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H&S News August 2005
| Title | Comments | Publication |
| New Chief Executive for HSE. | Mr Geoffrey Podger has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the HSE and will take up his appointment on 28/11/05. | HSC Press Release C020:05 1/8/05 |
| Stay or go – taking decisions in a fire incident. | Results of a study into whether it is better to evacuate people or instruct them to remain where they are, in the event of a serious chemical incident. | Internet: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/content/vol330/issue7506 Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):4 |
| Landmark 'victory' for overworked pub landlord. | Following repeated complaints of overwork, a pub landlord who collapsed due to working 90 hours a week, has successfully sued his former employers, Six Continents Retail, formerly Bass. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):5 |
| Pall-Ex fined £100,000 after forklift driver death. | Pall-Ex (UK) Ltd fined £100,000. FLT driver killed when his FLT tipped over after a lorry pulled away whilst he was still loading it. Unsafe system of work. Poor vehicle pedestrian segregation. | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):6 |
| Sheep dip exposure risk for farmers. | A warning to sheep farmers of the health risks of organophosphates in sheep dip, for many do not wear adequate protective clothing. Results of Defra sponsored research. | 'SHAPE Survey of health and pesticide exposure' Internet: www.defra.gov.uk/science/default.htm Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):6 |
| Time for a change. | A practising LGV Class 1 driver looks at the problems of fatigue facing truck drivers. (D Cochran) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):10 |
| Controlling oil spills. | How to store oil without spills and planning a response to any incident which may occur. (P Ellis) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):12,14-15 |
| Asbestos in buildings – the risks. | Thinking carefully about asbestos in buildings, regardless of whether it is in good condition or not. (R Howie) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):16-17 |
| Public assurance in major hazards. | Study to determine the level of scrutiny required on major hazard sites, in order for the public to be assured that potential risks and hazards are under control. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr360.htm Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):Supplement:iii |
| Damage limitation. | How to assess risks and obtain company buy-in. (G Allan) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):Supplement:vi |
| The way forward. | How competent accident investigation can help businesses generate real improvements in their occupational H&S. (R Bibbings) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):Supplement:ix-x |
| Taking responsibility. | Work in fire risk assessment and looking towards the new fire safety legislation due 2006. (B Parkin) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):Supplement:xiv-xv |
| Be good! | The development of behavioural-based H&S management. (L Bamber) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):21-23 |
| Back to basics – the environment. | Integrating environmental and H&S management. (L Waterman) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):24-25 |
| What a performance. | Using targets and objectives as a safety improvement tool. (J Gilbertson) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):26-27 |
| Get a grip. | Tackling workplace slips and trips. (P Hamer) | Health and Safety at Work 2005 27(8):34 |
| New protection against HIV/AIDS for health workers. | New ILO/WHO guidelines to protect the safety of health workers involved with HIV/AIDS. Prevention and reduction of occupational risk, training, screening, treatment, confidentiality. | Internet: www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/ tmehs05/guidelines.pdf RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(8):10 |
| Injury time. | The HSE has indicated that the First Aid Regs 1981 will not be changed but there are changes in the first aid industry, from course content to the role of the first aider. (E Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(8):18-20,22 |
| Machinery/work equipment. | Assessing risks associated with machinery/work equipment, some of the main hazards that may affect employees and others, and measures to control the risks to H&S. (P Ellis) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(8):28-31 |
| Hard day's night. | Shift work and long hours in the NHS - their detrimental effects on health, work and social life. (N Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(8):32-36 |
| Cutting red tape and accidents? | Examination of the Government's proposals to introduce a major deregulation bill. (R Bibbings) | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal 2005 35(8):50-51 |
| Construction deaths down in 2004/05 – but not a time to be complacent. | Fatal injuries to construction workers were 72, an increase of 1 from 2003/04, with falls from height accounting for 28 deaths. Due to rising employment, the fatal injury rate fell by 3% to 3.48 per 100,000. | HSE Press Release E101:05 29/7/05 |
| HSC consults on proposed amendments to Nuclear Reactors (Environmental Impact for Decommissioning) Regulations. | Proposals to amend the EIADR99. Changes would include implementing the changes to the parent EC Directive and simplifying arrangements around decommissioning part(s) of a nuclear licensed site. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/consult/live.htm HSC Press Release C021:05 1/8/05 |
| Harrison Castings Ltd | Fined £1,500 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst clearing a blockage from the discharge of a sand mixer. Poor guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F090000439 (18/5/05) |
| Mr Peter Summers t/a Fleet Enterprises | Fined £500 under COSHH 1999. Employees exposed to coating powders. No LEV and inadequate controls. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000450 (18/5/05) |
| Van Driel Engineering Ltd | Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured when metal post snapped after being struck with a hammer during the removal of the tail lift mechanism from a vehicle. No RA. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000516 (19/5/05) |
| Alan Ivan King | Fined £500 under PUWER 1998. Following a fatality. Inadequately guarded palletiser. | HSE Prosecution Case F010000758 (20/5/05) |
| Inveresk Plc | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s4 / PUWER 1998. Self employed fitter supplied by a contractor injured whilst driving a company FLT which overturned. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000575 (22/5/05) |
| R Spivey & Son Ltd | Fined £1,500 under WYPCA 1920 / COSHH 1999. Employed a child in a drum recycling plant. Failure to assess risks from hazardous substances and to young persons. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000594 (23/5/05) |
| Feltex UK Ltd | Fined £7,000 under FA 1961 / PUWER 1998. Failure to notify occupation of premises. Failure to prevent access to dangerous machinery, twice. | HSE Prosecution Case F150000595 (23/5/05) |
| LA Electrical Installations | Fined £1,600 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Electrician injured falling 4m whilst securing cables to a suspended cable tray. Standing on tray which collapsed. No suitable access equipment. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000717 (25/5/05) |
| Tipografic (Packaging) Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured whilst using a glue/folding machine. Overall became entangled in unguarded drive shaft. | HSE Prosecution Case F180000433 (25/5/05) |
| Abbie Dean Developments (Ventures) Ltd | Fined £6,000 under CDMR 1994 / CHSWR 1996. Joiner injured falling whilst installing roof trusses. Inadequate fall prevention. Deficiencies in construction phases of H&S plan. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000542 (25/5/05) |
| Edwardian Exclusive Hotels Ltd | Fined £12,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Member of the public injured when struck by fire door. Door had been dropped from 2nd floor gantry down scaffolded chute into waste lorry and bounced out. Inadequate means of preventing falling items from striking people. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000594 (25/5/05) |
| Dicetask Ltd | Fined £12,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Member of the public injured when struck by fire door. Door had been dropped from 2nd floor gantry down scaffolded chute into waste lorry and bounced out. Inadequate means of preventing falling items from striking people. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000595 (25/5/05) |
| Basildon District Council | Fined £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Elderly woman injured falling on an escalator and subsequently died. Badly maintained escalator. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000504 (27/5/05) |
| Essential Supply Products Ltd | Fined £8,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured when machinery which he was touching was inadvertently started-up by a colleague. Inadequate guarding and start-up procedure. | HSE Prosecution Case F120000540 (27/5/05) |
| Industrial Floor Treatments Ltd | Fined £2,000 under PUWER 1998. Injured after guards, which prevented access to the mixing paddle within a pump, broke off. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000442 (27/5/05) |
| HSE keeping track of human factors in level crossings. | New research identifies 104 human factor issues associated with the use of railway level crossings. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr359.htm HSE Press Release E103:05 4/8/05 |
| Inadequately anchored scaffolding collapsed on to busy street. | Marine Scaffolding fined £12,000. Scaffold erected 8.5m above shops to allow window painting. Lip on motorised roller door of shop caught scaffold which collapsed across parked car and road. Not tied to building. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):12 |
| Next employee died during training exercise. | Next Plc fined £250,000. Killed whilst abseiling out of a raised man-riser FLT during training. No safety line or proper RA. Equipment not properly checked. In-house trainer not qualified in abseiling. Descender mechanism not working correctly. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):14 |
| Tesco's 'culture of carelessness' costs £50K. | Tesco fined £25,000 + £25,000 costs. Injured whilst clearing dough in a bakery dough divider. Common practice for machine to run with guard removed. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):14 |
| Roof fall leaves worker in wheelchair. | Len Wright Marketing fined £4,000. Maintenance worker injured falling 5m through plastic roof panel whilst painting roof of storage building. No RA, inadequate equipment and fall prevention measures. | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):14 |
| Public opinion holds sway. | How sentencing tends to be harsher when a breach involves issues of public safety. (K Bridges) | (R v Jarvis Facilities Ltd 2005) Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):17 |
| Joint effort. | Arthritis and its implications for sufferers and OH practitioners - making sure work doesn't exacerbate the problem. (Dr C Ide) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):32-34 |
| Getting the measure. | Measuring noise and the imminent changes to the Noise at Work Regs. (T Turney) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):36-38 |
| Learning curve. | Encouraging practitioners to consider the basis for their personal and corporate views on training a competent workforce. (F Hallett) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):41-42 |
| Right on track. | Health, safety and medical support and training in specialist motor sport. (S Benbow) | Safety & Health Practitioner 2005 23(8):44-46 |
| HSE publishes assessment of Harwell safety review. | Report on the independent assessment of the Periodic Safety Reviews by the UKAEA for the Harwell site. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/harwellpsr.pdf HSE Press Release E103:05 4/8/05 |
| Corus inquest: HSE statement following verdict. | HSE has released a statement following the verdict of accidental death at the inquest into the deaths of 3 men after the explosion at the Corus Steelworks in 2001. | HSE Press Release E104:05 8/8/05 |
| New Chief Executive for Health and Safety Laboratory. | Mr E Morland has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the HSL and will take up his post in October. | HSE Press Release E105:05 8/8/05 |
| Mark Gail | Guilty, imprisoned under HASAWA 1974 s22. Gas installer not CORGI registered nor competent to carry out gas work. Served with a Prohibition Notice. Committed 3 breaches and gave false details. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000688 (1/6/05) |
| EM Key Ltd | Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee struck 33kv overhead power line whilst moving an aluminium irrigation pipe which had been stored in the vicinity. The pipes could have been stored elsewhere. | HSE Prosecution Case F130000480 (1/6/05) |
| Hollybrook Ltd | Fined £1,000 under CHSWR 1996 / CDMR 1994. Plumber fell on a building site. Suitable steps to prevent falls not taken. | HSE Prosecution Case F050000194 (2/6/05) |
| Framefix UK Ltd | Fined £1 under CHSWR 1996. Plumber fell on a building site. No suitable working platform or means of access. | HSE Prosecution Case F050000195 (2/6/05) |
| Strand Transport Services Ltd | Fined £15,000 under IRR 1999 / HASAWA 1974 s2. Deficiencies identified during visit of radiation specialist. Failure to ensure the H&S of workers in the use, handling, storage and transport of radioactive substances. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000593 (2/6/05) |
| Fondedile Foundations Ltd | Fined £3,000 under CHSWR 1996. Farnplace Ltd worker injured when section of a concrete pumping pipe fell 9m from scaffolding whilst it was being dismantled by Fondedile workers. Principal contractor. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000578 (2/6/05) |
| HSE published safety statistics bulletin 2004/05. Encouraging signs offshore but pace of improvements must quicken | Reduction in the rate of fatal and major injuries with work related deaths at 0 compared with 3 in 2003/04. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/statistics/stat0405.htm HSE Press Release E108:05 16/8/05 |
| ODPM consults on ADB revision. | Proposed changes to Pt B of the Building Regs will affect the erection, extension or material alteration of buildings and how fire safety is designed in. | Con Doc Internet: www.odpm.gov.uk/buildingregs Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):3 |
| Free licence. | How the new licensing regime in England and Wales will relate to current and future fire safety legislation. (K Wall) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):16-18 |
| Setting goals. | Safety improvements in sports stadia since the Bradford Football Club fire in 1985. (C Whalley) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):21-23 |
| Happy families – Legoland. | Family leisure activities and H&S at Legoland, Windsor. (R Gilbey) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):24-27 |
| Center forward. | Family leisure and how Center Parcs have upgraded safety measures at its 4 UK sites. (D Stow, C Roberts & B Lane) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):28-30 |
| Removing doubt. | The impact of changes to legislation on the removal and disposal of fire extinguishers. (S Donovan) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):37-38 |
| Cover notes. | Current and future usage of the Fire Service Emergency Cover Toolkit, developed for the fire and rescue services to assist with integrated risk management planning. (K Bosley) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):40-42 |
| Border planning. | How Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service use risk models developed as part of its integrated risk management plan. (T Kerr) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):43-45 |
| Ahead of time. | How Cheshire Fire Service uses risk analysis to shape its time based response standards and community safety work. (R Gilbey) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):46-49 |
| Critical condition. | UK emergency planning and response teams and risk mapping – providing critical incident information to people in multiple locations. (I Daws) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):50-51 |
| Geography lessons. | How geographic information systems are being used to improve fire service delivery in Berkshire. (R Rollins) | Fire Prevention 2005 395 (Aug):52-53 |
| Balancing act. | Royal Medical Benevolent Fund's new website to provide doctors with information on their careers and general well-being. | RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2005 34(8):8 |
| Waste at Dounreay. | UKAEA have released details of a £100 million project to deal with hazardous nuclear waste at Dounreay. | Internet: www.ukaea.org.uk/dounreay/ RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Bulletin 2005 34(8):8 |
| HSE publishes criterion for delicensing nuclear sites. | New criterion for delicensing parts of, or entire sites, licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/delicensing.pdf HSE Press Release E107:05 16/8/05 |
| Essex Motors Ltd | Fined £2,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / MHSWR 1999. 17 year old apprentice injured whilst using a tyre changing machine for the first time. Been with firm 4 weeks. | HSE Prosecution Case F070000525 (6/6/05) |
| Beaver 84 Ltd | Fined £7,000 under PUWER 1998 / WHSWR 1992. Injured by reversing FLT whilst assisting in the sorting of stock into metal stillages in yard. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000713 (6/6/05) |
| Birford Cables Ltd | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. 17 year old injured by moving arm of wire stripping and cutting machine. No guarding or RA. Inadequate training and supervision. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000719 (6/6/05) |
| Harringate Homes Ltd | Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Plaster subcontractor injured falling through a trap on a scaffold working platform. Failure to ensure working platform maintained safely. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000624 (6/6/05) |
| MacDonald & MacIntyre | Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. 17 year old apprentice injured whilst operating circular saw. Inadequate guarding, training and supervision. | HSE Prosecution Case F200000679 (7/6/05) |
| Kevin Morris | Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s33 / GSIUR 1998. Landlord had no gas safety certificate and failed to provide tenant with a copy within 28 days of occupancy. Non compliance with Improvement Notice. | HSE Prosecution Case F160000446 (8/6/05) |
| Stanley J Whyatt | Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Two children ejected from a fairground ride. Failure of containment mechanism due to uncontrolled modification of component. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000389 (9/6/05) |
| Solo Cup Europe Ltd | Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Haulage contractor injured falling 4m from the raised tines of a FLT. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000409 (9/6/05) |
| Solo Cup Europe Ltd | Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employees put at risk of falls from height by using raised tines of FLT to access boxes. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000410 (9/6/05) |
| Digitron Translift Ltd | Fined £8,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Injured falling 3m onto concrete floor whilst installing underguarding on production line. | HSE Prosecution Case F100000716 (9/6/05) |
| Premier International Foods Plc | Fined £8,000 under MHSWR 1999 / PUWER 1998. No suitable and sufficient RA to identify risk to employees from clearing a blockage from the magnet cover above the brewery mill. | HSE Prosecution Case F160000453 (9/6/05) |
| United Biscuits (UK) Ltd | Fined £4,500 under PUWER 1998. Maintenance engineer injured in in-running nip on conveyor. | HSE Prosecution Case F160000459 (9/6/05) |
| Mansard Roofing Ltd | Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 / CHSWR 1996. Injured falling from the flat roof of a storage building. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000615 (9/6/05) |
| Simon Leadbitter | Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Whilst carrying out work to convert own property, gable wall collapsed onto a friend. Unsafe system of work. CDM Regs not implemented following lack of adequate advice from architect. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000567 (10/6/05) |
| HSE publishes inspector training pack for Work at Height Regulations. | The new pack used to train HSE and LA Inspectors in enforcing the Work at Height Regs 2005 is now available on the HSE's website. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/falls/downloads/ HSE Press Release E106:05 18/8/05 |
| European safety directives guide. | Updated HSE guide to proposed and current European H&S directives. | 'Euronews' HSC Newsletter 2005 (162)Aug:7-18 |
| The future of risk communication. | To raise awareness of hazards in particular industries, the study looks at possibility of presenting information in the form of 'advanced risk messaging' - interactive computer based risk messages to people potentially exposed to harm. | HSC Newsletter 2005 (162)Aug:19 |
| Hand-arm vibration. | Vibration publications which have been revised because of the new Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. | INDG175 (rev2) INDG296 (rev1) INDG242 (rev1) HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 HSC Newsletter 2005 (162)Aug:21 |
| Fumigation: health and safety guidance for employers and technicians. | Guidance for employers, fumigation technicians and safety representatives. Includes new controls on the production, supply and use of methyl bromide in the EU. | HSG251 Isbn 0-7176-2999-6 HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 £8.95 HSC Newsletter 2005 (162)Aug:24 |
| Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. | Revised leaflet explains the requirements of the PPE Regs 1992 and is aimed at employers and users of PPE. Covers provision, use, assessment, maintenance and training. | INDG174 HSE Books Tel:01787-881165 HSC Newsletter 2005 (162)Aug:24 |
| HSE clarifies health and safety responsibilities for public paddling pools and tidal pools. | Clarifying guidance for managing H&S in public paddling pools, tidal pools and segregated areas of rivers, lakes and the sea. Will accompany the existing guidance HSG179. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/swimpools.htm HSE Press Release E109:05 22/8/05 |
| Tanfield Metal Spinners Ltd | Fined £1,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Agency worker injured whilst using a metal spinning machine 3 days after commencing work with company. No guarding. | HSE Prosecution Case F190000446 (14/6/05) |
| S Harrison Construction Ltd | Fined £9,000 under CHSWR 1996. Project Manager injured falling >2m from stairwell scaffold that had been altered by labourers. Scaffold not fully boarded, no examination procedures for internal scaffold, no hand-over documentation despite company rules. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000580 (15/6/05) |
| Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Needle-stick injury to young child. | HSE Prosecution Case F050000193 (17/6/05) |
| L&L Inc Ltd t/a Mercedes Benz of Hertford | Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Group maintenance engineer injured falling 5m from stillage resting on the raised tines of an FLT whilst re-lighting a heater. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000407 (17/6/05) |
| David Chadwick | Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s7. FLT driver. Group maintenance engineer injured falling 5m from stillage resting on the raised tines of an FLT whilst re-lighting a heater. | HSE Prosecution Case F080000408 (17/6/05) |
| Laing O'Rourke Scotland Ltd | Fined £1,250 under HASAWA 1974 s33. Two workers on a building development injured falling 6m after leaning against guard rail which failed. Shoreguard rail not fitted correctly. Failure to prevent falls. | HSE Prosecution Case F230000536 (18/6/05) |
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.
HSE Prosecutions Database
The HSE did not post prosecutions for about a year from January until November 2006. There is therefore be a gap in our database from a hearing date of 24 January 2006 until 1 November 2006. 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.
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