is a resource centre for Londoners fighting health and safety hazards in their workplace and community. This site is for union and community organisers anywhere who need health and safety information.
Our latest News - February 2010
Asbestos: A shameful legacy - article from The Independent
By Emily Dugan
They called it "the Barking cough". First it began like any
other: a tickle in the chest and slight pain on breathing. Then, within
a matter of months, the sufferer was in agony, gasping for air and eventually
suffocating to death as a vicious cancer attacked their lungs waiting
for....
Asbestos Hidden Killer 2009 launched by HSE this week
The refreshed campaign website has gone live with new real life stories, a more in-depth quiz and more information on how to work safely, amongst other things.
- Visit the Asbestos - hidden killer website.
Liliana Alexa's story
On
26 September 2006 a 165 foot crane collapsed in Thessaly Road, Battersea
onto a block of flats killing Michael Alexa, 23, and the crane driver,
Jonathan Cloke, 37.
Michael's mum Liliana Alexa has subsequently campaigned remorselessly for better protection for workers and the public from such crane collapses.
Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group, BCDAG, was set up right away with the help of Battersea Trades Council and the Construction Safety Campaign, a group made up of building workers and relatives of those killed on building sites. Following its initial meeting BCDAG has continued to grow in size and involves the local community, councillors and MPs.
London Hazards Centre has assisted with technical health and safety information and background research.
Every year on 26 September at Thessaly Road, where there is now a plaque to commemorate Michael and Jonathan, a vigil is held by the local community to remember them.
- Read Liliana's speech on the 3rd anniversary of Michael's death.
- Go to further information on the London Councils website.
New call for safety duties on directors
Company directors have failed to respond to a series of pleas to voluntarily take health and safety seriously in the boardroom, so they should be required by law to do so. The latest call for statutory duties on directors comes as part of a new campaign from safety magazines Health and Safety at Work and Health and Safety Bulletin (HSB). The magazines are using an online petition to garner support for the campaign.
Leaflets in languages other than English
Visit our leaflets page to access Health & Safety Executive leaflets for people with a first language other than English.
Our latest Newsletters
The Daily Hazard No 97 June 2009
Lead Story:
London march against deaths
at work
Daily Hazard No. 97
Click the above link for the whole newsletter as pdf
(what's pdf?)
The Daily Hazard No 96 April 2008
Lead Story:
Action call on asbestos in schools
Daily Hazard No. 96
Click the above link for the whole newsletter as pdf
(what's pdf?)
The Daily Hazard No 95 December 2007
Lead Story:
Lobbying the Minister
Daily Hazard No. 95
Click the above link for the whole newsletter as pdf
(what's pdf?)
The Daily Hazard No 94 September 2007
Lead Story:
Crane collapse strengthens calls
for action
Daily Hazard No. 94
Click the above link for the whole newsletter as pdf
(what's pdf?)
Our latest factsheets
Inspections
April 2008
The Factsheet as pdf
(what's pdf?)
Sick pay and sickness absence policies
December 2007
The Factsheet as pdf
(what's pdf?
Photocopier and laser printer hazards
September 2007
The Factsheet as pdf
( what's pdf?
Workers Memorial Day
28 April annually
Visit LHC's Web Memorial for London
BADasbestos
John Towersey BADasbestos worker died of mesothelioma at the end of May this year, not long after stopping work for the group. He made a tremendous contribution to developing the support work in Barking, and will always be remembered by the BADasbestos team. Our condolences to his family
What BADasbestos does
Have you been diagnosed with an asbestos disease: asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural thickening or pleural plaques?
Do you or a relative or friend live in Barking and Dagenham, or a neighbouring borough?
Have you moved away, but were exposed to asbestos when living or working there?
If you want legal advice or other information, please contact the group on the free helpline: 0800 587 1272.
All advice given in confidence, any initial interview by an asbestos specialist lawyer will be free of charge. Lease note not all asbestos illnesses and exposures will be able to obtain compensation.
Regular monthly coffee morning sessions 9am to 12 noon at Barking Town Hall
BADasbestos sessions are changing to a "coffee morning" format in the new year and are due to take place on the following days:
- Thursday 28 January 2010
- Thursday 29 April 2010
- Thursday 29 July 2010
- Thursday 28 October 2010
Information from Barking and Dagenham UNISON on 0208 227 2102.
Migrant and Refugee Worker Support
London Hazard Centre offers advice and support to refugee and migrant workers
Abuse of worker's employment rights (including health & safety
rights) by employers is rife for refugees and migrant workers. They
often have rates of pay less than the minimum wage and endure long and
illegal working hours. Accidents and injuries have always been high
amongst this group of workers as the Morecambe Bay and other tragedies
have highlighted. The London Hazards Centre makes this sector of our
community a priority for our services.
If you want to make a donation to help us do this work click here
for people at work and in the community in the Greater London area
020 7794 5999
- Research for compensation cases and non-profit purposes
- Inspections and training for non-profit organisations
- Online Resources Our publications, factsheets and Daily Hazard newsletters available for download
- Affiliation/Subscription Support the Centre and keep in touch. Affiliate your union or organisation or subscribe as an individual
- Contact us by post, telephone, email, fax
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