Welcome to the archive section of Health & Safety News, a free service which is updated weekly. As well as producing Health and Safety News, HASTAM is an established provider of heath and safety consultancy, health and safety training and audit software (CHASE). We also have a behavioural safety system (SAM) and an environmental division.
About HASTAM 
CHASE Audit Software 
SAM Behavioural Safety 
H&S News May 2004
| Title | Comments | Publication |
| HBG Construction Southern Ltd fined £150,000 following manual handling fatality. (Formerly Kyle Stewart (1989) Ltd) | Agency worker killed by 190kg concrete lintel during manual lifting operation by a 5 man team. Bandstand platform collapsed. Poor planning, organisation and supervision. | HSE Press Release E057:04 30/4/04 |
| New work minister. | Following the Government reshuffle, Des Browne the Minister responsible for H&S at the DWP, has been replaced by Jane Kennedy. | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):4 |
| Pressure mounts on working time directive. | The EC has warned that its decision to take the UK to court over implementation of the Working Time Dir could have a major effect on employers. | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):4 |
| Powerline safety limits 'too high.' | The NRPB has stated that safety limits on exposure to electromagnetic fields from power lines and electrical devices should be 5 times lower, and recommend the guidelines of the Int Comm of Non-ionising Rad Prot. | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):4 |
| Construction industry targets health of at-risk workers. | The new Major Contractors' Group Strategy is targeting HAVS, dermatitis, MSDs and noise-induced hearing loss, the 4 prevalent occupational diseases in construction. | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):5 |
| RoSPA backs inspection industry's passport to safety. | The Safety Assessment Fed and RoSPA have launched a new H&S passport scheme for independent engineering inspection. | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):13 |
| Come clean about solvents. | More demanding legislation on organic solvents is forcing industry to provide safer parts cleaning. (C Atkins) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):14,16 |
| Something in the air. | Airborne micro-organisms and health including emissions from composting sites and recycling biosolid fertilisers. (R Barker) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):18,20-21 |
| Act before the sparks fly. | Low conductivity in solvents can cause some surprising problems in the workplace. Dr M Giles) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):22-23 |
| Special waste. (Pt 1) | The application of BAT and BPEO and how to implement measures to reduce hazardous waste at source. (P Reeve) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):25-27 |
| Back to basics – asbestos still kills. | The most significant occupational health killer of the past 100 years. (L Waterman) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):35,37 |
| Road works. | Protecting workers and the public during road and street works. (L Bamber) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):38,39 |
| Solvent solutions. (Pt 1) | The correct selection, use and maintenance of RPE to protect against solvents and biohazards. (J Partridge) | Health and Safety at Work 2004 26(5):66-68 |
| Raise your game on safe lifting – HSE focuses on construction lifting operations at SED 2004. | HSE's message to visitors to the Safe Equipment Demonstration, the national event for Construction on 18-20 May, Milton Keynes. | HSE Tel:08701-545500 HSE Press Release E051:04 30/4/04 |
| Flour dust at work can cause asthma. | Bakers are one of the groups most vulnerable to asthma and all workers exposed to flour should have routine workplace health checks to ensure early detection. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/substacesinfo.htm HSE Press Release E059:04 4/5/04 (World Asthma Day) - NB spelling of page correct as at 9/5/04 |
| Company fined for failure to reduce manual handling risks. | Willowcrete Manfg Co Ltd fined £1,000. During a visit about an unrelated incident, inspectors saw a concrete casting process where all the products were lifted manually. No manual lifting assessment. Prohibition and Improvement Notices. | HSE Press Release E056:04 5/5/04 |
| Wessex Sealed Units Ltd | Fined £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 & s3. Sheets of glass fell off a trolley whilst being pushed along. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000688 (23/2/04) |
| Mr Thomas John Troughton | Fined £600 under HASAWA 1974 s33. Member of the public fell into an unfenced slurry system rescuing her dog. Non-compliance with an Improvement Notice requiring the fencing of 3 slurry systems. Inspector threatened with violence. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000716 (23/2/04) |
| Mrs Margaret Rose Troughton | Fined £250 under HASAWA 1974 s33. Partner in farm. Non-compliance with an Improvement Notice requiring the fencing of 3 slurry systems. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000717 (23/2/04) |
| Ray-Ran Test Equipment Ltd | Fined £2,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured whilst using an unguarded vertical milling machine. Poor management attitude to guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000640 (23/2/04) |
| JPD Ltd | Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / RIDDOR 1995. Injured whilst using a circular saw. No RA, guarding or training. Not reported. Previously used the unguarded saw with a director. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000373 (24/2/04) |
| Ian Terry Thorne | Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / RIDDOR 1995. Director previously used an unguarded circular saw with a worker who was later injured. No RA, guarding or training. Not reported. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000374 (24/2/04) |
| Plywise Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a circular saw. No information, instruction or training. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000505 (24/2/04) |
| SGL Carbon Ltd | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured whilst using an unguarded miller. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000632 (26/2/04) |
| Lebus Furniture Ltd | Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. New 19 year old worker injured whilst cleaning inside the enclosure around a Weinig 6 cutter moulding machine whilst it was running empty. Operator absent during a pallet change. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000361 (26/2/04) |
| Fife Council | Fined £5,000 under EWR 1989. Electrical system so corroded that the integrity of the original construction degraded. The original mechanism for ensuring earth connections no longer viable. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000606 (26/2/04) |
| DMD (2000) Ltd | Fined £1,500 under PUWER 1998. 17 year old injured whilst using a vacuum forming machine. No young persons RA. Poor guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000625 (26/2/04) |
| John Gordon & Son Ltd | Fined £10,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured in tail roller and conveyor belt. Poor guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000638 (26/2/04) |
| Signpost Services Ltd | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / GSIUR 1998. Failure to adequately monitor safety critical gas servicing activities. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000692 (27/2/04) |
| Piper Products (Ashford Kent) Ltd | Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured using a planing machine. Received advice and an Improvement Notice after previous similar accident. Non-implementation of RA findings. No training, information, supervision or safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F030000444 (27/2/04) |
| Air Products Plc | Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. A 45kg steel cylinder of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride exploded causing structural damage. Stored for 3 years in outside facility. Inadequate management of the cylinder and no H&S information about a well documented corrosion process. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000335 (27/2/04) |
| Anti-bullying initiative launched. | The DTI has launched the world's largest project to stamp out bullying and discrimination at work. In partnership, Amicus and major employers will develop practical guidance for employers. | RoSPA Safety Express 2004 (May/June):2 |
| Maritime security. | Janes Inf Group and others have developed a web based RA tool to help shipping company security officers keep aware of global events affecting vessel safety and security. | Internet: www.sea-sentinel.com (subscription) RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2004 33(4):7 |
| Management guides. | Three new guides to CDM Regs. Practical guides for clients and clients' agents, planners and work sector guidance for designers. | CIRIA £50ea Tel:020-7549-3300 RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2004 33(4):9 |
| Amended Seveso II Directive. | Con Doc due July 2004 which will add specified substances to the existing list and clarify definitions. | Directive 2003/105/EC 31/12/03 amendments. HSC Newsletter 2004 (154)Apr:18-19 |
| Defra consults on REACH proposals. | Defra / DTI want industry, H&S professionals, trade union and environmental groups' comments on the EC system on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). | Internet: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/reach/index.htm RoSPA Safety Express 2004 (May/June):4 |
| Women focus of new LRD risk guide. | New book focusing on the particular risks of injury and ill health for women workers. | Labour Res Dept £10.95 Tel:020-7928-3649 RoSPA Safety Express 2004 (May/June):8 |
| Vibration at work. | The UK's timetable for the implementation of the new Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive by July 2005. (P Ellis) | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/index.htm RoSPA Safety Express 2004 (May/June):10-11 |
| Contractors publish OSH strategy. | The Major Contractors Group (MCG), representing the largest UK construction companies, has launched an OH strategy as part of a drive to reduce work related ill health in the industry. | RoSPA Safety Express 2004 (May/June):12 |
| HSC consults on proposed criteria for delicensing nuclear sites. | Draft policy statement setting out the criteria for delicensing parts of, or entire, nuclear sites under the NI Act 1965. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm HSC Press Release C018:04 5/5/04 |
| Stockport rubber company fined £175,000 following fatality. | Sovereign Rubber Ltd fined £175,000 + £20,000 costs. Maintenance engineer died whilst clearing blockage on a rubber mixing machine. Previously a colleague had been injured dealing with the same machine. This accident was not reported. | HSE Press Release E063:04 12/5/04 |
| £9,000 fine following injuries to construction worker. | London Basement Co fined £9,000 + £2,701 costs. Injured by falling clay during excavations to create a basement beneath an existing building. Inadequate precautions, record keeping and washing facilities. | HSE Press Release E065:04 12/5/04 |
| £37,000 fine following fatal road accident. | Ovenden Earthmoving Co Ltd fined £16,000. Costain Ltd, Skanska JV Projects Ltd and Mowlem Plc each fined £7,000. Driver killed and passenger injured in a 2 car collision. Slip road muddy from a construction site exit. | HSE Press Release E067:04 13/5/04 |
| HSE reviews BAE Systems Marine Ltd's decommissioning strategy for Barrow Nuclear licensed site. | The review of the strategy for the decommissioning of BAE's nuclear licensed site at Barrow-in-Furness. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/nsd/barrowqqr.pdf HSE Press Release E066:04 14/5/04 |
| Teknoflex Ltd | Fined £3,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a hydraulic press. Failure to monitor protective measures after previous accident. | HSE Prosecution Case F030000429 (1/3/04) |
| Scottish & Southern Energy Plc | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Contravention of legislation. Additional complaints against workers. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000588 (1/3/04) |
| Inventec (Scotland) Corp Ltd | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Employee of another company injured by FLT. No reversing bleeper, HV clothing or vehicle pedestrian segregation. | HSE Prosecution Case F210000435 (1/3/04) |
| Rexam Plastic Packaging Ltd | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured repositioning material in GN machine whilst running. No guards. Poor RA, training, instruction. Previous prosecutions and advice. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000707 (2/3/04) |
| Mr G Gascoigne (Greenfield Assoc) | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s20 & s33 / GSIUR 1998. Failure to supply information and to comply with Improvement Notice. Landlord's agent. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000486 (2/3/04) |
| Mr EW Lakin | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s20 / GSIUR 1998. Failure to supply information. Landlord. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000487 (2/3/04) |
| PD Port Services Ltd | Fined £3,000 under CSR 1997. In control of a ship in dock. Allowed painting contractors to enter ballast tanks without confined spaces emergency arrangements in place. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000366 (2/3/04) |
| Milburn Services Ltd | Fined £3,000 under CSR 1997. Contractor undertaking painting in ship's ballast tank. Inadequate confined space emergency arrangements. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000367 (2/3/04) |
| Mr Neil Derbyshire | Fined £150 under HASAWA 1974 s7. Recklessly drove a FLT with worker on the fully raised forks. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000432 (2/3/04) |
| Bennetts & Co (Grimsby) Ltd | Fined £3,000 under PUWER 1998. Driver injured by overturned sideloader after driving without due care and attention. No training. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000364 (3/3/04) |
| Mr John Patton Bell | Fined £150 under HASAWA 1974 s7. Driver injured by overturned sideloader after driving without due care and attention. No care for himself or others. Prior to the accident gave a ride to a school age child. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000365 (3/3/04) |
| University of East Anglia | Fined £3,500 under MHSWR 1999. Swimmer rescued by pool lifeguard but died later. Inadequate RA. At least 2 lifeguards required for a 50m pool. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000464 (4/3/04) |
| Grain Health Food (UK) Ltd | Guilty under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a milling and flaking machine. Inadequate guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F090000426 (4/3/04) |
| Carrs Paper Ltd | Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Inadequate measures to ensure safety in the coating plant. Poor RA, guarding, cleaning procedures and no written instructions. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000646 (4/3/04) |
| Universal Mouldings | Fined £2,500 under WHSWR 1992 / MHSWR 1999. Injured by FLT. Poor pedestrian and transport segregation. | HSE Prosecution Case F170000415 (4/3/04) |
| Mr Simon Williams | Fined £4,500 under HASAWA 1974 s33 / GSIUR 1998. Unregistered gas fitter, warned previously. Non compliance with Improvement Notice and obstruction. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000691 (5/3/04) |
| Odin Engineering Ltd | Fined £3,000 under PUWER 1998 / MHSWR 1999. Injured whilst using a milling machine. No guarding. Inadequate RA. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000606 (5/3/04) |
| Mr GW Broadfield & Son | Fined £1,000 under WHSWR 1992. Injured after being asked to move a vintage tractor. Failed to stop in parking area and toppled 5' over edge. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000556 (5/3/04) |
| Mr Andrew J White | Fined £5,000 under MHSWR 1999 / LOLER 1998. After an accident, investigation revealed no emergency arrangements for aerial rescue or regular inspection of personal lifting gear. | HSE Prosecution Case F170000411 (5/3/04) |
| Protecting workers from asbestos: a legal duty. | From 21/5/04 the new duty to manage asbestos will require anyone responsible for the maintenance of commercial, industrial or public properties, or for the common areas of domestic properties, to check for asbestos and properly manage the risk. | Further information Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm HSC Press Release C019:04 20/5/04 |
| HAVS sufferers win right to claim damages. | After a Court of Appeal ruling, former steel workers who have suffered from HAVS, may be able to claim for damages. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):6 |
| When will this chopping and changing cease? | Is H&S being damaged by the appointment of the 5th minister with responsibility for safety since 1999. (A Sansom) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):8 |
| Landlord and handyman jailed for gas fire deaths. | S Rogers jailed for 5 years and B Stone for 3, following the deaths of 2 teenage tenants. Gas fire moved by unqualified handyman. CO vented into room. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):11 |
| A day at the fair turns nasty for teenagers. | Tussauds Theme Parks fined £65,000 + £35,000 costs. Two teenagers injured on a big wheel when part of a gondola became detached. Metallic noises reported earlier by an operator but no intervention. Bolt failed due to stress corrosion. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):11 |
| Worker killed in lifting operation tragedy. | Easco fined £30,000 + £15,656 costs. Killed when 1 tonne metal sheet slipped out of a crane's claw. Unsafe lifting operation and poor planning, control and protective measures. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):12 |
| 'Across the board' failings cost firm £113k. | Elsome Eng'g fined £113,000 and director Mr T Elsome fined £13,000. FLT driver killed whilst moving steel girders in yard. Reversed into 18" deep excavation and FLT toppled over. No RA, failure to fence excavation work, unsuitable traffic routes. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):14 |
| Small firm pleads difficulty in keeping up with regulations. | NU Direct Jump for Joy fined £2,500 + £1,303 costs. Injured after tripping whilst using a band-saw. Part of blade unguarded. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):18 |
| Investigating workplace deaths: a word of caution. | Solicitor's view of 'Work related deaths: a protocol for liaison' which sets out the mechanism for joint investigations by the police and HSE into work-related deaths. (M Appleby) | Published March 2003 Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):18 |
| Crackdown on carcinogens and EMF. | Revised EU laws are likely, which will reduce workers' exposure to cancer causing substances and electromagnetic waves. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):24 |
| Last-chance saloon. | The 'duty to manage asbestos' and a reminder that Reg 4 of the amended CAWR 2002 is not all about the asbestos survey. (M Stear) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):31-34 |
| Protecting people, planet and profit. | The European perspective on corporate social responsibility, of which H&S is a major component. (H Konkolewsky) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):36-38 |
| It's simple, stupid. | Dealing with silly or stupid accidents. (N Budworth) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):40-43 |
| Before the professionals arrive. | Workplace first-aid provision from initial assessment to training the first aider. (D Arnold) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):44-47 |
| Driving lessons. | Road safety and fleet and road risk management which needs to be central to the process of developing a positive safety culture. (Dr W Murray & A Cuerden) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):48-51 |
| Welfare behind the wheel. | HSE's guidance on driving at work refers to ergonomic issues when providing workers with vehicles but does not provide examples of a suitable ergonomic assessment. (D Abbott) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):53-54 |
| IOSH – the new membership structure and me. | How proposed transitional arrangements will affect current members of IOSH. (H Harvey) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):56 |
| Making consultation even easier. | The IOSH website has launched new pages on consultation and discussion documents. | Internet: www.iosh.co.uk/consultationdocuments Safety & Health Practitioner 2004 22(5):57 |
| Work-related stress fails prescription test. | In a Position Paper, the IIAC has decided not to make work-related stress a prescribed disease and has clarified the prescription of post-traumatic stress disorder. | Industrial Injuries Advisory Council Position Paper 13 Internet: www.iiac.org.uk/papers/13.pdf Health & Safety Bulletin 2004 (328):2 |
| OHSAS 18001: an international certification standard for OHS? | A specification which, by default, may become the world-wide standard for H&S management. (L Ponting) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2004 (328):5-8 |
| Health and safety in the NHS. | Worker experience in the NHS. (H Fidderman) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2004 (328):9-12 |
| The disclosure of information: what is the 'public interest'? | HSC's cautious response to the Freedom of Information Act. (H Fidderman) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2004 (328):13-15 |
| Open more hours. | What employers can do to protect employees who work non-standard hours in the workplace. (H Fidderman) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2004 (328):16-17 |
| FaTaL Risks Campaign 2004: HSE announces construction blitz. | During June, the HSE will be visiting construction sites nation-wide in a bid to reduce the number of fatal and serious injuries in the industry. | HSE Press Release E064:04 18/5/04 |
| HSC welcomes second report on UK development of the European Signalling System. | Report of the Strategic Rail Authority-led team on the European Signalling System incorporating the safety benefits of a national automatic TPS. | Further information Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/railways/liveissues/tps.htm HSC Press Release C020:04 18/5/04 |
| Joint investigation into explosion at ICL Plastics, Glasgow. | Following the explosion on 11/5/04 which killed 9 and injured 40 people, the Crown Office, Procurator Fiscal Service, Strathclyde Police and HSE will conduct a joint investigation. | HSC Press Release C022:04 19/5/04 |
| Supervisor fined for not doing safety check. | Mr Grindley, a rail gang supervisor, fined £2,000 under Reg 4 of CHSWR and s7 of HASAWA, for not doing a safety check. The gang drove a metal spike through a 33kv oil filled cable. | HSE Press Release E069:04 20/5/04 |
| Standard Pallets Ltd | Fined £4,000 under WHSWR 1992 / PUWER 1998. During inspection, worker seen using a rip saw without top guard. Guard broken and floor covered with several inches of offcut debris. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000532 (8/3/04) |
| Concord Couriers Ltd | Fined £3,700 under PUWER 1998 / WHSWR 1992. Whilst sorting packages, self-employed courier driver injured by FLT. FLT driver not trained, no separation of vehicles and pedestrians. | HSE Prosecution Case F060000398 (8/3/04) |
| Mr Guy Clandillon | Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / RIDDOR 1995. Vulnerable nursing home resident injured when bathed in scalding water. No thermostatic mixer valve to limit water temp despite 7 previous warnings. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000412 (8/3/04) |
| Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed Sheikh | Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s33. Failure to carry out a landlord's gas safety record despite every opportunity being given. | HSE Prosecution Case F110000807 (8/3/04) |
| Koverplast Ltd | Fined £6,000 under PUWER 1998. During inspection, 3 instances of unguarded dangerous machinery and 2 Improvement Notices served for other matters. | HSE Prosecution Case F180000411 (8/3/04) |
| CMB Aerosol (UK) Ltd | Fined £17,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999. Killed accessing an electrical cabinet where high voltage components were still live. No safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000457 (10/3/04) |
| S D C Trailers Ltd | Fined £3,000 under WHSWR 1992. Poor workplace practice regarding work at height when working on work platforms. Recent fall from height and poor accident history of company. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000458 (10/3/04) |
| Kevin Dargan | Fined £400 under HASAWA 1974 s6. Chef received electric shock connecting an appliance to the electricity supply. Circuits crossed within the unit. Faulty and incompetent wiring and design. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000362 (10/3/04) |
| Redclip Ltd | Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s21. Non compliance with an Improvement Notice requiring retrospective checks on gas installations fitted by persons without the relevant competence. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000610 (10/3/04) |
| Mark Norquoy | Fined £300 under CHSWR 1996. Brother injured falling from roof whilst demolishing a single story workshop. Inadequate fall prevention. Failed to stop work being carried out without fall protection. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000191 (10/3/04) |
| Kelsey Roofing Industries Ltd | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Injured falling 9m through fragile roof sheet during roof refurbishment. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000295 (10/3/04) |
| Davicon Structural Engineers Ltd | Fined £1,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a metal cutting circular saw. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000620 (11/3/04) |
| Northern Foods Grocery Group Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Investigation after case of occupational asthma showed use of dry sweeping for internal cleaning of flour road tankers. Failure to ensure health of employees. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000416 (11/3/04) |
| Transmarine Ltd | Fined £1,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 & s3. Injured falling 0.5m during equipment commissioning. No safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000584 (11/3/04) |
| Fife Joinery Manufacturing Ltd | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured assisting maintenance engineer with fault finding on a hydraulic press. Engineer by-passed light curtain in which injured person was standing. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000644 (11/3/04) |
| Willmott's Transport Ltd | Fined £15,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / PUWER 1998. Injured falling from a home-made cage balanced on raised forks of FLT. Not LOLER tested, inadequate design, insecurely fastened. Untrained FLT driver. Unsafe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000694 (12/3/04) |
| Keyway (Gloucester) Ltd | Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. 25 tonne loading shovel overturned from 4.1m high loose-earth stockpile. No restraining device. Previous advice, warnings and Enforcement Notices. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000713 (12/3/04) |
| Cauldron Foods Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured at auger to soya feed hopper. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000714 (15/3/04) |
| WE Roberts (Corrugated) Ltd | Fined £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. | HSE Prosecution Case F030000435 (15/3/04) |
| Bowland Stone (Midlands) Ltd | Fined £1,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst operating a conveyor belt. Guards removed to aid cleaning and not in place for previous 6 months. RA had identified the need for guards. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000633 (15/3/04) |
| West Midlands Recycling Ltd | Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured whilst clearing blockage in a plastic recycling machine. Unsafe system of work. Poor H&S management. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000648 (15/3/04) |
| HSC welcomes demolition of compensation culture myth. | The report 'Better Routes to Redress' explores the UK's belief in a compensation culture and the damage this perception could do if not tackled. | Internet: www.brtf.gov.uk HSC Press Release C023:04 27/5/04 |
| Fixed wiring cable colours changes. | From April 2006, new colour identification of fixed wiring will be required for all installations, to bring the UK into line with Europe. | 'Professional guide…' Elec Contrs Assoc Tel:020-7313-4800 RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):6 |
| Absenteeism: urgent NHS intervention needed. | A recent survey indicates companies feel the services offered by the NHS and GPs are failing to support their own efforts, particularly over long term absence. | Survey Internet: www.irsemploymentreview.com RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):7 |
| Emergency Workers Bill published in Scotland. | The Scottish Executive's Bill will make it an offence to assault, obstruct or hinder an emergency worker, or anyone helping in an emergency situation. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):8 |
| Drivers for change toolkit completed. | This initiative addresses issues of importance to the haulage industry, including driver shortage, status and working conditions in the sector. | 'Drivers for change' Internet: www.respectforpeople.org RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):8 |
| Assaulted teacher wins £250,000 compensation. | Special needs teacher Mrs S Millward, who was kicked and battered by a 13 yr old pupil in a secure unit, has been awarded £m. Failure to inform her of the child's history. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):13 |
| Crisis? What crisis? | On the introduction of the HASAWA 1974, the British insurance industry received advice to refine systems of ELI premiums. A similar idea is again under discussion. (R Mackmurdo) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):14-16 |
| Cancer and work. | Although there are several cancers which have well established occupational origins, the role of work in causing cancer is difficult to assess. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):18-21 |
| Gardening and grounds work. | Undertaking an RA in gardening and in grounds keeping. (P Ellis) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):26-29 |
| Union blues. | The type of stress suffered by a TU rep helping one of his members fight company harassment. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2004 34(5):34-36 |
| Rail industry focuses on drivers. | The EC has drawn up plans covering the Community's rail network which could mean train operators facing tougher certification rules for locomotive crews. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2004 33(5):1 |
| RoSPA/Esso safety scholarship. | This free scholarship scheme is to help SMEs train a member of their staff to better manage H&S. | 'Esso Scholarship' Internet: www.rospa.com RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2004 33(5):8 |
| Review of the Government's road safety strategy. | Since the strategy's launch in 2000 there has been a 17% drop in the numbers of fatalities and serious injuries and 33% reduction in the numbers of children killed and seriously injured. | 'Tomorrow's roads – safer for everyone' Internet: www.dft.gov.uk/roadsafety RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2004 33(5):12 |
| £30,000 fine following pile rig fall. | Morgan Est Plc and Vinci Constr each fined £15,000. During construction work, a piling rig overturned across a railway line bring down a 25,000v cable. Previously excavated trench damaged critical membrane and was poorly backfilled. | HSE Press Release E070:04 20/5/04 |
| Equipping business to prevent stress. | The HSC has launched a 3 month consultation asking managers and employers for their views on proposals to reduce work related stress. | Video and supporting material Internet: www.hse.gov.uk//stress HSC Press Release C021:04 25/5/04 |
| £37,000 fine following death of pedestrian near construction site. | McNicholas Plc fined £25,000 and Instalcom Ltd fined £12,500. Killed by reversing lorry from worksite whilst attempting to cross a busy road near an area being repaved. | HSE Press Release E071:04 25/5/04 |
| HSE reviews DRDL's decommissioning strategy for Devonport Nuclear licensed site. | The review of the strategy for the decommissioning of the Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd's nuclear licensed site. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/nsd/devonportqqr.pdf HSE Press Release E072:04 26/5/04 |
| Borcombe Printers Plc | Fined £1,000 under MHSWR 1999 / PUWER 1998. Failure to prevent access to dangerous parts of a lithographic printing press. Inadequate RA. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000522 (16/3/04) |
| Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Shotblaster injured falling 1.6m from tower scaffold, after being struck by grit. No edge protection. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000436 (16/3/04) |
| Gas Services Northern Ltd | Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Director and employee working with a ladder on upper platform of tower scaffold. Injured when scaffold collapsed. Unsafe system of work implemented by director. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000336 (16/3/04) |
| Bristol City Council | Fined £10,000 under GSIUR 1998 / MHSWR 1999. Following an accident involving a school gas appliance. Long term poor maintenance of appliances. Previous advice. Lack of LEA monitoring. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000699 (22/3/04) |
| Cablepoint Ltd | Fined £1,250 under WHSWR 1992. Injured falling from storeroom roof through suspended ceiling whilst installing airline extension. No edge protection to roof. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000370 (22/3/04) |
| CPS Civic Ltd | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / MHSWR 1999 / CHSWR 1996. Scaffolder killed falling through unprotected fragile roof light. Principal contractor. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000231 (22/3/04) |
| Esprit Midland Ltd | Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Joiner injured falling 7.5m through fragile roof light. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000307 (22/3/04) |
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
For copyright reasons we cannot make the articles themselves available.
If you wish to comment on H&S News, please use the Feedback form (you might win a bottle of Scotch).
