuals are often viewed as being at higher risk for chronic health conditions, which could potentially lead to more frequent absences or a higher likelihood of medical emergencies on the job. Employers might be concerned about the impact of these health issues on overall workplace safety.

The HSE has recently released detailed annual statistics on work-related fatalities, which show that the rate of fatalities increases with age. Workers aged 60 or over accounted for 42% of those killed at work, and workers aged 60-64 are twice as likely to be killed. These figures are four times higher for workers aged 65 and over, despite comprising only 11% of the workforce. The cost-of-living crisis is increasing the amount of people working beyond retirement, which could be the cause of the increase in fatality levels amongst these age groups.

Legal and ethical considerations

Discriminating against older workers based on these assumptions is not only ethically questionable but also legally precarious. Employers must ensure that their hiring practices do not violate these protections by unjustly favouring younger candidates.
Ethically, it is important to recognise the value that older workers bring to the table. Experience, knowledge and a strong work ethic are qualities that can enhance workplace safety rather than compromise it. Employers should focus on individual capabilities rather than making broad assumptions based on age.

Best practices for employers

• Objective assessments. Use objective, job-related criteria to assess all candidates. This can include physical fitness tests, cognitive assessments and health screenings, provided they are relevant to the job and applied equally to all applicants.
• Reasonable accommodations. Be willing to make reasonable accommodations for older workers. This might include ergonomic adjustments, modified work schedules or assistive technologies that can help mitigate any age-related limitations.
• Training and development. Invest in ongoing training and development for all employees, regardless of age. This ensures that older workers remain competent and confident in their roles, thereby maintaining high safety standards.
• Inclusive culture. Foster an inclusive workplace culture that values diversity, including age diversity. Encourage intergenerational collaboration and mentorship, which can enhance safety practices and create a more cohesive work environment.

Conclusion

Age should not be a barrier to employment, especially when it comes to health and safety considerations. While it is natural for employers to be concerned about the physical and cognitive abilities of their workforce, it is crucial to base hiring decisions on objective criteria and individual assessments rather than age-based stereotypes. By doing so, employers can ensure a fair, inclusive, and safe workplace for employees of all ages.

The HSE is launching a new research project to map AI’s impact on health and safety across its regulated industries. This will help it to consider the risks and opportunities of AI use in industrial settings.   

The HSE is asking industry to help by providing information about AI that is being trialled or used in the workplace. It says it is keen to gather a wide a range of AI uses to ensure the information collected is representative.   

HSE’s role in regulating AI includes:

Regulating the use of AI where it impacts on health and safety in workplaces where HSE is the enforcing authority.

Regulating the use of AI in design, manufacture and supply of workplace machinery, equipment and products for use in the workplace as a Market Surveillance Authority under the Product Safety regulatory framework.

Where AI impacts on HSE’s role to protect people and places, including building safety, chemicals and pesticides regulation.

The central principle of health and safety law is that those who create risks are best placed to manage and control that risk in a sensible, proportionate and pragmatic way. As benchmarks develop for the use of AI, the HSE wants to reach a point where AI risk is no longer novel and is managed in the same way as any other risk.

HSE expects a risk assessment to be undertaken for uses of AI which impact on health and safety and appropriate controls put in place to reduce risk so far as is reasonably practicable, including to address cyber security threats.

The focus of the work the HSE is doing to continue to develop its regulatory approach to AI includes:

Coordinating work on AI, sharing knowledge and identifying key issues through an internal AI common interest group, bringing together colleagues from across HSE.

Working with government departments to shape the approach to AI regulation.

Supporting the standards making process, to establish benchmarks for AI interaction with machinery and functional safety by engaging with international standards organisations (BSI, IEC and ISO).

Establishing relationships with industry and academic stakeholders, to share knowledge and learning on AI use cases and the impact on health and safety.

Collaborating with other regulators, though forums including the AI Standards Forum for UK Regulators, Information Commissioners Office AI Regulators Forum and the United Kingdom Health and Safety Regulators Network Innovation Sub-Group, to encourage a consistent regulatory approach.

Identifying AI developments of interest to HSE through horizon scanning activities and monitoring AI developments in Great Britain and around the world, from a practical and regulatory perspective.

Building its capability and experience in AI across specialist and scientific areas of HSE and working with partners as appropriate.

Supporting research bids that align with HSE’s areas of research interest (on GOV.UK) and help develop safe use of AI and the ability to regulate AI use.

Setting up and trialling of an Industrial Safetytech Regulatory Sandbox (on discoveringsafety.com) to explore practical barriers to adoption of Industrial Safetytech in construction and how to break them down.

1)           TATA CHEMICALS

On 5 June, Tata Chemicals Europe Limited was fined more than £1 million at Chester Crown Court.

The case was brought against the firm following the death of a young father who died while erecting a scaffold tower in a chemical plant in Northwich.

2)           OPENREACH

Telecommunications giant Openreach was given a £1.34 million fine after an engineer died while trying to repair a telephone line in Wales. Alun Owen died after he slipped and fell into the River Aber in Abergwyngregyn and was swept away on 6 October 2020.

3)           BAM NUTTALL Ltd

Construction company BAM Nuttall Ltd was fined £2.345m following the death of worker Gary Webster, who lost his life from drowning in the river Aire on 30th October 2017. He had been on a boat removing debris at the bottom of the weir gates at Knostop weir when it capsized.

4)           HOUSING COMPANY

On 19th June, Avant Homes (Scotland) Ltd were fined more than £300,000 after a driver was crushed to death by falling concrete blocks at a construction site in South Lanarkshire.

5)           CHARITABLE TRUST

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust were fined £30,000 after a male volunteer was fatally crushed while carrying out restoration work as part of its project to preserve, conserve & improve the route of the Wilts & Berks Canal at Pewsham Locks.

6)           EXPLOSIVES MANUFACTURER

On 27th June, Chemring Countermeasures Limited were fined £670,000 after a male worker was killed in a explosion at the factory in Salisbury, whilst cleaning a vessel used in the production of MTV – an explosive substance in military flares.

7)           ENGINEERING COMPANY

On 15th July, EMC Elite Engineering Services Ltd was fined after a worker sustained multiply injuries while working at a HS2 construction site in Hertfordshire, as he fell more than 30 feet & landed on a concrete floor below.

8)           ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY

A Cheshire based electrical transmission company was fined £240,000 after a worker was left paralysed following a fall from height, whilst demolishing and replacing electricity pylons in East Staffordshire.

9)           RECYCLING COMPANY

The national recycling company Veolia ES (UK) ltd was fined £3m after a worker was killed as he fell about 12m to the ground, whilst decommissioning an old North Sea rig, at an onshore facility in Great Yarmouth.

10)LIVESTOCK AUCTIONEERS

Operators of livestock market in the Welsh town of Whitland were fined after a man was  knocked down, trampled on & killed by a cow being auctioned that had managed to escape.

Just about every business generates some type of waste as a byproduct of its day to day operations. Those same businesses pay haulers big bucks to transport their waste in bulk to landfills, adding on to an already burdened waste stream. But, much of that same waste can typically be baled and recycled. Companies that have implemented the use of recycling balers in their operations have realized the benefits of recycling using recycling balers.

Consider either a vertical or horizontal recycling baler for your business:

Reduced Hauling Costs: By pulling recyclable waste out of your waste stream, you will have less material that needs to be hauled away each month. This results in fewer pulls of your skip or compactor and lower bills, saving you money on your bottom line.

New Revenue Streams: Not only do you pay less for hauling, using a recycling baler in your business will generate a new revenue stream for you when recyclers pick up valuable commodities like cardboard, aluminium, non-ferrous metals, shrink wrap, paper, plastics, and more!

Improved Work Areas: Baling up large stacks of recyclables helps to free up valuable floor space in work areas. Cleaner work areas with less debris means fewer hazards for employees, reduced fire risk, and less odour or vermin.  This all helps to maintain a clean and safe work environment that nurtures productivity!

Labor Efficiency: Implementing recycling balers as a part of your company’s sustainability program helps to reduce the time needed to spend on waste handling. Think about a stack of cardboard boxes that used to need to be cut down to save space in a skip to maximize pulls. By recycling, you remove the cardboard from the skip, but also the need for employees to spend the time breaking down each box before depositing them into the baler loading door.  This means your staff can spend less time on waste handling and more time on more valuable tasks that improve your business model!

Business Image:  In today’s competitive marketplace, image is everything. Many consumers base their buying decisions on the values of the company making the products or services they want. Employees like to work at places that share their common values of social and eco-responsibility. Sustainable practices make work spaces healthier for both employees and consumers alike. Positioning your company as a leader in environmental stewardship will pay dividends far beyond some of the examples listed above.

Civic and Government Compliance: Using a recycling baler in your business helps ensure compliance with local regulations, ISO 14001 certification related to waste handling, curb side deposits, and more. It also helps you track your monthly expenditures and savings.

Plastic Liners are essential components of fish hatcheries and aquaculture farms. They help maintain water levels, prevent seepage, and ensure proper management.

By providing the right materials and installing and maintaining the liners correctly.

Benefit from effective water containment and sustainable farming practices.

The Benefits

• Water containment – Plastic liners are primarily used to create a waterproof barrier, maintaining water levels within the aquaculture. Crucial in areas with porous soil or when the water source is limited.
• Liner Material – The liner material is created using polyethylene (RPE). Which is chosen for its durability, resistance to ultraviolet degradation and long-lasting performance.
• Liner Installation – The process of installing plastic liners involves preparing the site by clearing and levelling the area, removing sharp objects, and compacting the soil to create a stable foundation. Once the liner is unrolled, it is secured in place using sandbags.
• Maintenance and Repair – Maintenance is crucial to maximizing the lifespan of your liner. Monitor for signs of damage! This includes punctures, tears, and wear. Any breach in the liner can result in water loss, contamination, or inefficient water management.
• Advantages of Liners – Plastic liners provide a cost-effective solution compared to alternatives such as concrete construction. Liners are also flexible and adaptable to various layout sites. Being relatively easy to install and maintain, they are a popular choice for aquaculture operations.
• Environmental consideration – Some liner materials can be recycled.
• Regulations – Fish Hatcheries and Aquaculture farms are subject to regulations that govern their operation. It’s important to understand and comply with [relevant regulations such as] to ensure environmental sustainability.