Safety Matters, health and safety news articles from Strategic Risk Management http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters.html Michael Lees of the Asbestos in Schools (AiS) campaign has warned that the growth and popularity of free schools could expose teachers and pupils to health risks from poor asbestos management, unless the Government provides better asbestos training for governors and teachers. http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters_1211_01.html A new financing framework called The Green Deal is to be launched next autumn as part of the recently unveiled Energy Act 2011. The government hopes this will revolutionise the energy efficiency of both domestic and commercial properties within Britain, enabling improvements to be funded by a charge on energy bills avoiding the need for consumers to pay the cost of improvements upfront. http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters_1211_02.html New cigarette safety standards are to be implemented which could have a major impact in reducing the number of people killed or significantly injured as a result of house fires. http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters_1211_03.html The latest fire statistics for 2010/2011 were released on Friday 25th November.  http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters_1211_04.html The end of last month saw the publication of the government’s long awaited review into health and safety rkmegulation. The report, Reclaiming health and safety for all: An independent review of health and safety legislation chaired by Professor Ragnar E. Lofstedt, examined over 200 sets of health and safety regulations and 53 approved codes of practice (ACoPs) http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters_1211_05.html The HSE is to charge duty-holders who materially breach health and safety law an hourly rate of £124 for its intervention. This is to commence in April next year; the time chargeable will be counted from when a letter or e-mail recording the duty-holder’s breach is sent.  http://www.srmukgroup.com/safety_matters_1211_06.html