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01/06/2012
Other News In Brief
UK Manufacturing Slump Worsens
The UK's manufacturing slump worsened last month, an economic data survey found.
The Markit/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index showed contraction, with a drop from 50.2 in April to 45.9 in May.
MarkIt said this was the seasonally adjusted measure's lowest level for three years.
It fell by a huge 4.3 points in the month, which was its second-steepest fall in the 20 years of its existence.
The report said manufacturers had cut back on output, employment, purchasing and inventories.
Manufacturing slumped across the eurozone too, as a lack of new orders led to further job losses.
RBS analyst Ross Walker called the figures a "collapse".
Hard-hit industrial sectors included chemicals and plastics, mechanical engineering, electrical and transport.
Manufacturing accounts for just 10% of UK GDP.
Multinational Recycling Firm Prosecuted Over Worker’s Death
Recycling company SITA UK Ltd has been fined £200,000 after a 21-year-old employee died from head injuries at its paper baling site in Tipton.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the firm after Mark Bate, of Tipton, West Midlands, was killed instantly when the arm of a JCB skid steer loader crushed his head on 12 June 2008.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Mr Bate had been driving the vehicle at SITA’s premises on the Coneygre Industrial Estate for three months without being properly trained.
On the day of the incident, he had been working on his own to load scrap paper onto a conveyor.
After finishing the job, he stopped the loader and raised the safety bar from across his lap to isolate the machine, before leaning out of the front of the vehicle. However, the machine failed to isolate, the loader’s arm dropped and crushed his head against the machine, killing him immediately.
HSE’s investigation found that Mr Bate had not been formally trained, assessed or supervised in the use of the vehicle and a self-employed maintenance engineer had also used it over several months with no training.
In addition, the court heard the loader had not been maintained in the eight months before the incident. It should have been serviced at least twice during this time.
Rail Passengers In The North West Set For Bigger Say
Passengers in Cumbria and North Lancashire will have more say on how local rail services are run after the service designation of the Furness Line as a community rail service, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers announced today.
Designation of the line between Barrow-in-Furness to Carnforth and on to Lancaster will enable train companies to work more closely with the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership to better design services to meet local needs.
Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said:
“I want to encourage communities to become more closely involved with their railways to help create the services and stations passengers deserve.
“That’s why I am delighted to announce this latest community rail service designation. Today’s designation is a major step towards helping the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership work closely with local groups to provide innovative and more cost effective rail services for their community.”
Nick Donovan, Chief Executive of First TransPennine Express, commented:
“This service designation is a first for a line on which our trains run and I welcome the even closer links between this company and the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership. Our team work last year already resulted in a major prize at the Community Rail awards and I’m sure that even more success can be achieved”.
(CD)
The UK's manufacturing slump worsened last month, an economic data survey found.
The Markit/CIPS manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index showed contraction, with a drop from 50.2 in April to 45.9 in May.
MarkIt said this was the seasonally adjusted measure's lowest level for three years.
It fell by a huge 4.3 points in the month, which was its second-steepest fall in the 20 years of its existence.
The report said manufacturers had cut back on output, employment, purchasing and inventories.
Manufacturing slumped across the eurozone too, as a lack of new orders led to further job losses.
RBS analyst Ross Walker called the figures a "collapse".
Hard-hit industrial sectors included chemicals and plastics, mechanical engineering, electrical and transport.
Manufacturing accounts for just 10% of UK GDP.
Multinational Recycling Firm Prosecuted Over Worker’s Death
Recycling company SITA UK Ltd has been fined £200,000 after a 21-year-old employee died from head injuries at its paper baling site in Tipton.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the firm after Mark Bate, of Tipton, West Midlands, was killed instantly when the arm of a JCB skid steer loader crushed his head on 12 June 2008.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Mr Bate had been driving the vehicle at SITA’s premises on the Coneygre Industrial Estate for three months without being properly trained.
On the day of the incident, he had been working on his own to load scrap paper onto a conveyor.
After finishing the job, he stopped the loader and raised the safety bar from across his lap to isolate the machine, before leaning out of the front of the vehicle. However, the machine failed to isolate, the loader’s arm dropped and crushed his head against the machine, killing him immediately.
HSE’s investigation found that Mr Bate had not been formally trained, assessed or supervised in the use of the vehicle and a self-employed maintenance engineer had also used it over several months with no training.
In addition, the court heard the loader had not been maintained in the eight months before the incident. It should have been serviced at least twice during this time.
Rail Passengers In The North West Set For Bigger Say
Passengers in Cumbria and North Lancashire will have more say on how local rail services are run after the service designation of the Furness Line as a community rail service, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers announced today.
Designation of the line between Barrow-in-Furness to Carnforth and on to Lancaster will enable train companies to work more closely with the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership to better design services to meet local needs.
Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said:
“I want to encourage communities to become more closely involved with their railways to help create the services and stations passengers deserve.
“That’s why I am delighted to announce this latest community rail service designation. Today’s designation is a major step towards helping the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership work closely with local groups to provide innovative and more cost effective rail services for their community.”
Nick Donovan, Chief Executive of First TransPennine Express, commented:
“This service designation is a first for a line on which our trains run and I welcome the even closer links between this company and the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership. Our team work last year already resulted in a major prize at the Community Rail awards and I’m sure that even more success can be achieved”.
(CD)
Related UK National News Stories
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13 January 2012
Legal Action Taken Over Cumbrian Rail Crash
It has been revealed that Network rail is to be prosecuted over the Cumbrian rail crash back in 2007, which claimed one life. The rail regulation body, The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has said that they have started legal proceedings against Network Rail for a breach of health and safety law.
Legal Action Taken Over Cumbrian Rail Crash
It has been revealed that Network rail is to be prosecuted over the Cumbrian rail crash back in 2007, which claimed one life. The rail regulation body, The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has said that they have started legal proceedings against Network Rail for a breach of health and safety law.
08 November 2011
High Speed Rail Network Gets Backing
A government committee has announced that a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham has a "good case". The announcement comes after the Government carried out a public consultation on the proposal and the recommended route for an initial high-speed line from London to the West Midlands.
High Speed Rail Network Gets Backing
A government committee has announced that a high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham has a "good case". The announcement comes after the Government carried out a public consultation on the proposal and the recommended route for an initial high-speed line from London to the West Midlands.
09 October 2008
Scottish Rail Strike Suspended
Scottish rail services are expected to return to normal after talks between Network Rail and the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union lead to a suspension of the 24-hour strike scheduled for noon.
Scottish Rail Strike Suspended
Scottish rail services are expected to return to normal after talks between Network Rail and the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union lead to a suspension of the 24-hour strike scheduled for noon.
27 April 2004
Firms accept liability for Potters Bar rail crash
In a joint statement made today Network Rail and Jarvis plc have formally accepted liability for the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash. Network Rail and Jarvis said they hoped that by "formalising the liability issue, those affected by the tragedy will gain some level of comfort and assistance".
Firms accept liability for Potters Bar rail crash
In a joint statement made today Network Rail and Jarvis plc have formally accepted liability for the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash. Network Rail and Jarvis said they hoped that by "formalising the liability issue, those affected by the tragedy will gain some level of comfort and assistance".
28 February 2008
Rail Boss Knighted As Company Suffers Record Fine
Network Rail has been fined a record £14 million by the Office of Rail Regulation for engineering work which overran during Christmas and the New Year. The fine was imposed for three serious overruns during the festive period, the worst of which was on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby in the West Midlands.
Rail Boss Knighted As Company Suffers Record Fine
Network Rail has been fined a record £14 million by the Office of Rail Regulation for engineering work which overran during Christmas and the New Year. The fine was imposed for three serious overruns during the festive period, the worst of which was on the West Coast Main Line at Rugby in the West Midlands.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A chilly start with a widespread frost and some freezing fog, any freezing fog slow to clear. Otherwise bright with sunny spells and coastal showers. Light winds. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Coastal showers dying out with a widespread frost developing along with freezing fog, which could become extensive. Winds remaining light. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
