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H&S News April 2005
| Title | Comments | Publication |
| Trust me: I'm not an inspector. | New HSE initiative to help 'difficult-to-reach' companies through H&S awareness officers. (L Ponting) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):5-8 |
| Agriculture – vehicles. | In a recent blitz on farm vehicle safety in the south west, HSE inspectors served 57 enforcement notices. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/information.htm Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):4 |
| Offshore statistics. | In the year to 1/4/04 major and over 3 day injury rates fell but 3 workers were killed compared with no deaths in 2002/03. | Provisional figs Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/hsr0304 Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):4 |
| When things go wrong: enforcement HSE style. | Review of sentencing for H&S offences in Britain's courts during the past year. (H Fidderman) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):9-13 |
| Asbestos case law round-up. | Review of two recent court decisions which will have implications for people harmed by asbestos. (K Humby) | Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):14-16 |
| The effects of new types of psychotropic drugs at work. | The effects of drugs used to treat mental health problems and the concerns relating to both work performance and safety. (K Humby) | RR282 Isbn 0-7176-2916-3 HSE £15 Free at Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm//rr282.htm Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):17-18 |
| Worker participation: stating the obvious is no way to go. | Recent HSE research into getting more workers involved in H&S concludes there is no easy answer. (B Allen) | RR296 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr296.pdf Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):19-20 |
| HSPI: a true indicator of SME safety or exercise in futility? | Testing HSE's new 'Health and Safety Performance Indicator' for SMEs. (L Ponting) | Internet: www.hspi.info-exchange.com/ Health & Safety Bulletin 2005 (337):21-24 |
| WEEE timetable set to slip. | The August 2005 deadline for implementation of the UK's producer responsibility for waste electrical and electronic equipment will be missed and experts expect the system to start in 2006. | Environment Information Bulletin 2005 (147):2 |
| EA needs more resources to police business, say MPs. | The House of Commons Environmental Audit Comm believe the EA will be unable to tackle corporate environmental crime unless given more resources. | 'Corp Env Crime.' Internet: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/ cmenvaud.htm Environment Information Bulletin 2005 (147):5 |
| CSR or the environment? | As organisations report on broad corporate social responsibilities, information about environmental impact may take second place. | Environment Information Bulletin 2005 (147):14-16 |
| Statement of incidents at Nuclear installations. | There were no incidents in the period 1/10/04-31/12/04. | NSDI Tel:0151-951-4103 HSE Press Release E041:05 24/3/05 |
| Waste management companies fined £140,000 following workplace fatality. | Environmental Tyre Disposals Ltd and MIDCO Waste Man Ltd fined £70,000ea. ETD worker killed driving a telescopic reach truck which toppled over whilst helping MIDCO staff shred tyres. No RA, supervision or training. | HSE Press Release E010:05 30/3/05 |
| HSE team short-listed for prestigious award. | A HSE project team has been short listed in the 'Public Servants of the Year Award 2005' for developing free interactive software that helps farmers carry out their own RA. | HSE Press Release E042:05 31/3/05 |
| TH Clements & Son Ltd | Fined £13,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / MHSWR 1999. Three admitted to hospital after employees and gang workers exposed to CO produced by gas powered FLT whilst labelling broccoli in a cold store. No suitable and sufficient RA. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000454 (17/1/05) |
| British Sugar Plc | Fined £2,500 under EWR 1989. Large excavator struck live overhead 11kv power line. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000472 (17/1/05) |
| Canterbury Foods Ltd | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured between the arm of a skip hoist and the side of a meat grinding machine during cleaning. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000385 (17/1/05) |
| Stephen Auger | Fined £4,250 under WHSWR 1992 / ELCIR 1998 / WYPCA 1920. Employment and welfare provision to the under aged. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000492 (19/1/05) |
| Topp & Holmes Builders Ltd | Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Security guard killed after filling a petrol generator from a 20L can. No safe system of work. Principal contractor. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000072 (19/1/05) |
| Dalewell Ltd t/a Guardwell Security | Fined £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Security guard employee killed after filling a petrol generator from a 20L can. No safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000073 (19/1/05) |
| Rockfield Properties Ltd | Fined £5,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / HSFAR 1981. Injured when building collapsed during refurbishment. No planning, structural survey or application of CDM. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000526 (20/1/05) |
| Expanded HSE to be one of seven new 'super-regulators.' | Government has accepted recommendations of the Hampton Review, including the merger of 63 regulators into 7 consolidated bodies, one of which will be an expanded HSE incorporating, amongst others, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and Engineering Inspectorate. | Internet: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_05/ other_documents/bud_bud05_hampton.cfm Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):6 |
| Directors' duties Bill fails again. | The attempt to enshrine in law H&S duties for company directors is scheduled for 2nd reading on 13/5/05 but with the General Election due it is unlikely to be heard. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):6 |
| Risk management reduces premiums argument vindicated, says ABI. | A survey by the Assoc of British Insurers indicates better risk management by more firms is contributing to a slowdown in increases in employers' liability compulsory insurance premiums. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):7 |
| Watershed under the bridge? | H&S in the construction industry since the 2001 summit, when a number of organisations signed up to sector wide targets and put in place action plans to deliver them. (A Sansom) | 'Respect for people' CoP Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/codeofpractice Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):15-16 |
| Nine-month gaol term for health and safety 'dinosaur'. | Garage manager G Hawkins gaoled for 9 months. Apprentice mechanic killed helping to empty a petrol / diesel mixture into waste oil tank near flue to a gas boiler. Vapour ignited. No proper procedures. Garage not registered with HSE. Defence was reliance on individuals' common sense. Conviction overturned at later Court of Appeal (September 05) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):19 |
| No surprise as retailer is fined over unguarded edge. | Towerstone fined £15,000. 22 month old American visitor injured falling 3.68m into store basement through a gap near ground floor escalator. Two guards missing on escalator. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):19 |
| Companies to pay £125k after worker is paralysed. | Mitie Cleaning fined £40,000 / County Mall Man fined £25,000. Mitie worker injured whilst jet-washing building faade at night from cherry picker owned by County Mall. Cage struck building and was dislodged falling to ground. No safety pins in place, inadequate training, no permit-to-work. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):20 |
| £42k to pay following scaffolding death fall. | Crowe Fabrications fined £30,000. One killed and one injured when a roof rig scaffold collapsed whilst being dismantled. No site specific method statement. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):22 |
| Ladder did not provide safe access to crane. | Goodwin Steel Castings fined £17,500. Injured falling 25' from an overhead travelling crane whilst undertaking maintenance. Common practice to leave fixed ladder and walk sideways along a 12' beam to get to a safe working area. No suitable RA. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):22 |
| Worker severely burned by chemical spill. | Mining and Chemical Products fined £7,500. Injured whilst filling glass bottles with gallium trichloride. Bottom of bottle broke releasing chemical which reacted with air. No PPE. Poor RA and handling procedures. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):23 |
| What is reasonable to foresee? | How much information is enough for an employer to be expected to recognise stress symptoms and what factors affect an employee's claim. (K Bridges) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):27 |
| Talk is cheap. (IOSH Conf) | EU Directives have caused the UK to lose sight of the principles of Lord Robens and the HASAWA. (Dr R North) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):43-44 |
| It's a costly affair. | Draft Law Soc guidance may mean that in a meeting with inspectors interviewing them about an accident, employees should be advised by a solicitor who is not instructed by the co. (S Francis) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):46-48 |
| Judgement call. (Pt 3) | Changes which could be made to system to improve magistrates' decision making abilities in H&S cases. (C Hudson) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):50-52 |
| Slick response. | The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regs 2001 come fully into force on 1/9/05. (M Hillman) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):55-57 |
| All's well that ends WEL. | How the new system of Workplace Exposure Limits will work and their impact on business. (H Jackson) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):59-62 |
| Upstanding behaviour. | Factors in the Engineering Construction Industry Assoc Behaviour and Slips and Trips initiative. (A Sansom) | Internet: www.ecia-best.co.uk Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):65-66 |
| Best foot forward. | Design and testing of safety footwear. (T Weadick) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(4):68-70 |
| HSC undertakes review of RIDDOR. | A new HSE discussion doc as part of the review of RIDDOR to consider the current reporting system. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk HSC Press Release C011:05 31/3/05 |
| HSC consultation on revised CDM Regulations. | Four month consultation on proposals to revise CDMR 1994 and CHSWR 1996. | HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 HSC Press Release C012:05 31/3/05 |
| International regulators reward outstanding safety leadership in the offshore oil and gas industry. | H&S achievements of 3 organisations working in the offshore oil and gas industry were honoured at a London awards ceremony. | Internet: www.offshoresafetyforum.co.uk/ HSE Press Release E045:05 31/3/05 |
| Construction Healthy Handling 2005 – results. | During the 'Healthy Handling' blitz in March, inspectors visited 1,170 sites and issued 214 enforcement notices. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthyhandling/ HSE Press Release E043:05 1/4/05 |
| New approach to good practice and exposure limits for chemicals. | From 6/4/05 a new focus on good practice will help prevent employees' health being harmed by chemicals used in the workplace. | New EH40 and COSHH guidance. Internet: www.hsebooks.co.uk/ HSE Press Release E046:05 1/4/05 |
| HSE taking designers to site. | HSE inspectors will again be meeting designers and planning supervisors on construction sites to discuss the ways design issues affect the risks associated with work at height. | HSE Press Release E044:05 4/4/05 |
| HSE appoints directors of nuclear safety and hazardous installations. | Mr M Weightman has been appointed HSE's Director of Nuclear Safety and HM Ch Insp of Nuclear Installations and Mr K Myers has been appointed Director of Hazardous Installations. | HSE Press Release E048:05 4/4/05 |
| HSE launches Work at Height Regulations – a brief guide. | The new guide outlines what people must do to comply with the Regs which came into force on 6/4/05. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf HSE Press Release E049:05 6/4/05 |
| New explosives regulations laid before parliament. | The Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regs 2005 come into force on 26/4/05 replacing most of the Explosives Act 1875 and 37 items of secondary legislation. | SI 2005/1082 HMSO Internet: www.hmso.gov.uk/legislation/whatsnew.htm HSE Press Release E050:05 6/4/05 |
| Companies fined following workplace fatality. | JMPI Ltd fined £8,000 / TSL Hygienic Ltd fined £5,000. JMPI employee killed falling 2.5m from scaffold platform whilst accessing a ladder. Ladder not secured. TSL principal contractor. Low penalties take into account financial positions of both companies. | HSE Press Release E047:05 7/4/05 |
| Finnforest BBH Ltd | Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. 17 year old injured on a telegraph pole dressing machine. Poor guarding regularly bypassed by workers. RA previously identified the risk but not rectified. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000661 (24/1/05) |
| Agriblends t/a Agrilines Ltd | Guilty under MHSWR 1999. Office worker injured by reversing telescopic handler. Dust in mixing shed had obscured vehicle windows and mirrors. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000710 (25/1/05) |
| Louise Chubb | Fined £400 under ELCIR 1998. No employers' liability insurance. Failure to produce certificate. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000486 (25/1/05) |
| Earthstrip Plant Ltd | Fined £500 under ELCIR 1998. No employers liability insurance. Failure to produce certificate. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000487 (25/1/05) |
| Frank Edward Thomas | Fined £800 under HASAWA 1974 s3 / GSR 1972. Undertook gas fitting whilst inadequately trained and not CORGI registered. Falsely claimed to be CORGI registered. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000518 (25/1/05) |
| Martinspeed | Fined £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured whilst handling a crated sculpture. | HSE Prosecution Case F060000415 (26/1/05) |
| Southend Hospital NHS Trust | Fined £6,000 under MHSWR 1999. Investigation of manual handling accidents as part of Trust inspection. Overall management failings. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000482 (26/1/05) |
| Just Trays Ltd | Fined £3,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst changing tools on a vacuum thermoforming machine under power. Interlock deliberately defeated. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000569 (27/1/05) |
| Format (UK) Ltd | Guilty under SMSR 1992. Manufacturer and supplier of thermoforming machines with incorrect interlock and without check valves. Just Tray worker injured whilst changing tools. Company in liquidation. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000577 (27/1/05) |
| Brian Waller | Fined £4,000 under SMSR 1992. MD of company manufacturing and supplying thermoforming machines with incorrect interlock and without check valves. Just Tray worker injured whilst changing tools. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000661 (27/1/05) |
| Ricciardi Antonio | Fined £500 under HASAWA 1974 s7 / GSIUR 1998. Undertook gas fitting whilst not CORGI registered. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000489 (31/1/05) |
| James O'Brien t/a James A O'Brien Pleasure Fairs | Fined £250 under CHSWR 1996. Worker undertaking maintenance work on a fragile roof. No fall prevention. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000675 (31/1/05) |
| Collier & Catley Ltd | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Steel erector injured falling 6m from tower scaffold. Working platform and edge protection defective. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000554 (1/2/05) |
| LG Kimber (Engineering) Ltd | Fined £8,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Steel erector injured falling 6m from tower scaffold. Working platform and edge protection defective. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000555 (1/2/05) |
| John Hawkins t/a Anchor Garage | Guilty under HASAWA 1974 s2. Apprentice mechanic killed. Failure to ensure the H&S of employees. Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. etc | HSE Prosecution Case F030000456 (2/2/05) |
| MC Mountain & Son Ltd | Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999. Injured falling 2m from roof of horse box despite repeated warnings. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000475 (2/2/05) |
| Oil States Industries MCS Ltd | Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 & s3. Pressure vessel exploded during leak test. Missile left premises and landed on golf course. | HSE Prosecution Case F180000434 (2/2/05) |
| Senior Aluminium Systems Plc | Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. Two workers shown how to operate FLTs by non accredited trainer. One involved in 3 separate incidents, one of which could have been fatal. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000670 (2/2/05) |
| Ms J & JP McMiken | Fined £1,500 under CHSWR 1996. Farm worker injured falling 2.95m through fragile roof whilst releasing fixings on damaged section. Inexperience, untrained in roof work. No RA, fall protection or supervision. Employer aware of dangers. | HSE Prosecution Case F210000466 (2/2/05) |
| Workplace Health Direct. | The Sec of State for Work and Pensions has announced further plans to pilot the HSE's Occupational Health, Safety and Return to Work Scheme. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/workplacehealth/index.htm RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):10 |
| Constructive partnership. | The Construction Confederation and Assoc for Project Safety announced a new partnership promoting the highest standards of H&S risk management through the life of a project. | Constr Confed Tel:020-7227-4508 Assoc for Proj Safety Tel:0131-221-9959 RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):4 |
| Working safely in the NHS. | IOSH has launched a training course for all health staff to reduce accidents and infections in the NHS. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):6 |
| Printing health and safety boost. | The government will provide £70,000 funding for a project to develop an internet-based 'health check' for printing companies. | Partnership fund. Internet: www.dti.gov.uk/bestpractice/assets/employee.pdf RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):7 |
| Sky channels employees' issues. | British Sky Broadcasting has launched an initiative to involve employees in open dialogue about workplace issues, including H&S. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):8 |
| Where there's muck… | Zoonoses – how to contain diseases transmitted from vertebrate animals to humans. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):12-14,16 |
| Breaking the back of the NHS. | Ergonomics – the biggest occupational health issue for employers in the health care services. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):22-24,26-28 |
| Penalty points. | Innovative ideas to ensure that enforcement activity is matched with ensuring that companies improve their performance. (R Bibbings) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(4):50-51 |
| Dental workers suffer from musculoskeletal disorders too, says new research. | Dentists suffer greater stresses and strains than previously thought. The total duration of daily work would amount to a force equivalent to an hour's continuous load on the spine of 450kg for men and 275kg for women. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(4):8 |
| Cook and learn. | Risks in the food and catering industry. (P Ellis) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(4):11-13 |
| Running the risk. | Undertaking a personal RA for workers with a disabling condition. (D Abbott) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(4):14,16-17 |
| Working at height. | How to be safe working at all heights. (L Bamber) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(4):23-24,26 |
| Back to basics - Vulnerable people. | Looking after young people, pregnant or nursing mothers and disabled workers. (L Waterman) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(4):28 |
| Prudent conduct. | Using a safety policy as a safety improvement tool. (J Gilbertson) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(4):29-31 |
| Offshore safety regulators commit to global standards. | Following the 1st Int Regulator's Forum, HSE and a group of offshore oil and gas industry safety regulators, have announced a commitment to producing common standards. | HSE Press Release E051:04 8/4/05 |
| Newark scrapyard owner fined £50,000 after man died in metal crusher. | Mr W Briggs-Price fined £50,000. Worker killed by metal shearing machine whilst changing the blade. The hand held remote control in his possession had a broken emergency stop device. Failure to ensure safety and no suitable RA. | HSE Press Release E052:04 11/4/05 |
| Work at height – HSE explains what the regulations mean for the construction industry. | New Work at Height Regs came into force on 6/4/05 and the HSE has produced 'Question and Answer Brief' to explain what this mean in practice and standards HSE expect industry to meet. | 'Question and Answer Brief' Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/pdf/fallsqa.pdf HSE Press Release E054:05 13/4/05 |
| Al-Ko Kober Ltd | Fined £6,000 under PUWER 1998 / MHSWR 1999. Information on 2 occasions concerning unguarded machinery. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000702 (3/2/05) |
| Steven Pask Ltd | Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured by sliding shutter whilst standing in hopper of centre gravel cart being used to apply sand. Hopper unguarded and machinery used incorrectly and in an unsafe manner. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000552 (3/2/05) |
| New driver working time directive. | The Road Transport (Working Time) Regs came into force on 4/4/05 and limit working hours of HGV and coach drivers. They implement the EC Road Transport Working Time Dir. | Internet: www.dft.gov.uk/freight/rtd Safety Management 2005 (April):2 |
| BSC Awards launches new professional safety qualifications. | BSC Awards has launched a Diploma and Certificate in OSH, enabling successful candidates to apply for membership of IOSH at appropriate levels and for recognition by IIRSM. | Internet: www.britishsafetycouncil.org Safety Management 2005 (April):3 |
| Council cleared of manslaughter. | Barrow BC has been cleared of manslaughter, after 7 died from Legionnaires' Disease. They pleaded guilty to an HSW offence. The Design Services Manager still faces manslaughter and H&S charges. | Safety Management 2005 (April):3 |
| HSENI launches new CD-ROM. | The HSE for Northern Ireland has launched a new CD-ROM for employers which contains H&S material and resources. | HSENI Tel:0800-0320121 e-mail: hseni@detini.gov.uk Safety Management 2005 (April):4 |
| Nurse wins £144,000 compensation. | Ms B Chouchene, a nurse at Bolton Royal Hospital, awarded compensation after her employers failed to diagnose and treat her allergy to latex gloves. | Safety Management 2005 (April):8 |
| Wickes fined £75,000 after girl's skull fractured by falling doors. | Wickes Building Supplies Ltd fined £75,000. 2 year old injured when a stack of wooden doors toppled over. Stack too near the vertical and backstop incorrectly fitted. Three previous incidents involving falling doors at the site. | Safety Management 2005 (April):11 |
| NHS costs recovery on hold. | The Government is delaying the introduction of the NHS Costs Recovery Scheme which would allow hospitals to claim back treatment costs arising from accidents at work. | Safety Management 2005 (April):13 |
| Structures to go. | H&S at Babcock Engineering Services, manufacturers of large modular structures. (R Owens) | Safety Management 2005 (April):18-20 |
| Driver killed by falling paper bale. | Houghtons Waste Paper Ltd fined £55,000. Visiting driver killed during unloading of 500kg paper bales, one of which fell from side of flat bed trailer. No procedure to ensure safety of delivery drivers. Poor safe system of work. | Safety Management 2005 (April):24 |
| Conveyor belt firm fined. | Vulcan Group Ltd fined £2,000. S Priestley and I Featherstone fined £100 each. Two Vulcan workers installing a conveyor belt had altered wiring, plugging an earth lead into a live point. Stocks Bros electrician injured whilst repairing cable. No appropriate formal training on connecting power. | Safety Management 2005 (April):24 |
| Worker injured leg in vehicle accident. | Roddy & Reid Construction Ltd fined £7,500. Subcontractor's employee injured whilst driving a skip loader which overturned. Loading bucket in elevated position. Untrained and qualifications not checked. | Safety Management 2005 (April):26 |
| Chlorine gas leak leads to £100,000 fine. | Rhodia Eco Services Ltd fined £100,000. Six workers inhaled chlorine fumes after isolation valves pinned open during annual maintenance but not closed prior to start-up. Practice unknown to management and no proper RA. Poor safety training, supervision and operating procedures. | Safety Management 2005 (April):26 |
| Do I really need PPE? | PPE – steps employers should follow when issuing staff with gloves, footwear and protective clothing. | Safety Management 2005 (April):30-32,34,36,38 |
| PPE – hand protection. | Factors to consider when selecting protective gloves for work with hazardous chemicals. (J Thorne) | Safety Management 2005 (April):40-41 |
| Wheel loss information pack. | New pack from 'Fleet Safety Forums' to help employers prevent wheel loss incidents involving their vehicles. Provides fleet managers with information, practical measures and case studies. | 'Vehicle safety: wheel loss' free from Brake Tel:01484-559909 Safety Management 2005 (April):45 |
| Marble and granite manufacturer prosecuted following fatality. | Deco Marble & Granite Ltd fined £3,000. Killed whilst trying to dislodge trapped chains being used to unload stone slabs from delivery vehicle. Several slabs from a 6 tonne bundle became dislodged and tipped over. Co in liquidation. | HSE Press Release E055:05 18/4/05 |
| Nottinghamshire paintshop fined £20,000 after 60 year old killed by steel grid. | Leadmaster Ltd (t/a Parsons (Newark)) fined £20,000. Newly recruited worker killed whilst spray painting 300kg fabricated metal grid which was suspended from an FLT when the grid fell over. Inadequate training and supervision. No RA. | HSE Press Release E056:05 19/4/05 |
| David Williams | Fined £3,000 under WHSWR 1992. Injured by reversing excavator. No pedestrian vehicle segregation. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000528 (7/2/05) |
| Liverpool Boat Co Ltd | Fined £3,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. FLTs driven by unlicensed operatives. Inadequate FLT training, supervision and key control system. | HSE Prosecution Case F170000434 (7/2/05) |
| Peter Bruce (Patsy) Ships Painters Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured whilst painting inside of vessel's water tank when vapours ignited. No RA or safe system of work. Light in use was unsuitable for flammable atmospheres. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000676 (10/2/05) |
| TJ Construction (Cambridge) Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Bricklayer injured falling 5m through opening in working platform. Scaffold boards removed previous day but inspection and planning did not detect and correct this. No evidence of undergoing site induction procedure. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000553 (10/2/05) |
| Tann UK Ltd | Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured by in-running nip of web fed printing press. Previous HSE advice on guarding and need for safe system of work. Improvement Notice on guarding. Safe system of work addressed at two earlier H&S meetings. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000474 (11/2/05) |
| Delivering the goods. | Under the Motor Vehicle (Wearing of Seat Belts) Reg 2005, delivery drivers and passengers must now wear seat belts except on journeys of <50m. | SI 2005/27 RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2005 34(4):2-3 |
| Order in the house. | Report on the annual seminar of the Fire Industry Confederation. (H Argyros-Farrell) | Fire Prevention 2005 391 (April):12-13 |
| Safe tactics. | The impact of integrated risk management planning in West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority. (P Toase) | Fire Prevention 2005 391 (April):35-37 |
| The missing link. | How Cleveland Fire Brigade integrates risk management into business planning processes. (S O'Malley) | Fire Prevention 2005 391 (April):38-39 |
| Risk venture. | Risk based methodologies that can be used to develop sound fire safety strategies for buildings. (P Cox) | Fire Prevention 2005 391 (April):40-42 |
| Pharmaceutical thinking. | Integrated approach to fire risk management in the pharmaceuticals industry. (P Camp) | Fire Prevention 2005 391 (April):43-45 |
| A stable option. | Call for tighter fire safety regulations in equine and agricultural premises. (H Paviour) | Fire Prevention 2005 391 (April):52-53 |
| Railway approvals – HSE publishes new guide. | Web-based guide to the Railway & Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works, Plant and Equip) Regs 1994 providing advice on the ROTS process. | ROTS guide. Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/railways/approval/approval.pdf HSC Newsletter 2005 (160)April:4 |
| European safety directives guide. | Updated HSE guide to proposed and current European H&S directives. | 'Euronews' HSC Newsletter 2005 (160)April:7-18 |
| Permit-to-work systems in the petroleum, chemical and allied industries. | Good practice in the use of permit-to-work systems. For on/offshore petroleum industry, onshore chemical and allied industries. | HSG250 Isbn 0-7176-2943-0 HSE Books £8.95 HSC Newsletter 2005 (160)April:19 |
| Respiratory protective equipment at work: a practical guide. | Aimed at those responsible for providing RPE. Step by step approach to selection, following the approach of COSHH essentials. | HGS53 Isbn 0-7176-2904-X HSE Books £10.95 HSC Newsletter 2005 (160)April:24 |
| An introduction to local exhaust ventilation. | DVD illustrating the key requirements to consider when choosing LEV: use, importance of design, maintenance and testing. | 'Everybody needs to breathe…' Isbn 0-7176-2971-6 HSE Books £25. HSC Newsletter 2005 (160)April:24 |
| Rail proposals. | Draft directive on working conditions for railway staff who cross borders of member states as part of their jobs, stipulating work and rest periods. | http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/news/ 2005/feb/railways_en.html RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2005 34(4):5 |
| HSE publishes research on performance of 'Octopus' regulators for scuba diving. | Highlights potential problem that may be encountered in an emergency situation using an octopus regulator when scuba diving. | www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr341.htm HSC Press Release E057:05 21/4/05 |
| Property developers fined for construction site death. | J Freeman fined £45,000, S Freeman and A Freeman fined £20,000 each and contractor DJ Mitchinson fined £15,000. Worker killed falling from the 4th to 1st floor through a hole in floor during refurbishment work. No edge protection. | HSC Press Release E058:05 26/4/05 |
| Shell Expro fined £900,000 for Brent Bravo double fatality. | Shell UK Ltd fined £900,000. Two killed whilst inspecting pipework in the utility leg of the offshore installation. Large release of hydrocarbon gas. Failure to properly maintain equipment. | HSC Press Release E059:05 27/4/05 |
| G&J Building Services Ltd | Guilty under CHSWR 1996 / HASAWA 1974 s33. During inspection problems identified with regard to falls and welfare provision. Prohibition Notice served. Absolute discharge, company in liquidation. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000533 (14/2/05) |
| Watson Petroleum Ltd | Fined £3,000 under WHSWR 1992. Driver injured whilst delivering fuel oil to farm. Fell 3m when ladder slipped whilst trying to release cover of tank. | HSE Prosecution Case F020000553 (15/2/05) |
| Geest QV Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured by automated transporter which moved without warning. Poor isolation, inadequate training and unsafe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000470 (15/2/05) |
| Sheffield Forgemasters Engineering Ltd | Fined £13,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured falling 10' into slag hole in front of furnace. No RA, fencing or fall prevention. | HSE Prosecution Case F140000389 (15/2/05) |
| Medasil (Surgical) Ltd | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured whilst cleaning 2 roll mill used for blending silicon rubber. Inadequate training and supervision. Machine and procedures not fully compliant with RUBIAC. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000586 (15/2/05) |
| Thyssen Krupp Automotive Tallent Chassis Ltd | Fined £14,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Prosecution following injury to 2 persons. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000396 (17/2/05) |
| Tattoo Art Ltd | Fined £500 under ELCIR 1998. No employers' liability insurance. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000491 (18/2/05) |
| Silversteel Ltd | Fined £750 under ELCIR 1998. No employers' liability insurance on 15/6, 21/6 and 17/8 2004. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000493 (18/2/05) |
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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