Tag Archives: Safety

Look and listen when you walk and talk

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The green cross code appears to have been rewritten as more as more pedestrians seem to stop, change a track, and make a phone call, than stop, look, and listen when crossing the road.

Using MP3 players, mobile phones and similar devices when walking near roads is a major distraction for pedestrians so a new road safety poster campaign has been launched to remind people to avoid danger by giving traffic their full concentration.

In 2011, 33 pedestrians were killed or seriously injured in road accidents in Warwickshire and a further 122 suffered slight injuries. It’s unclear how many of these deaths and injuries were the result of pedestrian distraction, but road safety professionals are concerned that this plays a part.

The campaign to reduce distraction is running across Warwickshire and West Mercia. It urges pedestrians to ‘stay alert to traffic’ and to avoid using phones or other similar devices when crossing the road or walking near traffic.

Traffic is the biggest cause of accidental death of 12 to 16 year olds so campaign posters will be distributed to secondary schools across Warwickshire over the coming weeks to warn young people of the potential dangers. Parents are also being asked to support the campaign by talking to their children about the dangers of not paying attention to traffic.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, portfolio holder for community protection said: “The immense popularity of mobile phones and other portable devices presents a major risk to pedestrian safety. It’s not uncommon to see pedestrians so completely absorbed in their phones that they are entirely oblivious to where they are and what’s going on around them.

People are increasingly using mobile phones on the move to perform complex tasks that demand a huge amount of attention, such as texting, accessing emails and the internet, updating social media or making use of apps. If you are focused on texting or selecting a play list you can’t be fully aware of traffic. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Warwickshire Police Head of Incident Resolution, Superintendent Adrian McGee added: “This may appear to be a trivial issue to some but the risks are clear. It is all too easy for an inattentive pedestrian using a mobile phone to take a quick glance before stepping off the kerb to cross when they should take the time to look both ways properly. This makes it easy to miss an approaching vehicle.

“Similarly a pedestrian listening to music impairs their ability to hear approaching traffic. Pedestrians need to be aware of the risks they are unknowingly taking and ask themselves how important is that text , everyone needs to take more responsibility for their personal safety.”

What’s in your kebab?

Consumers ordering lamb curries or lamb kebabs may not get what they expect a Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service project has revealed.

Trading Standards Officers visited 20 restaurants and takeaways, at random, in Stratfordupon Avon, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton and Rugby and purchased 39 lamb curries and lamb kebabs. These were then tested to see what meat they actually contained and to check for high levels of artificial colours.

Lamb is typically the most expensive meat consumers can buy, followed by beef and pork with chicken being the cheapest. Trading Standards Officers wanted to check that consumers were getting what they expected – and paid for.

Incredibly, none of the 20 lamb kebabs sampled contained just lamb. They all contained a mixture of lamb together with either pork, beef or poultry (chicken).

Trading Standards Officers understand that some restaurants may be knowingly using chicken in their lamb kebabs as it helps to ensure the meat sticks together around the skewer during cooking.

Of the 19 lamb curries tested, only three contained just lamb. Again, most contained a mixture of lamb together with either beef or poultry (chicken).

Four lamb curries didn’t contain any lamb at all.

The foods were also checked for high levels of artificial colourings. Adults can be adversely affected by artificial colours, and in children trigger hyperactivity.

Although none of the curries were found to contain high levels of colours, 70 per cent of the kebabs tested did. One contained levels of artificial colouring that were 18 times higher than permitted, another was 13 times higher. This may be due to human error in preparation of the marinades used by the restaurants and take-aways to give the kebab colour.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Trading Standards carry out important work to help ensure that the food we eat is correctly described and safe.”

“Consumers rely on accurate food descriptions. Some foods are not permitted to be eaten by some religions and cultures whilst some people may wish to avoid some foods because of allergy concerns.”

“Consumers should also have the confidence that if they are buying an expensive product such as lamb, that they are not getting chicken instead, a meat that is half the price.”

“Warwickshire Trading Standards will now be contacting every restaurant and takeaway involved. Further investigations are to be carried out and advice will be provided to retailers and the wholesale trade.”

County chemists to offer alcohol advice

Information will be available in these venues around Warwickshire for the whole month as part of a health improvement campaign to raise awareness of the harm alcohol can cause.

As part of the Public Health campaign, training has also been arranged for pharmacy staff to help them speak to the public about alcohol and safe drinking.

Coventry and Warwickshire’s treatment service, The Recovery Partnership, who are commissioned by the Warwickshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT), will train pharmacy counter staff to understand alcohol units and safer drinking limits, and learn more about the risks from excessive alcohol use. This will give them confidence to speak to customers about alcohol and signpost them to further services more appropriately.

This is part of a wider NHS Warwickshire Public Health project – the Health Champion Programme – set up to address a range of health related matters in partnership with the Local Pharmaceutical Committee and all pharmacies across the county.

Under the programme, pharmacies support three nominated public health topics each year by setting up visual displays, providing information, and offering advice to customers.

Warwickshire’s Director of Public Health, John Linnane, said: “Pharmacies were an obvious choice for us as venues for the mini health campaigns as they are well positioned in local communities and convenient for patients and the public.

“As they have regular contact with members of the public, pharmacy staff can have a great impact on improving the health of people in Warwickshire.

As well as alcohol, in 2012, we will also be looking at mental health and wellbeing, and healthy eating so similar campaigns on these themes will run in pharmacies later in the year.”

Paul Hooper, Warwickshire’s Substance Misuse Manager added: “The DAAT are pleased to be involved in this health campaign with local pharmacies. Alcohol misuse is a serious issue which causes a great deal of harm to individuals and their families so we welcome the opportunity to raise awareness of the issue.

“By passing on information safe drinking limits and offering advice to help people manage their alcohol intake, we hope to bring down the number of alcohol related hospital admissions, reduce the number of people in treatment and improve general health of the Warwickshire residents.”

For alcohol advice from the DAAT go to www.warwickshire.gov.uk/alcohol and to find out more about the Recovery Partnership visit www.cw-recovery.org.uk/

PHOTO: Mellors Pharmacy, Warwick – L-R Alison Boffin (NHS Warwickshire Public Health) Steve Bliss (Recovery Partnership) and Katie Whitehouse (Warwickshire DAAT) with Lynne Jones (Dispenser) and Andy McKenna (Mellors Pharmacist and Professional Development Officer of the Local Pharmaceutical Committee).

 

 

Advice for all traders – butchers, bakers and even candlestick makers

Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service works with the Warwickshire business community to help them trade safely and fairly and give confidence to consumers.

Businesses require information on topics as diverse as the labeling of honey and the sale of traditional Chinese herbal remedies, to the advertising of cars and the importation of toys. They look to Warwickshire Trading Standards for advice and guidance.

Trading Standards helps new and existing businesses of all shapes and sizes including large companies with a national and international presence, to traders who run their businesses from home.

Trading Standards Officers assist businesses to meet their legal responsibilities and obligations, helping them to get it right first time and saving businesses time and money in the process.

Businesses requiring help and advice can contact Warwickshire Trading Standards on 01926 414040 or email: tradingstandards@warwickshire.gov.uk.

The service has a wide range of self help business guidance leaflets, visit: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards

You can also follow Warwickshire Trading Standards on its new business advice and information twitter, visit: www.twitter.com/warkstss

New support services for domestic abuse victims

Two new services to provide accommodation and support to anyone experiencing domestic abuse are available to Warwickshire residents from 1 April 2012.

The refuge service will be provided by national charity Refuge, whilst Stonham – the care and support division of UK wide housing association Home Group – will be delivering a comprehensive support service.

The new services will be able to support cases of domestic abuse and offer information and advice to anyone affected by abuse.

The refuge service will meet the needs of all women experiencing domestic abuse from all of Warwickshire’s communities.

From a single point of contact, domestic abuse support will include a range of services including legal advocacy, housing related floating support, open access advice and information, a specialist helpline and dedicated support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual transgender victims, male victims, and black and ethnic minority communities. Additionally the service will provide multi-agency risk assessment and Sanctuary Scheme management to help victims to stay in their own homes.

The change signifies a shift from several individual contracts for adult community, inpatient and criminal justice substance misuse services previously offered in each area, into a more integrated treatment system.

Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said: “The new services will see a clear pathway between services for victims and referring agencies, providing support to a wider range of people experiencing domestic abuse.”

Sandra Horley, CBE, chief executive of Refuge said: “Refuge are now able to expand our service and deliver a county wide service from April. These services are a lifeline for women and children escaping domestic abuse.”

Rachael Byrne, Home Group’s executive director of Care and Support, said: “Stonham has a strong pedigree of helping those who suffer from domestic abuse. “We are well established in Warwickshire and looking forward to working closely with the County Council and Refuge.”

Anyone seeking information and support about domestic abuse can access the Warwickshire Against Domestic Abuse Talk 2 Someone free helpline on 0800 408 1552, available between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 4pm Saturday.

There is also a website – www.talk2someone.org.uk – which offers information and support for victims, families, friends and neighbours as well as perpetrators, who may be looking to turn things around.

If you are in immediate danger contact Warwickshire Police by dialling 999 -. Warwickshire Police can also be contacted on 01926 415000.

Are you selling at a car boot sale this Easter?

With car boot and Sunday market season starting, Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards has produced a useful guide for sellers.

Those who sell only two or three times a year – perhaps to get a little extra money from unwanted items – are classed as private sellers. Private sellers are not required to give the same legal rights to consumers as traders, and consumer protection laws to not apply to anything bought in a private sale, however items for sale in this way must be described correctly.

For the consumer, this means that when buying from a private seller the legal principle of caveat emptor, or ‘buyer-beware’ operates and they should check goods thoroughly before they buy them. Trading Standards advises sellers to check toys and electric products to ensure that they are safe but consumers should be aware.

People who regularly sell at markets or car boot sales (six or more times a year), particularly if they buy goods to sell or sell the same goods elsewhere or employ an assistant are more likely to classed as traders.

Traders have to give consumers the same rights as would a High Street store and abide by the consumer protection regulations. This means the goods they sell have to be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, or the consumer has the right to a replacement or refund.

More guidance for both private sellers and traders is available at: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fairtrading and click on ‘Do you sell at car boot sales?’