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News August 2008
| Title | Comments | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Companies fined after fatal collapse of access cradle on Sheffield building. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Apollo Cradles, found guilty of breaching H&S law last month, have now been fined £115,000 plus costs of £45,000. Bradway Construction Ltd, who pleaded guilty to breaching H&S law, have now been fined £25,000 plus costs of £18,000. One died and three were injured after the partial collapse of an access cradle suspended from the exterior of a Sheffield office building. The four men were doing maintenance and painting work of the office building when the cradle failed causing them to fall from a height of 10 metres. | HSE (National) Press Release YH/397/08 29/7/08 |
| Workplace deaths fall. Week ending 01/08/08 |
There was a small drop in workplace fatalities in the 12 months to April 2008 to 228, down from 247 the previous year, according to provisional figures from the HSE. The rate of deaths per 100,000 workers fell from 0.85 to 0.72. | HSW August 2008:2 |
| Teenager lost leg when forklift overturned. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Gardiner's Reclaimed Building Materials fined £5,500 and costs of £1,900. 18 year old Adrian Lloyd had to have his leg amputated after it was crushed when the fork-lift he was driving over-turned in a pothole. Lloyd was neither trained nor qualified to drive the fork-lift. | HSW August 2008: HSW August 2008:4 |
| PUWER judgement restores common sense. Week ending 01/08/08 |
The owner of a room where another firm's employee was injured when he fell from a ladder that he found there is not liable to contribute to his damages, according to the Court of Appeal. East Potential appealed an earlier decision that it pay 25 per cent of the personal injury damages imposed on computer engineer Adam Mason's employer Satelcom. He was servicing equipment belonging to East's neighbour but which was on the wall of a room in a building owned by East. Mason fell from a ladder that he found in the room and had used to access the equipment. | HSW August 2008:6 |
| FSO fine for recycler. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Enviro GY and two directors have been fined £3,000 each under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. An inspection of the premises found a build-up of combustible materials throughout the premises, and several gas cylinders surrounded by flammable material. The company had twice been targeted by arsonists some time before. | HSW August 2008:8 |
| Free noise guidance. Week ending 01/08/08 |
The Royal National Institute for the Deaf has issued a free guide for employers in the entertainment industry and anyone else who wants information on how to comply with the Noise at Work Regulations. | Internet: www.dontlosethemusic.com HSW August 2008:11 |
| HSE annual report. Week ending 01/08/08 |
The HSE has published its annual report, detailing progress against key targets, its financial position and a summary of its own H&S performance. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/reports/0708/index.htm HSW August 2008:11 |
| Legislative calendar. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Calendar of new and upcoming legislation. | HSW August 2008:12 |
| Better health under construction. Week ending 01/08/08 |
The latest developments in the project to promote health standards and monitoring throughout the construction industry. (Lucie Ponting) | HSW August 2008:14-16 |
| And the winners are ? Week ending 01/08/08 |
Wales' water utility literally prizes its contractors safety initiatives. (Sara Bean) | HSW August 2008:18-20 |
| SMEs: starters' orders. Week ending 01/08/08 |
In the series of articles on H&S fundamentals for smaller employers: getting new employees off to a good start. (Paul Reeve) | HSW August 2008:24-25 |
| Wise counsel. Week ending 01/08/08 |
How some consultants' clients can get the best service from them. (Becky Allen) | HSW August 2008:26-27 |
| Alarming regularity. Week ending 01/08/08 |
How to conduct effective fire evacuation drills. (Dennis Davis) | HSW August 2008:30-32 |
| Down to cases. Week ending 01/08/08 |
A look at what some recent fire safety cases tell employers about the Fire Safety Order regime. (Hilary Ross and Melissa Jones) | HSW August 2008:34-35 |
| Heads up. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Just one or two sprinkler heads can control or extinguish a fire, but proper maintenance of the system is essential. (Stewart Kidd) | HSW August 2008:36-37 |
| Site specifics: slips, trips and falls. Week ending 01/08/08 |
The best websites for advice on avoiding slip and fall hazards. (Bridget Leathley) | HSW August 2008:38-40 |
| HSE and Kent Police decide not to investigate Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Week ending 01/08/08 |
The conclusion of a joint review of a Healthcare Commission report published in October 2007 into outbreaks of Clostridium difficile at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been announced. HSE has concluded that, whilst mistakes had been made, there is insufficient information to launch a criminal investigation. | HSE (National) Press Release E038:08 30/7/08 |
| Sensible health and safety during the summer holidays in Great Yarmouth. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has signed up with the HSE to promote a sensible approach to H&S during the summer holidays. They have publicly signed up to "ten principles of sensible risk management" which gives practical advice on what risk management should and should not be about. | HSE (National) Press Release HSE-87 28/7/08 |
| Employers warned to assess risks of felling trees properly after a man suffered serious head injuries. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Pro-Mil Engineering Ltd fined £5,000 and costs of £3,314 under HASAWA 1974 s2. A man suffered serious head injuries while he was helping to remove a branch from a willow tree at the company premises. The tree was leaning over the boundary fence and, to avoid damage to the fence, it was decided to pull the tree in the opposite direction using a rope and a FLT. Rope was secured to the tree, and as the tree was felled, tension on the rope released the log, catapulting it across the yard striking an employee on the side of the head with some force. | HSE (West Midlands) Press Release WM/221/08 29/7/08 |
| Keeping children safe on farms this summer. Week ending 01/08/08 |
HSE is reminding parents and farmers of the need to keep children safe on farms with schools in the East breaking up for the summer holidays. | HSE (East) Press Release HSE-E86 30/7/08 |
| Four Derbyshire local authorities join HSE to hit back at "Health and Safety" myths. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Amber Valley BC, Bolsover DC, Chesterfield BC and North East Derbyshire DC have joined the "sensible risk" campaign. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm HSE (East Midlands) Press Release EM/79/08 31/7/08 |
| HSE warns of the dangers of not using registered gas installers. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Richard Cartlidge fined £1,000 and £987 costs under GSUIR 1998. he had fitted a gas fire whilst not being registered and had left it in a dangerous condition. | HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/021/PROS/08 31/7/08 |
| Trader fined £13,998 for undertaking illegal gas work in Kent. Week ending 01/08/08 |
Tommy Smith was fined £13,998 and costs of £12,212.90 under GSUIR 1998. He targeted elderly and vulnerable homeowners. On two occasions he reduced the height of two chimneys which contained gas boiler flues, giving rise to a risk of build up of CO fumes inside the properties concerned. | HSE (South East) Press Release COISE/0108 1/8/08 |
| Astra Plant Ltd Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined total of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s6. Kebelko excavator overturned on field, machine hired from Astra Plant Ltd without roll over protection fitted. | HSE Prosecution Case 4082759 19/5/08 |
| Redworth Construction Limited Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. IP was bricklayer working on site with no pedestrian/vehicle segregation. Tracked excavator ran over his leg as he knelt down whilst working. | HSE Prosecution Case 4101674 19/5/08 |
| Caradon District Council Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined total of £2,000 under WHR 2005 and MHSWR 1999. Carpenter fell 2.5m through garage roof. Placed boards on roof to facilitate removal of broken Perspex corrugated panel. On removal of panel, whole lower section of roofing completely collapsed causing the boards to slip and the IP to fall through the garage roof onto concrete floor. | HSE Prosecution Case 4106133 20/5/08 |
| Tulip Ltd Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined total £265,000 under EWR 1989 and HASAWA 1974 s2 and s4. Contractor received electric shock. Failure to provide SSW following accident to employee on form fill seal machine as guarding had not been upgraded to relevant standard. | HSE Prosecution Case 4084671 21/5/08 |
| Metal Products (Arden) Ltd Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined £7,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Case resulted from the investigation of an employee who had 4 fingers crushed by the tools of a 60 ton power press. | HSE Prosecution Case 4104612 22/5/08 |
| White Reclamation Limited Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined £50,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3 and s2. A company's driver died whilst emptying his vehicle on a site, being buried in waste. At time of incident, no segregation of pedestrian or vehicles existed and no marshal or traffic management system was in place. Subsequent visit by HSE observed a significant lack of control of vehicle movements resulting in a serious risk to both pedestrians and other vehicles. | HSE Prosecution Case 4048982 23/5/08 |
| Mr Jajbhay Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s37. Tenant in domestic premises died as result of exposure to carbon monoxide. Landlord failed to maintain gas boiler and failed to have annual safety check carried out. | HSE Prosecution Case 4055579 23/5/08 |
| Winnington Construction Ltd Week ending 01/08/08 |
Fined £18,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Ground worker injured whilst working on an unsafe excavation. Unsafe system of work used including lack of supervision by competent managers. | HSE Prosecution Case 4086928 23/5/08 |
| HSE warns of dangers of working at height after fatal fall at Northampton refurbishment site. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Spanclad Ltd fined £80,000 and costs of £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Westminster Building Co Ltd (Principal Contractor) fined £40,000 and costs of £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Darren Handley was killed when he fell from a tower scaffold which was not the right equipment for the work he was undertaking. | HSE (East Midlands) Press Release HSE 745/08 8/8/08 |
| Government ignores MPs' criticisms. Week ending 08/08/08 |
In the response to the recent select committee inquiry into the HSE, the Government looks like throwing its weight behind some kind of accreditation of health and safety professionals. The initiative would be the only tangible outcome from the 63 conclusions and recommendations of the Work and Pensions Committee's April report on the HSE. | Internet: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmworpen/837/837.pdf Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:1 |
| Too lazy to be safe. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Michael Roys has been jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of a contractor. He had been working for Westmoreland Plant Hire, digging a trench in a JCB excavator, when the bucket fell off the arm onto the chest of Alwyne Parkinson, who subsequently died three days later. Roys had been too lazy to get out of the cab to insert a metal safety pin into the arm and bucket. The brevity of the sentence reflected the fact that Roys had not intended to cause injury, as well as his obvious remorse, good character, and guilty plea. | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:2 |
| Tesco lorry driver. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Scott Baldwin, an agency driver, has been jailed for six years and banned from driving for five years, after causing the death of a farm worker by dangerous driving. Baldwin was taking a Tesco delivery lorry to Exeter when he hit the back of Ian Gregory's tractor and trailer throwing him from the cab. Baldwin had sent and received 37 sexually explicit texts during his shift and the Judge said that he had "no doubt" that he "was in the process of composing yet another text in a similar vein". | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:2 |
| Waste scam. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Patrick Anderson and James Kelleher have both been jailed for illegally dumping 14,600 tonnes of construction and demolition waste. The scam involved at least 15 different sites in London and Essex, including a roundabout near Barking. Anderson was jailed for 22 months and Kelleher for 14 months. | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:2 |
| "Woeful" fire-safety failures cost hotel owner £250,000. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Jonathan Nevins, of the Brandon House Hotel in Suffolk, has received fines and costs of £202,527 after he flouted fire safety laws and ignored advice and warnings from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service. | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:3 |
| DSE - evaluation. Week ending 08/08/08 |
According to HSE-commissioned research, compliance levels with legislation on display screen equipment appear high. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr628.htm and www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr622.htm Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:6 |
| Economics - health. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Workers in excellent health earn between 4 and 7 per cent more than those whose health is average, according to research. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr639.htm Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:6 |
| Enforcement - compliance. Week ending 08/08/08 |
The HSE has published an analysis of socio-legal studies of what determines organisations' compliance with legislation. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr638.htm Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:6 |
| First aid. Week ending 08/08/08 |
New first-aid training and approval arrangements come into force on 1 October 2008. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/review/june08.htm Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:6 |
| Stress - management. Week ending 08/08/08 |
HSE-commissioned research has looked further at the competency framework for managers dealing with stress at work. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr633.htm Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:6 |
| Location, location, location - the HSE moves northwest. Week ending 08/08/08 |
A report on concerns that the closure of the HSE's London HQ will hamper the ability of the regulator to do its job. (Howard Fidderman) | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:7-15 |
| Displaying compliance - the DSE Regulations 15 years on. Week ending 08/08/08 |
The 1989 Directive appears to have benefited everyone apart from RSI victims. (Lucinda Ponting) | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:16-18 |
| "Going underground" with TfL to place health back on track. Week ending 08/08/08 |
A look at an ambitious plan to improve the health of London's tube workers. (Lucinda Ponting) | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:19-24 |
| Employers must base training on risks they ought to foresee. Week ending 08/08/08 |
A report on an important appeal judgment (Allison v London Underground Ltd) on how employers should assess the adequacy of their training provision. (Howard Fidderman) | Health and Safety Bulletin August/September 2008:25-28 |
| Keeping East Lothian blooming safe. Week ending 08/08/08 |
The "North Berwick in Bloom" Committee have been busily putting the finishing touches to the East Lothian town ready for the "Britain in Bloom" competition. East Lothian Council's horticultural workers have also been playing their part, much to the delight of the HSE who are always keen to encourage safe ways of working, like using a specialist long reach extendable lance to feed and water the town's flower arrangements from ground level instead of using ladders. | HSE (National) Press Release SCO/124/08 5/8/08 |
| HSE prosecutes Essex companies following multiple breaches of asbestos safety laws. Week ending 08/08/08 |
R Maskell Ltd fined £150,000 with costs of £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. LCH Contracts Ltd fined £70,000 and costs of £13,821 under CAWR 2002. HSE has issued a stark warning about managing the risks from asbestos, following its prosecution of the two Essex companies. Workers in their employment were exposed to asbestos containing materials. | HSE (National) Press Release HSE-E78:08 6/8/08 |
| Keep your eyes peeled during tattie harvest. Week ending 08/08/08 |
HSE is reminding farmers to ensure they take appropriate safety precautions when harvesting their potato crop. Scotland celebrates the United Nation's International Year of the Potato 2008. | HSE (National) Press Release SCO/125/08 7/8/08 |
| Petersfield company fined £10,500 for health and safety breaches. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Tews Engineering Limited fined total of £10,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999, also costs of £10,500. A worker has suffered unnecessary permanent disability because of a failure to manage his H&S at work. Bill Leonard requested to be moved to other duties for the sake of his health, but the company continued to require him to work predominantly with vibrating tools, exacerbating his health problems. | HSE (National) Press Release COISE/0708 7/8/08 |
| HSE warns children, building sites are not holiday playgrounds. Week ending 08/08/08 |
HSE is warning the construction industry and parents that building sites are dangerous and must not be used as playgrounds. This comes with schools in the East breaking up for the summer holidays. | HSE (East) Press Release HSE-E85 4/8/08 |
| Harrogate launches "Safer Business Community": District's businesses on alert for health and safety. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Letters are going out to around 150 businesses in the Harrogate district as a groundbreaking new project moves health, safety and security to the top of the agenda. | HSE (Yorkshire and the Humber) Press Release YH/406/08 5/8/08 |
| Construction company is fined £70,000 for fatal fall from height. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Carillion JM Ltd, formally known as Mowlem PLC, fined £70,000 and costs of £24,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Alexander McCully fell to his death from a height of 17 metres after a scaffold board snapped. Although he was wearing a fall arrest harness in line with company policy, there were no suitable anchor points for him to attach the lanyard to at the rim of the tank he was working on. HSE is urging construction companies to ensure their procedures for working at height are properly planned and carried out. | HSE (South East) Press Release COISE/0508 5/8/08 |
| HSE prosecutes tyre manufacturer Goodyear Dunlop over forklift truck incident. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd fined £13,500 with costs of £2,888.04 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Company also to pay compensation of £4,000 to the injured worker. Casing operator inspecting tyre casings when an FLT loaded with four-high stack of heavy steel stillages (pallets) passed by. Stillages were not secured to each other or to the truck, and toppled onto the worker causing 2 fractures to one of his ribs. HSE is warning employers to ensure adequate protection measures are in place for forklift operations. | HSE (West Midlands) Press Release HSE/WM213/07 8/8/08 |
| Construction managers warned to control risks of working at height after worker falls from an unprotected wall. Week ending 08/08/08 |
Simon John Ludgate fined £1,500 (costs not made due to Mr Ludgate's financial status) under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3, and RIDDOR 1995. Ronald Cordon suffered from major injuries when he fell from an unprotected wall while doing bricklaying work on a housing construction site. | HSE (East Midlands) Press Release HSE/EM/746 8/8/08 |
| Ridings Sawmills (Cardross) Limited Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee fell from moving conveyor resulting in injuries to kidney and ribs. | HSE Prosecution Case 4095434 27/5/08 |
| E H Thorne (Beehives) Ltd Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined total of £12,500 under HASAWA 1974 s11 and s2. Accident investigation revealed poor guarding of m/c & control of western red cedar dust. | HSE Prosecution Case 4046515 28/5/08 |
| Burtech Precision Limited Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP was rolling a piece of steel plate on power rolls and his hand was caught on the plate between the roll. | HSE Prosecution Case 4095234 28/5/08 |
| Janis Fugalis Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined total of £7,000 under CAR 2006. Unlicensed asbestos removal and contamination of site. | HSE Prosecution Case 4104423 28/5/08 |
| County Roofing (Gloucester) Limited Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP suffered significant lacerations and bruising when he fell from a roof whilst dismantling an asbestos cement sheet clad shed. He fell approx 4 metres contacting the rotating blade of an angle grinder. | HSE Prosecution Case 4110868 28/5/08 |
| London Central Bus Co Ltd Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £60,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP was cleaning the chassis of a bus, he had failed to drive the bus fully onto the chassis clean pit and as he was cleaning he slipped and fell into the pit. | HSE Prosecution Case 4072663 29/5/08 |
| C & P Bird Brothers Limited Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £5,000 under PUWER 1998. IP was checking a machine, (scraper system), put her finger between wire and pulley. | HSE Prosecution Case 4077111 29/5/08 |
| Galliford Morgan Joint Venture Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Fatal accident to employee as a result of failure to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments were carried out. Failure to ensure co-operation of other employers working on sites to ensure risk assoc with loading and off loading pipes from lorry were controlled. Failure to ensure stability of pipes during off loading process, whereby two pipes rolled off vehicle and caused fatality. | HSE Prosecution Case 4096160 29/5/08 |
| Forsyth of Denny Ltd Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Fatal accident to non-employee as a result of failure to ensure suitable and sufficient risk assessments were carried out of the tasks assoc with loading pipes to ensure pipes could be off loaded in a safe manner. Failure to ensure co-operation of other employers being worked with to ensure risks assoc with loading and off loading pipes from lorry were controlled. Failure to ensure stability of pipes during off loading process, whereby two pipes rolled off vehicle. | HSE Prosecution Case 4096168 29/5/08 |
| Harts Roofing Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £2,000 under WHR 2005. Working on flat roof without edge protection. Risk of falls liable to result in serious personal injury and risks of falling materials striking MOP. | HSE Prosecution Case 4101782 29/5/08 |
| Alexanders of Twickenham Limited Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £20,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee badly burned in garage workshop fire. Prosecution arising from fatal accident investigation. No safe system of work for draining petrol from fuel tanks. | HSE Prosecution Case 4101674 30/5/08 |
| Sigmacast Iron Ltd Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £12,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. IP was cleaning the rollers on a sand return belt when his right arm got caught. | HSE Prosecution Case 4080173 30/5/08 |
| I P (Pontefract) Ltd Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £50,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP walking along gangway, FLT coming along another gangway with a coil of steel. Truck driver saw him, blew his horn and shouted. IP apparently didn't respond and kept walking. Truck driver slammed on brakes of his truck, steel moved off the forks and tipped over towards IP and trapped him underneath it. | HSE Prosecution Case 4088343 30/5/08 |
| Airbags International Ltd Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Agency worker had arm amputated after it had been drawn in and crushed beneath a roller, which they had been replacing a roll of fabric on a machine. Became accepted practice for employees to hold the fabric in place in the "danger zone" whilst machine was started. This procedure had been in place 3 years, supervisors aware of it. Company had carried out a risk assessment but this assessment failed to identify the risk. | HSE Prosecution Case 4098008 30/5/08 |
| Sharward Steel Fabrications Week ending 08/08/08 |
Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP was working the guillotine, lapse in concentration and IP chopped his finger off. No failure with the equipment. | HSE Prosecution Case 4107983 30/5/08 |
| Farmers urged to train staff properly after worker paralysed by falling bale. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Farmer Geoffrey Eccles fined £10,000 and costs of £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. A 21 year old employee suffered permanent paralysis from the waist down when he was crushed by a round silage bale weighting up to a tonne which fell onto him from a six-high stack when he went to inspect a failed bale grab. HSE recommends that bales should be stacked no more than three bales high. HSE is warning farmers to ensure their workers are properly trained and machinery is regularly inspected and serviced. | HSE (North West) Press Release HSE/NW/023/08 13/8/08 |
| Government slammed by Committee Chair and unions over "complacent" safety stance. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Pathetic, defensive and complacent are the words the chair of the Works and Pensions Select Committee (WPSC) has used to describe the Government's response to its report into the role of the HSC/E in regulating health and safety, which argued for the HSE to increase site inspections. Terry Rooney said Committee members were shocked by the lax response, which rejects practically all the proposals the Committee put forward. Unions such as Prospect and UCATT were similarly incensed. | SHP August 2008:6 |
| Land-use planning needs COMAH focus to reduce risk. Week ending 15/08/08 |
A new report from the Buncefield Major Incident Investigation Board calls for greater collaboration between the agencies involved in land-use planning around major hazard sites. The eighth report highlights the difficulties in satisfying the requirements of disparate strategic, economic, social, safety and environmental interests, and calls for a more cohesive system. | SHP August 2008:7 |
| "Missed opportunity" to rectify road-deaths gap. Week ending 15/08/08 |
The Government has rejected calls for work-related road deaths to be reportable under RIDDOR, and included in H&S statistics. The decision, outlined in the Government's response to the WPSC, has been described by IOSH President Ray Hurst as a "missed opportunity". | SHP August 2008:7 |
| European-wide advice on watersports safety. Week ending 15/08/08 |
The European Child Safety Alliance has launched new safety guidelines for water-recreation providers across the EU. The report provides injury facts as well as recommendations on preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of injury and drowning. | Internet: "Protecting children and youths in water recreation" www.childsafetyeurope.org SHP August 2008:7 |
| Annual reports highlight worrying trend of rising worker illness rates. Week ending 15/08/08 |
The rising incidence of occup illness is causing the HSE and Irish HSA major concern, as indicated by their annual reports. HSE's report showed that the incidence of work-related ill health per 100,000 workers showed as sudden rise from 1850 in 2004/05 to 2090 in 2006/07, while the number of working days lost also increased. HSA's report showed a similar increase in figures. | SHP August 2008:8 |
| Rail-crash victim-turned-killer wins damages. Week ending 15/08/08 |
A survivor of the Ladbroke Grove train crash, has won an appeal against a court ruling that refused him damages for loss of earnings after committing a crime. Kerrie Gray received only minor physical injuries in the crash but suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder which caused his personality to change completely resulting in him stabbing a stranger. The original decision, that liability stopped at the point Gray committed the offence, has now been overturned as Gray was simply seeking compensation for loss of earnings as a result of his illness, and the manslaughter was unconnected. | SHP August 2008:8 |
| Legislation in motion. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Though the definitive piece of UK H&S legislation - the 1974 Act - was born way before SHP was a twinkle in anyone's eyes, many other important statutory instruments have come into being since 1983. (Kevin Bridges) | SHP August 2008:19-20 |
| Ch-ch-ch-changes. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Being faced with a new technology that aims to improve the way an organisation works can be a very daunting prospect, but with the right planning and support it can be made as trouble-free as possible. (Linda Evans) | SHP August 2008:62-63 |
| I know you're gonna dig this. Week ending 15/08/08 |
The Beijing Olympics start later this month, and are likely to focus extra attention on how London's preparations for 2012 are going. A day spent with the Olympic Authority's H&S advisor to find out about two initiatives to prepare adults and children from communities local to the planned construction sites for the games. (Tina Weadick) | SHP August 2008:65-66 |
| Environmental wake-up call. Week ending 15/08/08 |
The challenges and opportunities that the environment and sustainability responsibilities are generating, how different organisations are addressing them, and how H&S professionals can ensure they are suitably informed to respond. (Dr Anne Miller) | SHP August 2008:68-70 |
| Display of judgement. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Guidance for H&S practitioners on the main factors to bear in mind when weighing up which online display screen equipment risk assessment and training system to choose. (Richard Phelps) | SHP August 2008:72-74 |
| Upon reflection. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Continuing professional development is now required by all major professions and is not about penalising practitioners by making them come back time and time again for training in order to generate revenue. An explanation of the IOSH scheme and how easy the process can be. (Hazel Harvey) | SHP August 2008:77-78 |
| Big ideas. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Nearly 200 small businesses across Scotland have taken part in a series of H&S advice sessions where big business offered free expert advice to their smaller counterparts. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/scotland/partnership.htm RoSPA Occup Safety and Health Journal August 2008:4 |
| Court report. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Some recent H&S prosecutions focussing on accidents in the food industry. (Edward Hodson) | RoSPA Occup Safety and Health Journal August 2008:10-11 |
| Fitness to drive. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Employers have a duty to ensure that their staff are fit to carry out work tasks, including driving. Drivers have a responsibility to ensure that they do not get behind the wheel when they are not fit to do so. A guide highlighting the main issues that can affect a person's fitness to drive. (RoSPA) | RoSPA Occup Safety and Health Journal August 2008:13-16 |
| Open minds. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Even though at any one time, one person in six will be experiencing mental ill health, less than 40 per cent of employers are willing to hire someone with a mental health condition. Employment can be a powerful aid to recovery for many sufferers and, with the right support, many people with depression, anxiety and severe mental illness can re-enter the workplace. (Elizabeth Gates) | RoSPA Occup Safety and Health Journal August 2008:21-24,26-27 |
| Beta blockers. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Any employer who undertakes work with ionising radiation must comply with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 and this includes consulting and, more often than not, appointing a radiation protection advisor. (Nick Cook) | RoSPA Occup Safety and Health Journal August 2008:31-34 |
| Working with gas cylinders. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Some key issues to assist users of gas cylinders, cryogenic liquids and associated equipment to work in a safe environment. (Ian Constable) | RoSPA Occup Safety and Health Journal August 2008:39-41 |
| Top tips to safeguard our game keepers. Week ending 15/08/08 |
As the Scottish grouse shooting season gets underway, the HSE is reminding game keepers to ensure they take appropriate safety precautions when carrying out their daily work, a key concern being lone working. | Internet: http://news.hse.gov.uk/2007/11/19/revised-health-and-safety-guide-for-gamekeepers HSE (National) Press Release SCO/127/08 12/8/08 |
| HSE concerned at continuing hydrocarbon releases offshore. Week ending 15/08/08 |
The HSE expressed concern at the continuing number of major and significant hydrocarbon releases in the offshore industry, often regarded as precursors to a major accident. | HSE (National) Press Release E039:08 13/8/08 |
| HSE's safety warning to farmers during the harvest season. Week ending 15/08/08 |
HSE is urging farmers to take extra precautions with agricultural machinery during the harvest season. For a safer harvest season the HSE recommends that workers in the industry take some simple measures to limit their risk of serious injury, including checking brakes, making sure only competent and trained operators operate harvesters and other agricultural machinery. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/hsagriculture.htm HSE (National) Press Release E040:08 15/8/08 |
| HSE warns of the risks of working at height after scaffolding collapse injured three workers. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Pedley Scaffolding Ltd fined a total of £3,300 and costs of £5,318 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3. Three men were erecting scaffolding on a busy road when it collapsed, causing the workers to fall approx six metres. Failure to provide a safe system of work and adequate training and supervision associated with the erection of scaffolding. | HSE (West Midlands) Press Release WM/242/08 15/8/08 |
| Norfolk activity centre prosecuted following school trip incident. Week ending 15/08/08 |
Kingswood Learning and Leisure (Group) Limited fined £12,000 and costs of £10,690 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Eight year old Mickey Carter-Browne was injured during a school trip when he fell six metres from a climbing wall. The incident could have been prevented had the correct safety procedures been followed and staff properly trained and supervised. | HSE (East) Press Release HSE-E89 15/8/08 |
| Berser International Cargo Services Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £22,000 under WHSWR 1992. This case did result from the investigation of a fatality. | HSE Prosecution Case 4054442 2/6/08 |
| Techrail Retail Services Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Trainee welder had his right finger amputated whilst working on a bank of drills. Though IP was wearing rigger gloves at the time, Techrail failed to adequately guard the bank of drills and to have arrangements to ensure safety devices were in place and working. They also failed to have appropriate supervision arrangements and to provide adequate training and instruction. | HSE Prosecution Case 4073643 2/6/08 |
| Harris Transport Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined total of £28,000 under WHSWR 1992, MHSWR 1999 and HASAWA 1974 s2. IP was working in a loading yard after dark. It was poorly lit and the lighting was defective. IP was run over by FLT that had defective head lamps. It was found that both the installed lighting and the FLT's headlamps had been defective or several months. There was no segregation of pedestrians and vehicles and no sufficient RA had been done for workplace transport risks. | HSE Prosecution Case 4094705 2/6/08 |
| Medway Council Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £75,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP's fingers amputated while cleaning machinery at a golf club. No maintenance on guards or safety devices. Poor employee training systems. | HSE Prosecution Case 4099325 2/6/08 |
| Robinson Brothers Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employees injured by fall of unrestrained heater bank toppling from unprotected edge of an oven plinth approx 6 metres high. No measures in place to prevent falls of persons or objects, no mechanical handling aids, no specific written system of work for job, no training in working at height safely provided. | HSE Prosecution Case 4110753 2/6/08 |
| Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined total of £1,500 under WHR 2005. A gardener climbed onto a roof of bowls pavilion from a grass bank in order to apply anti-vandal paint. He slipped as he was getting down breaking his arm. Council failed to properly plan or supervise the work and failed to take suitable measures to prevent their employee falling from the roof. | HSE Prosecution Case 4106268 3/6/08 |
| Redditek Systems Limited Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £5,000 under HASAWA 1974 s37. IP, who had been with the company for 6 weeks, was working on board edge processing machine. . Machine's rear guard was permanently up (was never used as protection) and interlock switch had a piece of wood pushed up against it so machine would continue to operate even with the guard open. Plastic edging had got caught in machine, IP went to remove by putting hand in machine and was injured by the saw. Tops of 2 digits were amputated. | HSE Prosecution Case 4114053 4/6/08 |
| Pack2Pack UK Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined total of £12,000 under PUWER 1998 and DSEAR 2002. Accident to Mohammed Ahmed Ali and subsequent investigation which found evidence of unsafe working practices in relation to the processing of IBCs containing flammable substances and inadequate management of risk control systems in place for handling dangerous substances. | HSE Prosecution Case 4076259 5/6/08 |
| Spray-Craft Coating Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined total of £5,000 under WHR 2005. Employee assisting workshop manager to lift a large fan down from roof of a spray booth by FLT when he fell 2.6m. Work at height was neither properly planned nor carried out with suitable and sufficient measures in place to prevent, sfarp, any person falling a distance liable to cause injury.. | HSE Prosecution Case 4111943 5/6/08 |
| Wells Plastic Ltd Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined total of £6,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and COSHH 1999. IP was cleaning bin/hopper with solvent and cloths. A discards cloth failed to drop through the hole at the bottom which is for discharge. The IP was overcome by fumes from the solvent and was found unconscious approx 20 mins later by another employee. | HSE Prosecution Case 4118362 5/6/08 |
| Allied Welsh Limited Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. David Morgan was climbing a ladder which was tied to scaffold to gain access to working area. Lost his hold close to top and fell onto tarmac drive below. Company failed to ensure that worker had a safe means of access to scaffold platform. | HSE Prosecution Case 4085712 6/6/08 |
| Rolls Royce Plc Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined £5,000 under PUWER 1998. IP became trapped within the interlocked enclosure of a VDF Lathe when the saddle moved after he entered the machine to clear some swarf from a component. He suffered abrasions, bruising and possible nerve damage. | HSE Prosecution Case 4096136 6/6/08 |
| J R Holdom Week ending 15/08/08 |
Fined total of £2,000 under WHR 2005. IP working on the first floor, wanted to come down and came down access ladder. He slipped from the ladder and fell to the ground floor level. | HSE Prosecution Case 4118935 6/6/08 |
| Lords decide door closer is work equipment. Week ending 22/08/08 |
In a judgment that could have far-reaching implications for anyone in charge of workplace equipment, the House of Lords has ruled that a door closer can be classed as work equipment under PUWER. It followed a case where an employee had been asked to inspect and repair a door closer. As he examined it, a screw hit him in the face and he lost four teeth. | Report text: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjudgmt/jd080702/spence-1.htm HSW September 2008:6 |
| Hot oil lands brewer in hot water again. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Marstons fined a total of £17,500 and costs of £8,151 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999. Trainee chef Dale Wakeman suffered first and second degree burns to a fifth of his body when he slipped on the kitchen floor. He had tried to empty the fryers only an hour after use - HSE Guidance specifies a minimum of six hours. The accident had been caused by a combination of a poor floor-cleaning regime, lack of training for Dale and a risk assessment that said the fryers must be left to cool before emptying, but specified no time. | HSW September 2008:2 |
| Fatality witness loses compensation claim. Week ending 22/08/08 |
A man who suffered post-traumatic stress after he saw his workmate die in an accident has lost his claim for compensation. Stephen Monk witnessed a temporary platform fall 18 metres and hit two men working below, one of whom was killed. The High Court rejected his claim on the basis that he was not a primary victim of the crane operator's negligent actions because he was not a rescuer or an unwilling participant. | HSW September 2008:2 |
| HSE must publish names of people killed at work. Week ending 22/08/08 |
The Centre for Corporate Accountability (CCA) has succeeded in an appeal to the Information Commissioner to force the HSE to publish the names of people killed in work accidents once the coroner's inquest has opened. | HSW September 2008:3 |
| Drivers on mobiles risk seven years in jail. Week ending 22/08/08 |
The Sentencing Guidelines Council has fixed harsher penalties for drivers convicted of causing death by dangerous or careless driving. Under the new sentencing guidelines - which courts are obliged to follow - drivers who cause a death while using a handheld mobile phone will face up to seven years in prison. Drivers who cause deaths because they were momentarily distracted by a mobile phone can also expect a prison sentence. | HSW September 2008:5 |
| Nightclub failed to report dancefloor injury. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Nexum Leisure fined £5,400 and costs of £3,090. Kieran Lynch was hit on the head when an 11kg confetti cannon fell from a height of 3 metres. Staff at first took Lynch out of the back door, but he insisted on being allowed to use the first aid room. After waiting nearly an hour for an ambulance the staff said they had called, he dialled 999 himself. Failure to ensure the safety of members of the public, failure to assess the pyrotechnic risk, failing to inform the enforcing authority of the injury and failing to provide adequate first aid. | HSW September 2008:8 |
| Corporate killing law drives road-risk message home. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Almost 100 per cent of fleet managers are aware of the potential impact of the corporate manslaughter legislation and 86 per cent of companies have policies in place to manage occup road risk, according to a new study. | HSW September 2008:8 |
| £517,000 knee payout. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Union has secured compensation of £517,500 for a member who suffered a knee injury while moving racking for Intier. Missing bolts caused the racking to collapse and the worker to fall, after which he needed a knee replacement. The employee had not been trained to dismantle the racking. | HSW September 2008:8 |
| JJB fire fine. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Sports retailer JJB fined £17,400 and costs of £6,150. An inspection found fire escapes locked or partly blocked by stock, and an empty fire extinguisher. | HSW September 2008:8 |
| Paper cuts fall short of sector targets. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Paper makers have cut the days lost to ill health and injury by a quarter in three years, according to the latest figures published by CPI. | HSW September 2008:10 |
| Legislative calendar. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Calendar of new and upcoming legislation. | HSW September 2008:10 |
| Out of the ashes. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster by considering how major incident investigations in the past 30 years have moved from examining plant and equipment failures to considering safety culture and behaviour. (Paul Hopkin) | HSW September 2008:14-16,19 |
| Moving targets. Week ending 22/08/08 |
A look at how dynamic risk assessment can help employees manage risks as they arise. (Lucie Ponting and Jocelyn Dorrell) | HSW September 2008:20-22 |
| Working with arthritis. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Continuing the series on protecting workers with long-term health conditions. (Becky Allen) | HSW September 2008:25-26 |
| Barrington's concrete results. Week ending 22/08/08 |
The Cambridgeshire cement and quarrying operation has managed eight years with only one lost-time accident. (Andrea Oates) | HSW September 2008:28-29 |
| Safety podcasts - a word in your ear. Week ending 22/08/08 |
A review of some recent audio downloads on topics ranging from directors' duties to gas safety. (Bridget Leathley) | HSW September 2008:31 |
| Cases in point: stress. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Continuing the revision guide on stress management for NEBOSH National Diploma students with a review of the landmark legal cases. (Lawrence Bamber) | HSW September 2008:32-34 |
| Pillar to post. Week ending 22/08/08 |
The ins and outs of industrial door safety. (Mark Baugh) | HSW September 2008:44-45 |
| Thousands visit new COHME site. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Over 30,000 people have visited HSE's Construction Occup Health Management Essentials (COHME) since its launch in February. The site is aimed at those with responsibilities for the H&S of construction workers, including designers, clients and contractors. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/healthrisks Health and Safety Newsletter (14) Aug-Sept 2008:6 |
| Basic ingredients at food conference. Week ending 22/08/08 |
As part of its ongoing "Recipe for Safety" initiative, HSE is playing a key role in a major conference this autumn aimed at all those with an interest in occup safety and health in food manufacturing. The conference is a partnership between HSE and IOSH and takes place in Blackpool, starting on October 8th. | Internet: www.iosh.co.uk/backtobasics Health and Safety Newsletter (14) Aug-Sept 2008:7 |
| Shattered Lives update. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Earlier this year, the HSE reported the launch of one of its hardest-hitting campaigns - Shattered Lives. Designed to raise awareness of the risks of slips, trips and falls from height in the workplace, it also promotes action to prevent such accidents. A review of the impact so far and future plans for the campaign. | Health and Safety Newsletter (14) Aug-Sept 2008:8-9 |
| Falls through fragile roofs. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Last year, 45 workers died following a fall from height and 3,750 were seriously injured. Reducing this unnecessary injury toll is a priority for HSE. Some real-life examples of what can happen when workers are put at risk. | Health and Safety Newsletter (14) Aug-Sept 2008:10 |
| European spotlight on risk assessment. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Risk assessment is the theme of the latest European Campaign for Safety and Health at Work. Lasting two years, the key aim of the campaign is to demystify the risk assessment process to show that it is not complicated, bureaucratic or only a task for experts. | Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/index.htm Health and Safety Newsletter (14) Aug-Sept 2008:12 |
| United Lincolnshire Hospitals fined £18,500 after worker exposed to hazardous substances. Week ending 22/08/08 |
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust fined total of £18,500 and costs of £3,504.80 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999. A woman employee was exposed to gluteraldehyde while cleaning an X ray film processor. She had been cleaning the processor for several years without proper safety precautions. HSE has warned hospitals to have safe systems in place for employees who deal with hazardous substances. | HSE (East Midlands) Press Release HSE/EM/92 18/8/08 |
| HSE issues machinery warning as Keighley firm and employee in court over workplace injury. Week ending 22/08/08 |
Ammeraal Beltech Ltd fined £20,000 and costs of £1,143.20 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Production operative Graham Parker given a 2 year conditional discharge plus costs of £500 under HASAWA 1974 s7. A worker lost his hand due to machinery not being properly guarded. Mr Parker had been made aware, before the incident, of the absence of a guard on the mixer. He was asked to ensure it was rectified, failed in his duty, resulting in an horrific injury to a staff member. Ammeraal Beltech also failed to protect the health and safety of its workers. | HSE (Yorkshire and the Humber) Press Release YH/424/08 20/8/08 |
| Body and Wheels Workshop Ltd Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined total of £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Company failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for working at height before employee started work. | HSE Prosecution Case 4107500 9/6/08 |
| Eastern Window Manfg Company Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined £5,000 under WHR 2005. IP was at the premises as a labourer and was not supposed to go on the roof. IP went on the roof and fell. | HSE Prosecution Case 4112705 10/6/08 |
| Leith Roofings (Scotland) Limited Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined total of £500 under HASAWA 1974 and WHR 2005. Previous enforcement action was meant to raise safety standards. This did not evolve and a serious accident to an employee took place in a fall from a roof that had no safety measures in place. The erection of a scaffold tower would have prevented accident from happening. | HSE Prosecution Case 4083661 11/6/08 |
| Crompton Technology Group Ltd Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined total of £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999. Employee injured when a shirt became caught on rotating spindle of a three spindle winding machine. There was only a single trip wire fitted to machine which was not readily accessible. The drive mechanism did not have any power limiting device fitted. | HSE Prosecution Case 4110965 11/6/08 |
| Weetabix Ltd Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined £3,500 under PUWER 1998. Operator had tips of 2 fingers amputated. He was able to reach a valve at base of dust extraction hopper which he believed to be blocked. Extension tube which provided reach distance guarding had been removed and not replaced. It was found nearby covered in dust indicating a sustained deficiency. | HSE Prosecution Case 4111941 12/6/08 |
| Syral UK Limited Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined total of £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3. Mr T Young. Prosecution Case. | HSE Prosecution Case 4048751 13/6/08 |
| Brewchem International Ltd Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Accident Terence Young. | HSE Prosecution Case 4090943 13/6/08 |
| Carillion AM Government Limited Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined total of £2,400 under MHSWR 1999 and PUWER 1998. Operative driving grass cutter, vehicle overturned and became trapped between the vehicle and the vehicle safety fence on motorway. | HSE Prosecution Case 4102143 13/6/08 |
| Parmeko plc Week ending 22/08/08 |
Fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. A serious accident as a result of a failure to control an entirely foreseeable risk from a known dangerous substance. Evidence of a widespread and prolonged failure. | HSE Prosecution Case 4112292 13/6/08 |
| HSE safety warning following Alcon prosecution. Week ending 29/08/08 |
Sharaz Butt, director of Alcon Construction, has been jailed for 12 months for manslaughter and been disqualified for 5 years after being found guilty under HASAWA 1974 s37. The company was fined the nominal amount of £10. Wu Zhu Weng was working for Alcon on the refurbishment of a building when he fell 12 feet through a skylight and suffered fatal injuries. | HSE (National) Press Release HSE-E95 22/8/08 |
| Care home blaze. Week ending 29/08/08 |
A man has died after a serious blaze at a care home in Kent. Some 25 people were evacuated and attended by paramedics. Although the police have said the fire is not being treated as suspicious, an investigation is underway. | Fire Risk Management August 2008:3 |
| Firefighter violence. Week ending 29/08/08 |
According to a recent report by the BBC, firefighters are under a constant threat of attack during their normal working day. The report says that physical and verbal attacks from some members of the public are stopping the firefighters from doing their jobs. The claims follow an incident in Dumbarton where firefighters were pelted with bricks by youths when attending a rubbish fire. | Fire Risk Management August 2008:5 |
| Positive thinking. Week ending 29/08/08 |
The need for effective ongoing training in the use of positive pressure ventilation for firefighting. (Gary West) | Fire Risk Management August 2008:46-49 |
| Safe access. Week ending 29/08/08 |
The case for applying innovative protection to fire service access and facilities in large or complex buildings. (Eoghan Given) | Fire Risk Management August 2008:58-61 |
| HSE to award contract for new gas installer registration scheme. Week ending 29/08/08 |
HSE has notified bidders for the new gas installer registration scheme that it is awarding the contract to Capita Group Plc (CAPITA). The contract, valued at £14 million per annum, is awarded for a term of ten years. The new gas installer registration scheme will run from the 1st April 2009 and will replace a scheme currently being operated by CORGI. | HSE (National) Press Release E041:08 29/8/08 |
| Double fatality. HSE reminds quarry transport operators be safe - be seen. Week ending 29/08/08 |
Scottish Coal Company Ltd fined £400,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Colin Fergusson and Brian French were killed at SCCL's Pennyvennie site when their vehicle was crushed by a 100 tonne capacity dump truck. The dump truck driver could not see their vehicle because it was in a blind spot. The company failed to provide suitable means of communication between different vehicles on site in order to reduce the risk of collisions, as well as a failure to manage vehicles on their site. | HSE (Scotland) Press Release SCO/133/08 26/8/08 |
| Lincoln company fined after worker injured after moving 96kg oven. Week ending 29/08/08 |
Lincat Limited fined total of £19,400 and costs of £4,800 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHOR 1992. An oven assembler suffered a severe groin injury while moving a 96 kilogram oven. With his supervisor they were both moving five pizza ovens, one at a time, from a waist-high assembly bench down to ankle-high pallets on the floor, without using any mechanical aids. The employees had not been made aware of how heavy the ovens were or how they should be moved safely. Suitable risk assessment had not been carried out. | HSE (East Midlands) Press Release HSE/760/08 27/8/08 |
| Arboriculture safety and health awareness day. Week ending 29/08/08 |
The HSE is holding an Arboriculture Safety and Health Awareness Day at Myerscough College, Bilsborrow, nr Preston on Tuesday 2 September. Qualified instructors will present practical demonstrations showing how to avoid most common causes of accidents and ill health that arise from tree work. | Information: 01772 836231 or damian.Hilton@hse.gsi.gov.uk HSE (North West) Press Release HSENW00908 28/8/08 |
| Demolition company fined £15,000 after electrician seriously injured in five metre fall in Greenwich. Week ending 29/08/08 |
Wooldridge Ecotec Ltd fined £15,000 and costs of £4,971 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Nicholas Anderson, one of the company directors, fined £5,000 and costs of £1,657, also under HASAWA 1974 s3. Barry Murrell was working at the former Pirelli Cables factory when he fell more than five metres receiving serious injuries including a shattered hip socket. Mr Murrell entered a Pirelli tower to reclaim some electrical cable for reuse elsewhere on the site. He and a colleague were on the first floor when he slipped on some sheeting covering a hole in the floor and it fell away beneath him and Mr Murrell landed on the ground floor below. Failure to ensure that measures identified to control risks are properly implemented. | HSE (London) Press Release HSE/LON/006/2008 29/8/08 |
| Bussey & Armstrong Ltd Week ending 29/08/08 |
Fined total of £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP fell from a saw horse being used as a working platform, through an unguarded stairwell on the second floor, then to a concrete ground floor below. Failure to provide suitable working platforms, failure to ensure that employees were using appropriate working platforms when working at height and failure to ensure the safety at work for their employees by providing a safe system of work. | HSE Prosecution Case 4112851 17/6/08 |
| Authentic World Cuisine Ltd Week ending 29/08/08 |
Fined £4,000 under PSSR 2000. Company produced range of sachet meals, most products passed through a single large horizontal autoclave. The horizontal autoclave vessel "jumped" rearwards 1.5 metres when the 1.2 diameter autoclave door detached under pressure and "flew" a distance of 8.3 metres along a corridor. An employee in the area was struck by the circular steel door causing various major injuries including a severed leg. He spent 5 months in hospital. Initial examination at the scene revealed no gross mechanical failure of the door, rather that it was opened/released under pressure. HSL technical investigation, along with photographic evidence, showed that alterations to the protection systems associated with the door had created a dangerous situation and were the primary cause. | HSE Prosecution Case 4113465 17/6/08 |
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HSE Prosecutions Database
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