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News July 2003
| Title | Comments | Publication |
| Now it';s Browne with an 'e'; at the DWP. | Following the Government reshuffle, Nick Brown the Minister responsible for H&S at the DWP, has been replaced by Des Browne. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):3 |
| 15 bosses convicted in last four years. | Between 1999–2003, 15 company directors or senior managers were convicted of H&S offences. The average fine was £2,656 and most of the offences occurred in small companies. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):3 |
| Thames Trains to sue HSE over Ladbroke Grove. | More than 3 years after the accident, there could be a landmark civil trial on the liability of the HSE to meet some of the compensation bill. (M Tyler) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):4 |
| Lone worker not suitably trained. | GKN Hardy Spicer fined £7,500 + £1,175 costs. Injured falling into a tank of chemicals after trying to repair a failed crane. Not doing regular job on voluntary overtime night shift. No alarm, training, nor classed as lone worker. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):6 |
| Truck driver 'scalped'; in welding boom collision. | J Wareing & Son fined £4,000 + £1,647 costs. Driver of lift truck injured after driving indoors from bright sunlight. The cab was struck by a 12.7m welding boom. Unsuitable traffic routes and training. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):6 |
| Customer fatality costs Royal Mail £200,000. | Royal Mail Group Plc fined £200,000 + £3,555 costs. A partially sighted member of the public killed whilst collecting post from a distribution office. An RM lorry reversed into him. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):8 |
| 'Incompetent'; builders left structure unstable. | Brails Bros Ltd fined £2,500 + £2,000 costs. Whilst refurbishing a building, removed all the walls and left the roof propped up on timbers. No advice, planning or control. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):8 |
| Auctioneer prosecuted over shooting incident. | Andrew Grant (Andrew Grant Fine Art) fined £5,000 + £18,443 costs. Musician injured during pre auction viewing whilst examining loaded starting pistol which discharged. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):8 |
| Collapse of 'unusual'; scaffold set-up caused steeplejack to fall to his death. | Northern Steeplejacks (Edinburgh) Ltd fined £40,000 + £6,712 costs. Killed when scaffold and gable collapsed. Bolted 10m high to insecure walls of a Victorian school. Scaffold overloaded and usually used by steeplejacks for very high structures. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):10 |
| Vindication for family in forklift death case. | Moores Timber Merchants Ltd fined £100,000 + £69,300 costs. Director M Broadbent fined £5,000. Member of the public killed driving past Moores when a FLT struck his car. HSE originally claimed it was a road traffic accident. Company in liquidation. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):10 |
| Workplace violence: then and now. | The increasing problem of violence in the workplace, particularly where the perpetrator is a member of the public. (M Appleby) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):12 |
| Dangerous substances: handle with care. | Some 32m workers in the EU are exposed to cancer causing agents at work. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):16 |
| Pressure points. (Pt 2) | Former HSE Deputy DG analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the UK';s occupational H&S system. (D Eves) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):23-24 |
| Putting safety in the picture. | Safety concerns of high street small businesses – picture framing. (D Hodgkinson) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):27-28 |
| When a plan comes together. | Making a real difference to how best to engage workers in the management of occupational H&S. (N Budworth & Dr S Khan) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):30-33 |
| On the vapour trail. | Equipment available to guard against a range of gas hazards found in confined spaces. (J Wilson) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):34-36 |
| Emergency escape enlightenment. | Emergency escape breathing apparatus and confined space working. (F Hallett) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):38-40 |
| Notice boards not enough to update staff, warns survey. | A SO survey found some UK companies are failing to keep staff properly updated about H&S Regs with 50% using notice boards rather than electronic systems. | Stationery Office Tel:01603-694496 Safety & Health Practitioner 2003 21(7):62 |
| Client and contractors warned over buried services risks. | After recent prosecutions, the HSE is highlighting the need for clients and contractors to use cable plans before digging near buried services. | 'Avoiding danger from underground services'; HSG47 Isbn 0-7176-1744-0 £7.50 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E117:03 27/6/03 |
| HSE publishes research on falls from height. | New research identifies the underlying factors for falls from height at work and the most effective ways of controlling them. | RR116 Isbn 0-7176-22221-5 £50 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E114:03 30/6/03 |
| Amending regulations for tanks and pressure receptacles come into force. | The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Transportable Pressure Vessels (Amend) Regs 2003 came into force on 30/6/03. | SI 2003/1431 SO Internet: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop HSC Press Release C027:03 30/6/03 |
| Rate of fatal accidents to self-employed in agriculture growing, warns HSE – joint action needed. | In 2002/03 there were 38 fatal accidents in agriculture which is the lowest for 10 years but 20 of these were amongst the self-employed. | 'Fatal injuries…2002/03'; HSE, NAC, Stoneleigh, Kenilworth, Warwicks CV8 2LZ HSE Press Release E115:03 1/7/03 |
| HSE winners awarded by star of children';s BBC. | At the RAS, Stoneleigh, Mark Speight presented prizes to the winners of the HSE';s children';s farm safety poster competition. | HSE Press Release E118:03 1/7/03 |
| HSC Chair addresses rail industry on key safety challenges. | Bill Callaghan has set out challenges for the rail industry in improving public confidence and emphasised the need to develop a better safety culture. | HSC Press Release C028:03 1/7/03 |
| Statement from Bill Callaghan, Chair of the Health and Safety Commission. | Addressing the Local Govnt Assoc Conf he expressed concerns over the decline in LA H&S enforcement activity and cited the crisis in recruiting qualified staff. | HSC Press Release C029:03 2/7/03 |
| Construction revitalising discussion document: industry responses shape HSE';s agenda for change. | Surveys the responses made by the construction industry to the discussion document. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/2002.htm HSE Press Release E109:03 3/7/03 |
| HSE publishes research on the use of work equipment directive. | Evaluation of the implementation of the Use of Work Equip Dir and the Amended Use of Work Equip Dir in the UK. | RR125 Isbn 0-7176-2702-0 £20 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E120:03 4/7/03 |
| Anglia Fabrication & Design Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Steel fixer injured falling 2.6m whilst installing a roof beam which knocked him over. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000380 (22/4/03) |
| Morrison Construction Ltd | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. An 8 tonne dumper overturned whilst being driven down a 1:3 ramp. Not identified by safety dept visits and driver experienced but untrained. No injuries. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000127 (22/4/03) |
| D Lees & Co Ltd | Fined £4,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured after becoming entangled in the roller blind of a glass house. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000434 (23/4/03) |
| Roberts Mart & Co Ltd | Fined £3,000 under WHSWR 1992. Agency worker injured when a metal clad door fell on him. Stored leaning against a wall. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000501 (23/4/03) |
| DS Smith (UK) Ltd | Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured operating unguarded machinery. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000351 (24/4/03) |
| Golden Wonder Ltd | Fined £18,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999. Injured falling into rotating drums on a crisp production line whilst cleaning machine. No safe working system. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000333 (24/4/03) |
| Lemmeleg Building & Contracting Ltd | Fined £3,500 under CHSWR 1996. Injured when internal wall collapsed during construction. Wall instability identified in RA and method statement. Inadequate control and supervision. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000336 (24/4/03) |
| EB Bradshaw & Sons Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a fountain mixer. Inadequate guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000338 (24/4/03) |
| John Roots | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Driving a grab which dropped a car axle through the roof of adjacent premises. | HSE Prosecution Case F170000399 (25/4/03) |
| Persimmon Homes (North Midlands) Ltd | Fined £800 under CHSWR 1996. Inadequate welfare provision on construction site. Previous advice. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000100 (25/4/03) |
| Coroners'; power to hold public inquiries into work-related diseases to be limited. | The Coroners'; Review Team final report recommends juries no longer be involved in inquests into workplace deaths and calls for specialist coroners to deal with these investigations. | 'Death certification…2003'; Internet: www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm58/5831/5831.htm Health & Safety Bulletin 2003 (320):5 |
| RoSPA pushes internet use. | Recent research shows the advantages of public reporting of H&S performance and promotes the use of company internet websites. | ';Going public on performance…'; Internet: www.gopop.org.uk Health & Safety Bulletin 2003 (320):6 |
| Bullying. | ACAS has published 2 on-line guides on workplace harassment, for employees, and employers and managers. Includes forms of harassment and suggested resolutions. | Internet: www.acas.org.uk/publications/AL04.html (employers) and (AL05.html ending for employees) Health & Safety Bulletin 2003 (320):6 |
| Safe, not sorry: EL Insurance. | Government';s proposals for changes to Employers'; Liability Insurance through the development of better H&S management systems. (C Dyer) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2003 (320):9-13 |
| Health and safety: the state of play. | Table reviewing all HSC/E activity between 16/11/02 – 13/6/03. | Health & Safety Bulletin 2003 (320):14-26 |
| Employee relocation proceeds with caution. | Companies are looking at new ways of resourcing international assignments through hiring and developing local talent and working remotely across borders. | Chartered Inst of Personnel & Development Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):5 |
| New rail safety law set to overhaul accident investigation. | The Railways and Transport Safety Bill will probably become law this month and proposes an independent Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). | Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):6 |
| Landmark victory for safety inspectors. | A legal test case has strengthened the powers available to LA inspectors. Whilst investigating, H&S inspectors are allowed to put questions in writing, as well as in person. | Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):8 |
| A risky business. | The role of society in risk management - 3 reports from the Royal Academy of Engineering. (P Ellis) | From: L King Tel:020-7227-0510 Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):11-12 |
| In too deep. | Hazards and risks for owners or managers of inland water sites, from ponds to rivers. (R Barker) | Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):15-16,18 |
| Duty deadline. | Discussion with an asbestos consultant as the deadline approaches for the new duty to manage asbestos. (R Bunn & P Irvine) | Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):21 |
| Standing to attention. | Risk factors associated with standing work and the use of anti-fatigue mats. (D Abbott) | Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):23-24 |
| Travel safety. | Guidance on planning for safe travel, whether for business or pleasure. (P Hughes) | Health and Safety at Work 2003 25(7):29-31 |
| Research report on development of a method to assess biologically relevant dermal exposures. | The results of an attempt to develop a dermal sampler which mimics the uptake of solvent through the skin. | RR117 Isbn 0-7176-2223-1 £20 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E119:03 7/7/03 |
| Foundry industry takes initiative to improve safety at work. | SHIFT is a foundry industry initiative to improve H&S and reduce accidents by >30% over 5 years. | HSC Press Release C030:03 9/7/03 |
| Alford Pallet Recycling | Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured using a circular saw wearing gloves. Guards unused. No safe system of work, training or supervision. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000663 (28/4/03) |
| Gilbert Findlay | Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Three people in a car which came off a fairground ride. As ride controller, failed to ensure safe operation. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000328 (28/4/03) |
| Brian Robert Black | Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Three people in a car which came off a fairground ride which was examined by Mr Black 2 months previously. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000329 (28/4/03) |
| Swanyear Ltd | Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Failure to provide plant, suitable PPE and safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000561 (28/4/03) |
| Associated Roofing & Maintenance Ltd | Fined £1,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Sub contractor injured falling 25'; through fragile roof light. Own employees also working in the area. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000126 (28/4/03) |
| Envirowaste Services Ltd | Fined £6,000 under PUWER 1998. Skip driver killed crushed against a wall whilst operating one outrigger. Controls unlabelled and push to operate button bypassed. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000147 (29/4/03) |
| Pims Pumps Ltd | Fined £1,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured using a pillar drill whilst wearing gloves. No information and poor guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000444 (30/4/03) |
| Westrock Ltd | Fined £12,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / CDMR 1994 / CHSWR 1996 / MHSWR 1999. Injured falling 3.5m from edge of gantry during demolition. No edge protection or fall prevention. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000187 (30/4/03) |
| KSR Automotive Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Agency worker injured whilst using a pedestal drilling machine wearing gloves. Suitable guard fitted but not used. No training, information, instruction or supervision. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000315 (1/5/03) |
| Doncaster Motor Spares Ltd | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999. A work placement 15 year old injured stripping underside of vehicle resting on its side when it fell over. Working with a 16 year old worker. No safe system of work or young persons'; RA. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000330 (1/5/03) |
| Nevis Range Development Co Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. No safe system of work for the use of a tow seat on an aerial cableway. The custom was to use tow seats in absence of all fall prevention. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000549 (1/5/03) |
| Radbury of Ayr | Fined £1,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured falling from a cherrypicker. Outriggers and stabilisers not used, no instruction. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000088 (1/5/03) |
| Westbury Homes (Holdings) Ltd | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Three contract bricklayers injured when unsupported floor collapsed. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000151 (1/5/03) |
| McArdle Contracts Ltd | Fined £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Injured during trench back filling when a dumper delivered material and rolled into the trench. Worker should not have been in the trench. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000509 (2/5/03) |
| BTS Construction Ltd | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured during trench back filling when a dumper delivered material and rolled into the trench. Worker should not have been in the trench. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000510 (2/5/03) |
| Mr Alan Cartmell | Fined £4,250 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / GSIUR 1998. Unregistered gas fitter carried out unsafe installation work. Risk to the safety of the occupier. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000491 (2/5/03) |
| South West Trains Ltd | Fined £5,000 under EWR 1989. Injured by electrical arcing whilst litter picking in Depot. No isolation of the current in the working area. | HSE Prosecution Case F220000052 (2/5/03) |
| Safety warning on 'sold as seen'; machinery. | The HSE warns buyers and sellers of second hand industrial machinery that 'sold as seen'; is no protection from liabilities under H&S laws. | HSE Press Release E124:03 14/7/03 |
| Union condemns 10% drop in HSE funding. | Prospect, the union which represents 1,750 HSE professionals condemns the Government';s decision to reduce the HSE budget. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):3 |
| RoSPA 'appalled'; at HASS demise. | The DTI has announced an end to the Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System which was started in 1976. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):3 |
| EU chemicals legislation web consultation. | An EU Internet consultation on proposals to overhaul and modernise the EU';s regulatory system for chemicals and replace 40 pieces of current legislation. | Internet: www.europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/chemicals/index.htm RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):4 |
| EU good practice awards. | The European Agency for Safety & Health at Work is seeking nominations for Good Practice Awards for ways of handling dangerous substances. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/euroweek/gpractice.htm RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):4 |
| Formalin – the body of evidence. | New research shows that formaldehyde and its aqueous solution formalin and glutaraldehyde, pose greater problems to worker health than previously thought. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):11 |
| Court report. | Discussion on a selection of recent court cases. (R Mackmurdo) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):12-15 |
| Dealing with LGACs. | Laser Generated Airborne Contaminants are the dust and smoke generated when a material is processed with a laser. (J Young) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):16-18 |
| First aid in the workplace. | How GSK have established a team of first aiders. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):20-23 |
| Nightclubs. | Conducting an RA in a nightclub. (P Ellis) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):28-31 |
| Taking care of the Bill. | What happens to police officers who become unfit due to work and the OH support currently available. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):36-40 |
| Hearsay and heresy. | 'Zero injuries'; may by a corporate aspiration but is usually of little value as a target benchmark against which to measure progress. (R Bibbings) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2003 33(7):51-52 |
| The downside of working from home. | An Econ & Soc Res Council study on the quality of home life for home workers. | ESRC Internet: www.esrc.ac.uk/ RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2003 32(7):10 |
| HSE releases guidance on reducing dioxin exposure in aluminium recycling. | Explains what dioxins are, how they are formed during metal recycling and how they enter the body. | INDG377 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E121:03 11/7/03 |
| New guidance on the safe erection, use and dismantling of falsework. | Contractor';s responsibilities and the factors to consider when erecting, using and dismantling falsework. | CIS 56 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E123:03 11/7/03 |
| Grosvenor Farms Ltd, Cogent Breeding Ltd and Reay Forest Estate support HSE on agriculture child safety message. | During the summer, 3 businesses in Cheshire and Scotland will promote the HSE';s initiative to raise the awareness of carers and prevent injury to children. | HSE Press Release E129:03 11/7/03 |
| Contractors reminded to keep sites safe from children. | HSE reminder to contractors that it is their responsibility to keep children off sites and to store materials and plant safely. | HSG151 Isbn 0-7176-1148-5 £7.95 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E130:03 11/7/03 |
| Use and effectiveness of mobile work platforms for tree work. | Understanding the use and capabilities of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) for arboricultural operations. | RR123 Isbn 0-7176-2701-2 £15 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E122:03 14/7/03 |
| Joint health and safety initiative targets Brent motor industry. | In July inspectors from the HSE and Brent Council will visit approx 70 motor vehicle repair workplaces. | HSE Press Release E128:03 14/7/03 |
| HSE offshore hydrocarbon releases go online. | A new online version of the HCR System, containing voluntary information on offshore hydrocarbon release incidents. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/hydrocarbon.htm HSE Press Release E131:03 14/7/03 |
| HSE report reviews research on the relationship between shift work and breast cancer. | Recent research suggests further study is required into the possibility that shift work can increase the potential for women to contract breast cancer. | RR132 Isbn 0-7176-2708-X £10 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E132:03 15/7/03 |
| Statement of nuclear incidents at nuclear installations. | There were no incidents in the period 1/1/03-31/3/03. | HSE Press Release E125:03 16/7/03 |
| HSE issues new guidance on reducing roll cage injuries. | Reducing handling injuries in the food and drinks industries and the use of roll cages and wheeled racks. | Fd Inf Sheet 33 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/fis33.pdf HSE Press Release E133:03 16/7/03 |
| More top firms report on safety. | The HSC Chairman has welcomed the results of 2 surveys showing increases in the number of companies reporting publicly on their H&S performance. | RR134 RR135 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/index.htm HSC Press Release C031:03 16/7/03 |
| Nuclear regulator announces strategic plan. | The Strategic Plan 2003-06 sets out the goals and activities of Britain';s independent nuclear safety regulator. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/nsd/stratplan14.pdf HSE Press Release E135:03 17/7/03 |
| New Health and Safety Minister sees farm safety in action. | Mr D Browne, the new Minister with responsibility for H&S, accompanied inspectors on a visit to a farm to see the dangers of agricultural work. | HSE Press Release E136:03 17/7/03 |
| Valley Reinforcements Ltd | Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Unsafe system of work for moving steel. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000513 (6/5/03) |
| Tawm Ltd | Guilty under HASAWA 1974 s3. Traffic management worker killed by private car whilst marking out positions for equipment. Unsafe system of work. No RA or method statement. Fatigue caused by working patterns. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000262 (6/5/03) |
| Chep UK Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured by conveyor sprocket. No guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000508 (6/5/03) |
| Miller Pattison Ltd | Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Failed to monitor safety check sheets of its cavity wall insulation technicians. One drilled into a gas appliance flue and a tenant later suffered CO poisoning. Failure to carry out safety inspections. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000390 (6/5/03) |
| Shepherd Maintenance Ltd | Fined £21,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999 / CHSWR 1996. Killed falling through a fragile roof light. Insufficient RA, unsafe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000395 (6/5/03) |
| Carpetright Plc | Fined £18,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / MHSWR 1999. Contractor';s worker killed falling through a fragile roof light. Failure to ensure the safety of the public. Inadequate RA. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000406 (6/5/03) |
| Andrew Campbell | Fined £500 under CHSWR 1996. Person in control of construction work but failed to ensure measures taken to prevent falls >2m. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000600 (6/5/03) |
| William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd | Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999. No RA for work at height or safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F180000378 (7/5/03) |
| Cornwell Parker Furniture Ltd | Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured when high pressure spray gun hose burst whilst spraying furniture. No maintenance or replacement scheme. Previous similar accident not reported. | HSE Prosecution Case F050000154 (8/5/03) |
| Unisurf Engineering Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998 / LOLER 1998. Injured when a steel roll fell from an FLT the driver of which had no licence. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000511 (8/5/03) |
| Forth Ports Plc | Fined £200,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Killed in an oxygen deficient grain silo whilst inserting a bug trap. No RA, safe system of work, rescue arrangements, training or equipment. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000495 (8/5/03) |
| L&M Shipyards Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured operating an unguarded pillar drill whilst wearing gloves. | HSE Prosecution Case F030000381 (9/5/03) |
| Derek J Fountain | Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / GSIUR 1998. CO poisoning of family. Unregistered gas installer. | HSE Prosecution Case F060000366 (9/5/03) |
| W&S Reidy | Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 & s3. Gas main fractured during building demolition. Supply disconnection system not implemented. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000111 (9/5/03) |
| Executive issues draft standards on measuring levels of stress. | HSE draft management standards to enable firms to measure whether their organisation is effectively tackling the causes of work related stress. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/stress Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):12-13 |
| Road transport sector webpages. | Two new HSE webpages providing information and advice for the road haulage and motor vehicle repair industries. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/index.htm www.hse.gov.uk/haulage/index.htm Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):4 |
| ELCI Insurers under the spotlight. | Dept for Work & Pensions'; review of Employers'; Liability Compulsory Insurance and initiatives aimed at linking premiums to H&S performance. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):6-8 |
| A healthier service. | Gaining a safety NVQ at NHS Estates which provides advice to the health service on safe design and use of healthcare buildings and facilities. (F Stones) | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):18-20 |
| Worker killed in building collapse. | Joseph Finney Plc fined £40,000. Capita Group Plc fined £30,000. J and G Draper each fined £7,500. K Dickinson fined £5,000. Worker killed when a building collapsed during unsafe demolition work. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):24-25 |
| Asbestos exposure costs firms £25,000. | Luminar Leisure Ltd fined £6,600 + £1,232 costs. GF Interiors Ltd fined £16,500 + £1,465 costs. During refurbishment, contractors were exposed to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibres. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):26-27 |
| Firm fined after factory roof plunge. | Egger UK Ltd fined £12,000 + £4,000 costs. Whilst clearing debris from a roof, an agency worker injured falling through a hole cut by engineers in preparation for an extractor unit. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):28 |
| Workers in court for lift truck offences. | L Collins and C Hauth each fined £300 + £100 costs. Over 2 years, 2 warehouse workers placed themselves and others at risk of injury by using lift trucks in an unsafe manner. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):30 |
| HSBC Bank fined for unguarded press. | HSBC Bank Plc fined £19,000 + £14,552 costs. Injured whilst cleaning a printing press. No suitable RA and poor guarding. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):31 |
| Ensuring that offices are safe places to work. | The range of hazards to be dealt with, from stress to ULD caused by unsafe use of computer equipment. | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):32-34,36,38-41 |
| The pressure point. | The Court of Appeal guidelines for the courts when hearing compensation claim cases for occupational stress. (A Davies) | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):42-43 |
| A legal matter. | How a leading law firm protects its own staff from safety risks such as work related stress. (F Stones) | Safety Management 2003 (July/Aug):44-45 |
| HSE publishes new research on the effects of flash fires. | Assessing the effects of flash fires on building occupants as part of the development of risk based tools for land use planning. | RR084 Isbn 0-7176-2181-2 £15 HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E134:03 17/7/03 |
| Safety cases – do they enhance safety? IMechE Seminar on 17/10/03 | HSC Chair, Bill Callaghan will give the keynote speech on the effectiveness of permissioning regimes and safety cases and the experiences of industry. | Details: IMechE Internet www.imeche.org.uk/conferencesandevents HSE Press Release E139:03 21/7/03 |
| Health and safety blitz for Brent';s motor vehicle repair trade. | In July inspectors from the HSE and Brent Council paid unannounced visits to 79 motor vehicle repair workplaces. | HSE Press Release E141:03 21/7/03 |
| Health and safety is key to a civilised society says safety watchdog. | The HSC has stated that workplace H&S is the key to a civilised society and that Britain can achieve a record that leads the world. | HSC Press Release C033:03 21/7/03 |
| HSE warns of needless deaths on Welsh farms. | In Wales, the agricultural industry claimed 4 lives in 2002/3. | HSE Press Release E137:03 22/7/03 |
| HSC consults further on carriage of dangerous goods. | Following the Con Doc in June, further consultation taking account of subsequent developments. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm HSC Press Release C034:03 22/7/03 |
| Star of children';s BBC presents prizes to the HSE winners. | At the RWS, Builth Wells, Mark Speight presented prizes to the winners of the HSE';s children';s farm safety poster competition. | HSE Press Release E140:03 22/7/03 |
| Practical solutions to tackle stress at work. | Two new HSE research reports on stress prevention and rehabilitation, both of which include case studies. | RR133 Isbn 0-7176-2709-8 RR138 Isbn 0-7176-2715-2 £20ea HSE Tel:01787-881165 HSE Press Release E142:03 23/7/03 |
| HSE warns of machinery danger. | Engineering sector workers risk serious or fatal injuries because guards on CNC lathes are not being properly maintained. | EIS 33 HSE Internet: www.hse.gov.uk click on 'free leaflets/engineering'; HSE Press Release E143:03 23/7/03 |
| Results of farm safety inspections on the Isle of Wight. | During agricultural visits on the IOW, inspectors issued 15 Improvement Notices and 5 Prohibition Notices. | HSE Press Release E145:03 23/7/03 |
| George Tait | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Member of the public killed when the jib of a crane hit 11,000v overhead power lines. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000581 (12/5/03) |
| Andrew Keenan t/a A Keenans (Peeled Potatoes) | Fined £1,700 under WHSWR 1992 / PUWER 1998. During routine inspection, 4 Prohibition Notices issued over machinery guarding and access arrangements. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000387 (13/5/03) |
| Rushar Ltd | Guilty under CHSWR 1996. Member of the public injured by clip which fell 6m during scaffold dismantling. No precautions to exclude persons from below. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000061 (13/5/03) |
| Trevor Russell | Fined £742 under CHSWR 1996. Member of the public injured by clip which fell 6m during scaffold dismantling. Director of company who allowed fitting to fall. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000172 (13/5/03) |
| Mr A Cottrell | Fined £1,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a horizontal metal cutting bandsaw. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000657 (14/5/03) |
| Joy Mining Machinery Ltd | Fined £4,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a horizontal boring machine for milling. Trip device too short, no fixed fencing or interlock device. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000478 (14/5/03) |
| Bakebest Ltd | Fined £4,000 under MHSWR 1999 / PUWER 1998. Injured whilst cleaning a machine in motion. No appropriate RA or guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F160000412 (14/5/03) |
| Geest Foods Ltd | Fined £17,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured falling from unsecured steps whilst lifting 50kg tub onto shelf at filling hopper. Safe system of work not followed because of lack of staff. Supervisors and shift management aware. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000305 (15/5/03) |
| Devon & Dorset Properties Ltd | Fined £2,800 under CHSWR 1996. Two workers injured when a 2nd floor joisted floor collapsed. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000189 (15/5/03) |
| Tower Sea Products Ltd | Fined £3,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a fishcake forming machine. No guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000325 (16/5/03) |
| Grimsby & Immingham Stevedores Ltd | Fined £2,500 under Docks Regs 1988. During heavy rain, injured falling from stack of pipes in ship';s hold. RA indicated weather reason to cease work. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000337 (16/5/03) |
HSE Prosecutions Database (4 Feb 2007)
After a gap of around a year, HSE is now posting prosecutions again. We have started inputting cases with hearing dates after 1-Nov-2006 and will update new cases weekly as they are reported. In view of the volume of prosecutions now posted, we are not inputting previous cases. There will therefore be a gap in our database from a hearing date of 24 January 2006 until November 1st. Anyone not finding a case which may have been heard between January and November 2006, should therefore try searching the HSE Prosecutions database.
When the HSE relaunched the Prosecution database in January 2007, after a break of around a year, they appear to have changed the format of the case numbers. Therefore, for all entries with a hearing date before the 24 January 2006 you should search the HSE database using the defendants name instead of the case number we have quoted if you wish to check details for yourself.
Disclaimer
Whilst every effort is taken to ensure that H & S News entries are an accurate summary of the source data, at the time of publication on the HASTAM website, HASTAM cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions in transcription. Further, HASTAM cannot accept any responsibility for the content of the information to be found in the source materials.
HASTAM cannot accept any liability for any events arising from the use of this information. We strongly recommend that, if any information from any H & S News entry is to be used for any specific purpose, the original source is checked to confirm accuracy and to enable the user to take account of the full information. This is particularly important in the case of HSE Prosecutions where the HSE may have withdrawn a specific entry subsequent to its publication in H & S News. Entries can be checked using the search facility on www.hse-databases.co.uk/prosecutions
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