Latest news with #healthandsafety
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Stamford nursery operators sentenced over severely burned toddler
A nursery has been ordered to pay more than £20,000 in costs after a toddler was left "scarred for life" by scalding little girl sustained severe burns to her head, face and neck at the Children's Garden Day Nursery in Stamford in 2023, Lincoln Crown Court John Kenyon, 53 and Claire Kenyon, 54 admitted two health and safety offences at a previous a victim impact statement read out at the sentencing hearing on Monday, the girl's mum said: "The fact that we handed our daughter over, where we felt she was safe, is what we struggle with and the guilt around this will not leave us." Alison Lambert, prosecuting on behalf of South Kesteven District Council, said the toddler was injured when an open-topped milk bottle warmer tipped Sjolin Knight said the circumstances of how it happened were not totally her statement, the girl's mum said her daughter, who required specialist hospital treatment, was scarred for life and would need more surgery and treatment as she grew Bajwa KC, mitigating said the operators of the Children's Garden Day Nursery partnership were "mortified" that the bottle heater had inflicted such horrific said the nursery had taken steps to ensure the incident could not be repeated, including replacing the bottle warmer with one that doesn't use hot nursery admitted failing to ensure the health and safety of non-members of staff and failing to report an incident to the council by the quickest practical means, and within ten days. Judge Knight issued a £600 fine for the first offence, reduced to £400 for early guilty pleas, and awarded prosecution costs of £20, added: "It is really important that incidents like this are fully and properly investigated and prosecuted."The court heard compensation for the injuries sustained was being dealt with in the civil courts. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why Donald Trump Scotland visit could lead to legal action from police officers
Police in Scotland are weighing up legal action over plans for Donald Trump 's visit to the country this month. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents 98% of all police officers in the country, are weighing up legal action against Police Scotland in a dispute over health and safety standards that could put officers at risk. The SPF says the the force has already breached health and safety standards in the run up to the visit by the US president. David Kennedy, general secretary of the SPF, suggested planning for the visit has already put officers at risk. He said: 'We currently have workforce agreements in place to protect police officers and provide minimum standards of Health and Safety at work. 'Sadly, we have seen these agreements breached in the days leading to the arrival of Potus (President of the United States) and as such we are seeking legal advice regarding potential legal action against the service.' Speaking to STV News, Mr Kennedy said he had 'major concerns' about the plans to police Mr Trump's trip. He told the broadcaster: 'We do not have enough police officers in Scotland. 'Anyone that says we do, I don't know where they get those figures from. 'We know what police officers have to do day in, day out and we need more officers in Scotland. 'When these events come along that puts those officers that are here under so much pressure.' Thousands of officers are expected to be involved in what Police Scotland has described as a 'significant policing operation'. Police Scotland said earlier this month it would seek help from the Scottish and UK Governments over the 'considerable' cost of policing the visit. It has also asked for support from Northern Ireland's police force, the PSNI. Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said: 'We are working closely with the Scottish Police Federation to address any concerns they may have.' A spokesperson for the PSNI said: 'There are well established processes for any UK-based police services to request support from other services at times of peak demand. 'These requests are managed via the National Police Co-ordination Centre (NPoCC) and we can confirm that PSNI have received a request to provide mutual aid to Police Scotland which we are currently assessing. 'The decision to provide officers under the mutual aid process will be considered against our own demands, ensuring that we retain the capacity to respond effectively to local issues and maintain our own operational competence.' The White House confirmed Mr Trump will visit his golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between July 25 and 29. He will meet the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the First Minister John Swinney during his private trip. The visit is likely to result in widespread protests, following similar demonstrations during his last visit to Scotland. There had been speculation the King would host the American leader in Scotland after a meeting was suggested at Balmoral or Dumfries House, in a letter he wrote to Mr Trump in February inviting him to make the state visit. But it is understood that both sides will wait until the president's official state visit later this year.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Council accused of creating 'serious hazard' at Graves Park
A park group has accused a council of creating a "serious health and safety hazard" by storing waste, including dog mess, at a disused plant Friends of Graves Park say Sheffield City Council's use of the former Norton Nurseries site is "unacceptable and illegal" and that the authority has ignored its requests to a letter to the council, Caroline Dewar, said: "The stench has been incredibly bad during the recent hot weather [and] has to be tolerated by local residents, passers-by, and people working on the site."Sheffield City Council, which will hear an application to licence the site until November later this week, said it had been looking for another site for its depot operations. Graves Park is owned by a charitable trust, of which the council is sole to the Charities Act 2011 the use any use of charity-owned land must solely benefit the charity, and not the Friends of Graves Park is preparing to restore the area currently used as a "dumping ground" and turn it into a woodland has already completed restoration of two areas of the nursery site, creating a meadow wildlife area and the first section of an arboretum. In her letter, Ms Dewar said: "Waste, including dog dirt, is being collected from at least 35 other parks and open spaces and dumped at the site, to be sorted and collected at a later date."This is a serious health and safety hazard. We have been requesting that this unacceptable and illegal waste collection be stopped and more suitable alternatives be introduced with immediate effect, but our requests are ignored."We now expect this practice to be discontinued, irrespective of decisions about the depot operations." In her letter, which was sent to councillors and MP Louise Haigh, Ms Dewar also raised concerns that some documents had been withheld from public view at a council meeting in June, according to the Local Democracy Reporting council said: "The advice is legal advice in respect of how to best advise the trust. It was commissioned by the Monitoring Officer."It remains legally privileged so that the committee may understand it."A meeting of the council's charity committee on Wednesday will consider granting the depot a licence until the end of November.A long-term plan for the parks department depot is due to be considered in September. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Swimmers row with council after sea rafts removed over health and safety fears
Swimmers in Weymouth took to the sea to protest against the removal of 'much loved' floating sea rafts over health and safety concerns. Two platforms, which had been in place 300 yards off Weymouth beach in Dorset since 1939, were removed at the beginning of the summer holidays after risk assessment advice from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). But residents have now staged a protest against Weymouth town council, criticising the measure as an 'overreaction'. Almost 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for the pontoons to be reinstated as soon as possible. Members of the Weymouth Bluetits swimming club took to the sea to protest against their removal and demand they be returned. The council said that the rafts had been deemed a 'blind spot for the lifeguards', which 'therefore pose a risk to members of the public'. As a result Weymouth town council's insurance company refused to provide cover in the event of claim for incident or accident for less than £30m. Christine James, from the Weymouth Bluetits swimming club, said she was 'really angry' as the rafts had been in place for 'decades without the need for insurance'. She added: 'They were something that was fun for everyone and helped keep people fit. 'We go out there and push the kids off and sit and have a chat for a while before swimming back. 'Anybody who goes into the sea does so at their own risk. Why can't the council just put up signs saying, 'Use the rafts at your own risk'? 'Taking them away is only going to encourage the kids to jump off the harbour wall or the rock groynes, which is unsafe.' Tim Spooner, a resident, said the rafts 'are a much-loved feature of the beach'. He added: 'It does seem like an overreaction from the town council and I will be supporting any cause to have them reinstated.' Jade O'Brien, who launched a petition to the council, said: 'For over 40 years the rafts have stood in these waters, providing safe recreation and cherished experiences for generations. 'Weymouth town council decided to remove these beloved rafts, citing safety concerns of blind spots to the lifeguard on duty. 'However, incidents have been rare, and Greenhill Beach has consistently maintained a strong safety record. It doesn't make sense.' A spokesman for the council said: 'The RNLI have informed us that the swim rafts are outside of the lifeguard's primary response area. 'They create a blind spot for the lifeguards, which operate on the beach, and therefore pose a risk to members of the public. 'The safety of residents and visitors must come first. This means that we have no option but to remove our swim rafts in the sea at Greenhill. A spokesman for the RNLI explained that the swimming rafts had 'always' been outside its lifeguards' primary response area, which is between its red and yellow flags and up to 300 metres out. He added: 'Nothing has changed from previous years in terms of our operating procedures or areas of responsibility. 'The council owns and manages their swim rafts. They have always been located outside of the RNLI lifeguards' primary response area. 'The RNLI has no position regarding the use of swimming rafts by landowners, but shares information regarding lifeguard operations and limitations to support landowners in their risk assessment process.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Over 140 people on Royal Caribbean cruise sickened by stomach bug outbreak
Over 140 passengers and crew members aboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship were sickened by a gastrointestinal illness that led to vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak happened on the Navigator of the Seas ship during its July 4 to 11 voyage, the CDC said. The ship sailed from Los Angeles to a few stops in Mexico, including Cabo San Lucas, and back again, according to Gangwaze, which tracks cruise routes. The outbreak was reported on July 11 to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program, which works to prevent and control the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships. Cruise ships are required to report such outbreaks to the CDC. According to the CDC, 134 out of 3,914 passengers onboard reported being ill during the journey, while seven out of 1,266 crew members reported being ill. The predominant symptoms were diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Following the outbreak, the crew aboard the Navigator of the Seas increased cleaning and disinfection procedures aboard the ship, collected stool specimen from people who reported feeling ill and isolated those who reported feeling ill, the CDC said. In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group said the health and safety of their guests, crew and the communities they visit are their top priority. "To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines," the statement read. The cause of the spread of the gastrointestinal illness is not known at this time, according to the CDC. "Norovirus is often a cause of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships, but we don't always know the cause of the outbreak when we begin an investigation," the CDC said in a report on the outbreak. "Finding the agent that caused an outbreak (causative agent) can take time." People with gastrointestinal illness are asked to give stool or vomit samples, which are then tested to determine the cause, the CDC said. Anyone can contract Norovirus, which is contagious and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever and body aches, according to the CDC. Ingesting contaminated food or liquids, having contact with someone who has the virus and touching contaminated objects can cause people to contact it. Most people with Norovirus get better in one to three days, but can still spread the virus two weeks or more afterward, according to the CDC. People can avoid contracting Norovirus by washing their hands, and washing fruits, vegetables and cooking shellfish thoroughly before consumption, the CDC advises. Once sick with the virus, it is best to stay isolated for two days after symptoms stop. Samples collected from the Navigator of the Seas outbreak are still pending confirmatory testing, according to the CDC. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
