Welcome to the archive section of Health & Safety News.
H&S News September 2010
| New safety advice issued on electric gates. |
| Installers, designers, maintenance firms and manufacturers of electric gates, are being urged to seriously consider new safety advice issued by the HSE following the recent deaths of 2 children involving these gates. The safety alert points out that limiting the closing forces of gates alone will not provide sufficient protection to meet the relevant standards, and installers must fit additional safeguards to gate in public areas. |
HSE (National) Press Release 2/9/10 Internet: www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/electricgates2.htm Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Potters Bar verdict clears path to possible prosecution. |
| The nine-week inquest into the Potters Bar train derailment concluded on 30 July, with the jury determining the crash resulted from a points failure caused by their unsafe condition. The judge vowed to submit a Rule 43 report in line with the Coroners' Rules to ensure that action is taken to prevent future deaths. This would delve more deeply into the systems which lay behind the immediate causes, some of which still give cause for concern. |
SHP September 2010:6 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Track-worker safety worsens. |
| Two days before the Potters Bar Inquest closed, the Office of Rail Regulation published its first ever H&S report. Its key message is that Britain's railways are among the safest in Europe, but there are still concerns over worker safety. |
SHP September 2010:6 Internet: www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.2457 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Jobs in safety are scarce but well-paid. |
| The number of new jobs in safety and security has hit its lowest level since December 2009 but salaries in the sector rose. |
SHP September 2010:7 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| New rules for old is key to cutting red tape. |
| The Government is forging ahead in its war on red tape with the announcement that all new proposed regulation will be independently scrutinised to determine its viability. |
SHP September 2010:7 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Cuts stir fears of weaker enforcement. |
| The union that represents HSE inspectors is worried that public sector cost slashing could undermine the HSE's ability to regulate H&S, not least in the high-hazard industry. |
SHP September 2010:8 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Retirement review raises safety concerns. |
| Some stakeholders are warning that the Government's proposal to allow workers to continue in their job past the age of 65 will cause a headache for employers. |
SHP September 2010:8 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Union fears asbestos-aid "backtrack". |
| The construction union UCATT fears the Government will renege on an agreement to fund medical research into the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma that the previous Labour administration had committed to. |
SHP September 2010:8 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Health-club lifeguards not trained for emergencies. |
| Britannia Adelphi Hotels fined £65,000 and costs of £70,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Madhav Cherukuri borrowed a friend's membership card and went swimming in an unsupervised pool at the Spindles Health Club in Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel. Another swimmer noticed he was spending long periods of time underwater, apparently testing himself to see how long he could hold his breath. A lifeguard was alerted who found him motionless at the bottom of the pool and pulled him out. Despite being given CPR, he was unable to be revived. The courts found the club had not carried out a sufficient risk assessment, and that staff had not been sufficiently trained to handle emergency situations. |
SHP September 2010:16 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Can I get a witness? |
| A new obligation under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 is set to have significant impact on those charged with health and safety offences and/or manslaughter. (Michael Appleby) |
SHP September 2010:19 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Horizon scanning. |
| The Deepwater Horizon disaster in the United States continues to make headlines around the world, with the reports focussing on the environmental consequences of the disaster rather than the loss of workers' lives. A look at what would happen if there were a similar incident in the UK, and an outline of how pre-planning can alleviate some of the potential problems. (Paul Verrico and Kevin Elliott) |
SHP September 2010:35-38 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| It's a kind of magic. |
| Developing, promoting and keeping alive a robust safety culture is not easy, but that is no excuse not to try, at least. There are no "magic bullets" but there are various tricks and techniques available that, when pulled out of a top hat marked "genuine management commitment", can have a spellbinding effect. (Tim Marsh) |
SHP September 2010:40-42 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Police, Cameron, retraction. |
| David Cameron seems committed to releasing the Police from the "burden" of H&S rules that might impede their duty to the public, while Lord Young believes that all emergency services should be excluded from the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. Considering whether the same rigorous H&S workplace standards exercised in non-emergency situations should apply to the blue-light services in a crisis. (Peter Atkinson) |
SHP September 2010:44-46 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| The heat is on. |
| Several recent high-profile cases involving breaches of fire-safety laws and concomitant heavy fines have prompted duty-holders to start sweating about whether or not they are compliant. The key actions an organisation can take to protect those at risk from harm, and the organisation itself from unplanned costs and potential prosecution. (Ed Hall) |
SHP September 2010:48-50 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Rays & means. |
| Evolving life on earth, from the time of primordial single-cell organisms to humankind, has been immersed in a sea of radiation. In certain work environments it is a source of incidental pollution. An explanation of the risks, and some suggestions as to what can be done to address them. (Chris Ide) |
SHP September 2010:52-54 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Paying with fire. |
| Examining the New Look case - a prosecution under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which caused some disquiet in H&S circles, not least on account of the size of the penalty imposed. (Hilary Ross) |
SHP September 2010:56-58 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Scottish farmers urged to strap up during harvest. |
| Farmers across Scotland are being reminded to wear safety straps when driving their tractors, especially during the busy harvest period. Not wearing a lap strap or seat restraint puts farmers at greater risk of being thrown from the cab and crushed between the tractor and the ground. They are also putting themselves at risk of serious injury from being thrown around inside the cab. Over the past 10 years almost one in four (24 per cent) of fatal accidents in agriculture have involved workplace transport, some of these involving tractors overturning. HSE is recommending that anyone driving a tractor fitted with roll-over protective structures wears lap straps when there is a risk that the tractor might overturn, for example, when driving on sloping ground, silage clamps and on ditch sides. |
HSE (National) Press Release SCO/179/10 31/8/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Company fined after two workers severely injured within three months. |
| Adam Wilson and Sons Limited, fined a total of £28,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. The company had two separate incidents less than 3 months apart. John Wilson, 55, fell through a gap in a raised walkway left open after work had been done on a conveyor belt below. He suffered serious injuries to his arm and permanent loss of movement in his shoulder as a result of the fall. Less than 3 months later, Robert Cumming, 59, got his head trapped between the metal parts of a hoist after it was switched on while he was working on it. He suffered serious crush injuries to his head and neck and required emergency surgery. He is having ongoing physiotherapy for his injuries. HSE investigation found that Adam Wilson and Sons did not have safe systems of work in place for maintaining the conveyor belt or the hoist machine. HSE also found that staff had not been given enough information, training, instruction and supervision on the importance of safe systems of work and machinery isolation when doing maintenance work. |
HSE (National) Press Release SCO/180/10 1/9/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Company and director prosecuted after worker plunges thirty feet. |
| JBB Homes Ltd fined £20,000 and costs of £10,835 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Company Director James Burt fined £10,000 under HASAWA 1974 s37. Builder Nicholas Roberts, 28, was carrying out work to replace a lintel, when he fell from scaffolding at a site. He fractured his pelvis in 3 places, broke some teeth and bruised his pelvis and groin. JBB Homes and James Burt failed in their duty to provide a safe system of work, including a lack of suitable means to prevent falls from the scaffolding. Mr Burt also failed to properly supervise his staff. JBB Homes Ltd and James Burt also had to each pay a separate £15 victim surcharge. |
HSE (National) Press Release 793W10 1/9/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Worker's clothing set alight in electrical explosion. |
| Graeme W Cheyne (Builders) Ltd fined £9,000 and to pay Mr George Forbes £4,000. Mr Forbes, 62, attempted to move a redundant electricity power supply, known as a fuse cut-out, because he needed to fit new plasterboard behind it. Unknown to Mr Forbes, the fuse cut-out was still live and connected to a 415 volt cable when he touched it. HSE investigation revealed that the cable was twisted, causing a short-circuit that created enough energy to melt the cable and create a small explosion. Mr Forbes suffered burns to his face and his left hand. While he recovered and returned to work a few weeks later, he was extremely lucky not to have been electrocuted. |
HSE (National) Press Release SCO/181/10 2/9/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| East Midlands farmers urged to strap up during harvest. |
| Farmers across the East Midlands are being reminded to wear safety straps when driving their tractors, especially during the busy harvest period. Not wearing a lap strap or seat restraint puts farmers at greater risk of being thrown from the cab and crushed between the tractor and the ground. They are also putting themselves of serious injury from being thrown around inside the cab. Over the past 10 years almost one in four (24 per cent) of fatal accidents in agriculture have involved workplace transport, some of these involving tractors overturning. HSE is recommending that anyone driving a tractor fitted with roll-over protective structures wears lap straps when there is a risk that the tractor might overturn, for example, when driving on sloping ground, silage clamps and on ditch sides. |
HSE (National) Press Release EM/64/10 2/9/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| North East farmers urged to strap up during harvest. |
| Farmers across the North East are being reminded to wear safety straps when driving their tractors, especially during the busy harvest period. Not wearing a lap strap or seat restraint puts farmers at greater risk of being thrown from the cab and crushed between the tractor and the ground. They are also putting themselves of serious injury from being thrown around inside the cab. Over the past 10 years almost one in four (24 per cent) of fatal accidents in agriculture have involved workplace transport, some of these involving tractors overturning. HSE is recommending that anyone driving a tractor fitted with roll-over protective structures wears lap straps when there is a risk that the tractor might overturn, for example, when driving on sloping ground, silage clamps and on ditch sides. |
HSE (North East) Press Release 2/9/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Events put construction safety under the spotlight. |
| Small and medium construction companies across the North and West Yorkshire are being offered expert advice to reduce accidents, injury and ill health in the workplace. A Safety Awareness Day in Leeds next week will cover key areas to improve safety in one of Britain's most dangerous industries via a series of presentations delivered by construction specialists on such topics as cutting roof tiles, working at height safely and occupational health. The free event takes place at Leeds College of Building on Intermezzo Drive, Stourton on 8 September. For further information or to book a place contact Richard Thorpe at HSE on 0113 283 4260 or email Richard.thorpe@hse.gsi.gov.uk |
HSE (North East) Press Release 2/9/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| WSR Recycling Limited |
| Fined £10,000 under WHSWR 1992. An employee suffered a major injury when he was struck by an articulated shovel loader while he was working in a tipping bay. The company failed to ensure that pedestrians and vehicles could move around the bay safely. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4201222 21/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| A D A Machining Services Limited |
| Fined £26,000 under PUWER 1998. An employee suffered major injuries after he was pulled into a 14 foot high metal-shaping machine when his overalls became tangled. The company failed to comply with H&S law requiring it to prevent access to any dangerous parts of machinery. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4198570 22/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Repair Protection & Maintenance Ltd |
| Fined a total of £3,250 under CSR 1998 and MHSWR 1999. Lack of suitable and sufficient risk assessment, no pre-entry testing/monitoring of confined space atmosphere. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4204557 22/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Kolak Snack Foods Ltd t/a Kolak Enterprises |
| Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. An employee of Smith Weston Ltd was operating equipment at the premises of Kolak Snack Foods Ltd when his right hand made contact with the rotating blade of the feed auger and he suffered amputation of 3 fingers and a thumb. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4206631 22/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Smith Weston Ltd |
| Fined £7,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. An employee of Smith Weston Ltd was operating equipment at the premises of Kolak Snack Foods Ltd when his right hand made contact with the rotating blade of the feed auger and he suffered amputation of 3 fingers and a thumb. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4206652 22/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Morgan Estate |
| Fine £12,000 under MHSWR 1999. IP lost his left foot when it became trapped between a piling guide and the pile during pile driving operations. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4189683 23/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Mahmood Khokhar |
| Fined a total of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s33. Failure to comply with two INs, one served requiring excavations to be supported or otherwise made safe so as to prevent collapse, the other requiring the construction site to be fenced off so as to prevent unauthorised access. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4199918 24/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Alexson Homes Limited |
| Fined a total of £6,600 under WHR 2005. Workers observed on roof of former children's home carrying out dismantling work - no edge protection or fall arrest equipment. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4202666 24/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| Prospect Joinery Limited |
| Fined £3,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. IP performing beading operation on a spindle moulder which did not have adequate guarding arrangements to prevent access to dangerous rotating tools. IP suffered amputation of index finger, severe laceration and breakage of middle finger, lacerations to their finger and thumb - including nerve and tendon damage to left hand. |
HSE Prosecution Case 4202071 25/6/10 Week ending: 03/09/10 |
| £30k fines after Salford worker killed by digger bucket. |
| Windmill Demolition Company Ltd fined £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Barry Godliman fined £7,500 and costs of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Robert Watson fined £7,500 and costs of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. 36 year old John Cain had been working on a project to demolish the Albert Park Inn in November 2004 when he was hit by the bucket on a digger. He died from his injuries later that day. Messrs Godliman and Watson were the principal contractors on site and Windmill Demolition a specialist subcontractor hired to carry out the demolition work. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/020Windmill 10/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| MEWP entrapment warning issued. |
| The HSE has issued a safety notice to publicise the issue of mobile elevating work platform operators becoming trapped between guardrails, or other equipment on the platform, and objects in the work area, following a number of fatal and serious incidents. The notice directs people to new guidance which deals specifically with preventing entrapment. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:2 Internet: www.cpa.uk.net/p/Plant-Safety-Group Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| You are the weakest link, FLTA tells bosses. |
| The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) claims that many managers are less aware of FLT safety risks than the employees they supervise. To mark the third annual National Fork Lift Safety Week during 20-26 September, the FLTA have launched a new collection of free safety resources for supervisors. David Ellison, FLTA's chief executive, explained that busy managers are "too often the weak link". |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:5 Internet: www.fork-truck.org.uk/safetyweek Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Report highlights accidents during transport of radioactive materials. |
| Thirty two accidents and incidents during the transport of radioactive materials from, to, or within the UK were reported in 2009 according to a new report from the Health Protection Agency. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:5 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Scheme open for limited asbestos payments. |
| A compensation scheme for some sufferers of pleural plaques is now open to applications. It is only open to those who already had compensation claims lodged at the time of the Law Lords' ruling on 17 October 2007 (thought to be about 6,000 people) and will pay out a fixed-sum payment of £5,000 to eligible claimants. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:9 Internet: www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/pleural-plaques-compensation-scheme.htm Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| RoSPA backs EU plans for cutting road deaths. |
| RoSPA has welcomed the publication of new plans for halving road deaths across the EU over the next decade. They say the measures should be an added catalyst in the bid to improve safety on the UK's roads. |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:10 Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/index_en.htm Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Within REACH. |
| When it came into force in June 2007, the REACH legislation was hailed as "the most ambitious chemicals legislation anywhere in the world". It requires the registration by 2018 of some 30,000 chemical substances in use today. How the multi-national imaging company Kodak is working within REACH. (Nick Cook) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:15-19 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Chemical contact. |
| Some of the consideration that must be applied when conducting a risk assessment for skin exposure to chemicals (if the outcome of the risk assessment is to reflect reality). (Chris Packham) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:21-23 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Grave concern. |
| Over the last 30 years, eight people in the UK have been killed by a memorial headstone falling on them. Given the number of visitors to cemeteries each year, the risk of injury is extremely low, but churches, private burial ground operators and local councils still have a duty of care to protect visitors and their workforce. (Paul Heslop) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:27-30 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| High reliability. |
| Exploring the idea of High Reliability Organisations - a concept based on the theory that accidents can be prevented through good organisational design and management. (Roger Bibbings) |
RoSPA Occup Safety & Health Journal September 2010:38-39 Internet: www.high-reliability.org Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Firm fined after worker burned. |
| Fluorocarbon Bakeware Systems Ltd fined £10,000 and costs of £5,227 under DSEAR 2002. A 33 year old welder was cutting metal when a spark ignited vapours from a nearby can of thinners. The can exploded, showering him with hot liquid. HSE found that although flammable liquids were stored correctly in other parts of the site, there was no provision for the storage of the thinners in this area and that no risk assessment had been carried out. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/EM/66/10 2/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Worker dies during demolition of boarding school. |
| Moor Park Charitable Trust Ltd which runs Moor Park School fined £25,000 and costs of £15,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Mark Evans, 40, suffocated when the roof of a building he was demolishing, which weighted 2.4 tonnes, fell on top of him. Four other men survived without serious injury thanks to the chance positioning of a dumper which was parked inside part of the building, creating an escape route. Moor Park School had arranged for a self-employed general building worker, Mr Christopher Morris who was undertaking some minor roofing work on the site, to carry out the work. He asked four other self-employed workers to assist in the demolition even though none of them had training or relevant experience. The school failed to make any reasonable enquiries into the competence of the men to undertake the demolition work prior to the work beginning. |
HSE (National) Press Release WM201/10 3/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Builder fined after hand is disfigured. |
| Maplestead Limited fined £1,000 and costs of £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Mr Rondeo Schoeman, 32, was machining a wooden handrail using a spindle moulder. As he was working a corner piece the spindle moulder's blades caught part of the piece and Mr Schoeman's hand was pulled towards the cutter tools. He suffered severe damage to his left hand and spent a month in hospital after the accident. He has undergone three operations to transfer bones in each foot to replace bones in his hand and to graft skin from other parts of his body. HSE found poor planning did not highlight specific hazards for making curved pieces on the spindle moulder. The company failed to provide suitable machine guarding for the work and had not 'limited cutter projection tooling' (fitted to machines to reduce the severity of injuries should a machine operator's fingers touch rotating parts). There was also a lack of adequate supervision and training, which could have prevented this accident. |
HSE (National) Press Release COILON/0309 3/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Dangerously faulty play equipment leads to prosecution. |
| Peter John Morrell (also known as Peter Michael Coltilda) has been given an 18 week suspended prison sentence, ordered to carry out 60 hours community service and ordered to pay £500 towards costs under HASAWA 1974 s33. Mr Morrell ignored a legal order preventing him from issuing safety certificates for inflatable amusements. HSE revealed he had passed inflatables as safe to use when they were not. Mr Morrell had previously pleaded guilty to 3 separate offences and was given conditional discharges by the court. He was ordered to stop inspecting play equipment and issuing safety certificates. But less than a month after the Notice was issued, it emerged that he had ignored the ban and illegally issued a certificate after a colleague carried out an inspection on an inflatable at a leisure centre, despite there being a safety defect in the blower. Mr Morrell tried to inspect the inflatable again six months later, but the centre turned him away. |
HSE (National) Press Release WM208/09 6/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| St Helens safety event aims to cut construction injuries. |
| Construction workers from across the North West are being urged to pick up lifesaving advice at an upcoming safety event in St. Helens. The free event, which takes place at the Haydock Park Racecourse on 16 September, aims to raise awareness of construction industry issues and reduce the number of workplace accidents. Around 200 people are expected to attend on the day, which will feature presentations from industry experts on asbestos awareness, working at height and fire safety. The special training event has been organised as part of the Working Well Together initiative, a partnership between HSE and the construction industry, which aims to improve H&S in the sector. Visitors can attend the morning session, running from 8.15am to 11.45am or the afternoon session, which starts 12.15pm and finishes at 3.45pm. Anyone who would like to attend should book a place by calling 0161 952 8284. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/12SHADStHelens 6/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Council fined after child injured at Tyneside museum. |
| Newcastle City Council fined £12,000 and costs of £7,733 under HASAWA 1974 s3. A five year old girl needed surgery when she was injured by an interactive exhibit at the Discovery Museum. The girl placed her hand in an opening of the "Floating on Air" exhibit. The opening led down into the rotating blades of a fan which powered the air flow through the machine. The opening should have been protected by a guard which was missing and so the girl's hand came into contact with the rotating blades of the fan. She suffered serious injuries which required immediate surgery. HSE showed that there was no formal system in place to ensure the exhibit was in good condition and was safe to use. Since the incident the youngster also had to undergo further surgery, including a skin graft and a tendon harvest and replacement. The injury has meant she has not been able to take part in some activities, such as swimming and gymnastics and has had repeated hospital visits. Two of her fingers are still bent and scarred. |
HSE (National) Press Release NE/223/20 7/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Luton companies ignored warnings on electrical equipment. |
| Azhar (aka Aziz) Mohammed (t/a ANS Bodyshop and AMS Spares) fined £1,500 and costs of £742.40. Asif Butt (t/a Hydeny Autos) fined £500 and costs of £742.40. Izhur Ul Haq (t/a BM's Repair Centre) fined £2,000 and costs of £742.40. All under HASAWA 1974 s21. All 3 car repair companies failed to act on electrical defects on their workshops, exposing their workers to a serious risk of injury, after being served with INs. Electrical equipment was defective, creating a risk of electrocution, electric shock, fire or even explosions in such potentially hazardous environments. When HSE carried out follow up checks on the Notices, inspectors found that all 3 companies had failed to arrange for tests or examinations of the defective electrical system and had not carried out any remedial work or otherwise adequately maintained the equipment. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE-E-E-25 7/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Company fined after worker injured in fall from dock and company director fined for failure to assess risk. |
| RM Supplies (Inverkeithing) Ltd fined £14,000 under DR 1998. Mr Thomas Muir, who was Director of RM Supplies (Inverkeithing) Ltd fined £2,750 under MHSWR 1999. Charles Greenhill, 47, a night watchman was injured falling into water from the quayside. He was helping the berthing of a vessel that was in a severely dilapidated condition. This was being done at night, even though the quay lacked any lighting. Due to lack of adequate means of escape or rescue, Mr Greenhill had to be rescued by the vessel's lifeboat. Mr Thomas Muir, 56, failed to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessment. He ran a scrap metal operation from The Bay. |
HSE (National) Press Release SCO/182/10 8/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Company fined £33,000 for asbestos breaches at MOD base. |
| Interserve (Defence) Ltd fined £33,000 and costs of £17,936 under CAR 2002. An asbestos survey undertaken in the boiler room at an MOD base found that the whole room was considered to be contaminated with asbestos and recommended that access to the room should be restricted until it was removed. Interserve failed to follow the advice of the survey and consequently workers were left at risk of exposure to deadly asbestos fibres for over a year. |
HSE (National) Press Release COISE/0809 8/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Company fined after 17-year-old worker injured in fall. |
| STP Solutions Ltd fined a total of £28,500 and costs of £9,359 under HASAWA 1974 s2, MHSWR 1999 and WHR 2005. Lewis Edwards, 17, had only been with the company for a few weeks and it was his first job since leaving school. His employers told him to go onto a warehouse roof and clean out the guttering. Mr Edwards was crossing the roof when he stepped through a roof light and fell 7 metres onto the floor of the empty warehouse. He suffered multiple fractures to his pelvis, a number of vertebrae, his collar bone, upper left arm, elbow and left wrist. His spleen was ruptured and had to be removed in emergency surgery. Mr Edwards used to be a very good footballer having played for West Ham juniors. He had started to take coaching qualifications, but his injuries have had a limiting effect on his life and he is still receiving medical treatment. |
HSE (National) Press Release COILDN/0809 9/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| UK's biggest food manufacturer fined after worker's skull crushed. |
| Premier Foods Group Ltd fined £14,000 and costs of £6,808 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Mr Thomas Williams, 61, suffered severe traumatic brain and spinal injuries, and was in hospital for more than 6 months, after a 65kg metal pillar fell on him crushing his skull. He now has difficulty speaking and moving and his wife hasn't been able to work since, in order to look after him. Mr Williams and a colleague had been helping to remove cages and pillars from a storage area. They used an angle grinder to cut the pillar, but when they levered it free at the base it came detached from the ceiling at the same time and struck Mr Williams. HSE found that the company had not properly planned the task, and had not trained workers on how to carry out the work safely. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/43PremierFoods 10/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| South West farmers urged to strap up during harvest. |
| Farmers across the region are being reminded to wear safety straps when driving their tractors, especially during the busy harvest period. Not wearing a lap strap or seat restraint puts farmers at greater risk of being thrown from the cab and crushed between the tractor and the ground. They are also putting themselves at risk of serious injury from being thrown around inside the cab. HSE is recommending that anyone driving a tractor fitted with roll-over protective structures wears lap straps when there is a risk that the tractor might overturn, for example, when driving on sloping ground, silage clamps and on ditch sides. |
HSE (South West) Press Release 6/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| East of England farmers urged to strap up during harvest. |
| Farmers across the region are being reminded to wear safety straps when driving their tractors, especially during the busy harvest period. Not wearing a lap strap or seat restraint puts farmers at greater risk of being thrown from the cab and crushed between the tractor and the ground. They are also putting themselves at risk of serious injury from being thrown around inside the cab. HSE is recommending that anyone driving a tractor fitted with roll-over protective structures wears lap straps when there is a risk that the tractor might overturn, for example, when driving on sloping ground, silage clamps and on ditch sides. |
HSE (East) Press Release 7/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Plumber given suspended jail sentence after endangering the lives of Norwich residents. |
| Frank Davey given a three month jail sentence, suspended for two years and costs of £1,000 under GSIUR 1998 and HASAWA 1974 s3. He was also banned from working with electricity or gas for two years. A self-employed plumber, he carried out gas work and fitted new gas boilers at 3 houses all in Norwich, putting the lives of the residents at risk. Mr Davey was not registered with the Gas Safe Register. An inspection at each of the properties revealed his work was defective and dangerous. At one address a gas leak was discovered and had to be made safe. |
HSE (East) Press Release 9/9/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| P.I.B. (UK) Ltd |
| Fined £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. A member of the public, found in basement courtyard 240cm below the ground level of the back garden to the property. Fall causing fatal injuries. |
HSE Prosecution 4189294 29/6/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Steven Moore |
| Fined £30,000 under HASAWA 1974 s37. A member of the public, found in basement courtyard 240cm below the ground level of the back garden to the property. Fall causing fatal injuries. |
HSE Prosecution 4189329 29/6/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| John Blankson |
| Fined £15,000 under CDMR 2007. A member of the public, found in basement courtyard 240cm below the ground level of the back garden to the property. Fall causing fatal injuries. |
HSE Prosecution 4189342 29/6/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Adam Phillips Plant Hire & Contractors |
| Fined £4,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee injured in fall through fragile roofing material. Inadequate measures to prevent falls from work at height. |
HSE Prosecution 4126313 1/7/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| New Generation Daffodils Ltd |
| Fined £1,500 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Contractor injured in a fall through fragile roofing material. Inadequate measures to prevent falls from work at height. |
HSE Prosecution 4126316 1/7/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Imperial Tobacco Ltd |
| Fined a total of £80,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3. DP was crushed between the lorry tractor unit he was operating and the Distribution Centre Building. |
HSE Prosecution 4156607 2/7/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Exel Europe Ltd |
| Fined a total of £80,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3. DP was crushed between the lorry tractor unit he was operating and the Distribution Centre Building. |
HSE Prosecution 4214560 2/7/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| R J Baker & Co Limited |
| Fined £3,000 under WHR 2005. Employee injured whilst being raised in a grain bucket attached to a telehandler to clear gutters on a barn. The bucket tilted and tipped the IP out falling approx 3m onto a concrete surface. Employer failed to take sufficient measures to prevent a person falling a distance likely to cause injury. |
HSE Prosecution 4201444 2/7/10 Week ending: 10/09/10 |
| Tadcaster firm fined for failing its own workers. |
| Lambert Engineering Ltd fined £6,000 and costs of £4,198 under HASAWA 1974 s2. The company, which makes innovative machinery fitted with the latest safety devices, failed to protect its own workers from the risk of injury as they manufactured them. HSE Inspector found widespread instances of protective guards on factory floor machines, having either being removed or disabled. In some cases, safety devices had been altered by employees to allow machines to operate unsafely. The company employees 115 people, designing and manufacturing machinery for the pharmaceutical and food industries. The issues came to light after a preventative visit by an HSE Inspector. There was an endemic weakness in safety management systems at Lambert Engineering. The key failings were poor risk assessment of processes, a lack of control and supervision of workers, and a culture whereby the company failed to carry out checks to make sure safe practices were fully in place. |
HSE (National) Press Release YH/224/10 14/9/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Report backs the use of lifts in emergencies. |
| According to a new report from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), using lifts may be viable when evacuating people in an emergency. "ISO/TR 25743: Lifts (elevators) - Study of the use of lifts for evacuation during an emergency" investigates some of the main risks and issues associated with using lifts for evacuation in various types of emergency such as fire, explosions, and chemical or biological attacks. |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:5 Internet: www.iso.org Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Portable survey. |
| A survey by the Fire Industry Association has highlighted that, rather than declining in importance, portable fire extinguishers have an even more vital role to play as a first-aid response to fire, with 88 per cent of fires that are tackled with portables actually being extinguished. |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:5 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Inclusive needs. |
| Does fire safety law adequately address the needs of disabled people living in flats in tall buildings? (Claire Wise) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:20-23 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Intelligent design. |
| A fully integrated building management system, which combines smoke control with other critical safety services, can create a more efficient, intelligent and cost-effective building. (Chris Jones) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:24, 26-28 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Citizen insight. |
| A rigorous and detailed understanding of citizens and communities is crucial in helping fire services to reduce the risk of household fire, devise communications campaigns and prioritise essential resources. (Andrew Ward) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:38-39 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Tube challenge. |
| Fire protection is central to the redeveloped King's Cross tube station in London. An outline of the detection and control system that supports its fire suppression system. (Robin Edmunds) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:40-41 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| The right credentials. |
| A look at the benefits of third-party certification and how everyone involved in a construction project needs to take responsibility for their duty of care. (Leigh Hill) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:47-49 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Market confidence. |
| With some less scrupulous firms out to make a quick buck in the fire protection and maintenance market, how third-party certification can give confidence in terms of quality of work and business integrity. (Graham Ellicott) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:50 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Third way. |
| The case for third-party certification of passive fire protection over "competent person" schemes. (Niall Rowan) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:51-53 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Independent action. |
| A comment upon the broad issue of independent accreditation against the backdrop of the Fire Safety Order, fire detection and alarm system protocols and the latest Construction Products Directive. (John Brandwood) |
Fire Risk Management August/September 2010:54-55 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Crown Censure for Ministry of Defence. |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) received a formal Crown Censure from the HSE after potentially exposing workers to deadly asbestos fibres between May 2005 and September 2006. (A Crown body cannot be prosecuted like a private company) The Censure was received by a senior manager from the Defence Estates, an operating arm of the MoD responsible for managing the military estate, including the management of asbestos. In early 2005 an asbestos survey at an MoD base near Bicester considered a boiler room on the base to be contaminated with asbestos and the report recommended access to the room be restricted until the asbestos had been removed. Defence Estates, and their facilities management company Interserve (Defence) Ltd, failed to follow the advice of the survey and consequently workers were left at risk of exposure to deadly asbestos fibres. |
HSE (National) Press Release COISE/1309 13/9/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Local authorities reminded of their responsibilities ahead of waste and recycling inspection programme. |
| Local authorities are being reminded to check that they are clear on their H&S responsibilities in procuring and managing waste and recycling services, ahead of a programme of inspections that will begin next month. Over the next 3 years, inspectors from the HSE will look at the procurement and management of municipal waste and recycling services following the introduction of guidance in January that clarifies the legal duties on local authorities, whether they deliver them in-house or contract them out. Some mistakenly believe that contracting out these services relieves them of H&S responsibilities. |
HSE (National) Press Release 13/9/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| College hosts safety courses for horse industry. |
| Equestrian businesses across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire attended a free event at Oaklands College last week to get the latest advice on H&S issues. HSE joined forces with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire local authorities to host a day of free sessions dedicated to issues specific to the equine industry. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE-E-29 14/9/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Kishorn fish farmers to attend aquaculture safety event. |
| Scottish fish and shellfish farmers will come together in Kishorn Port, Strathcarron on 21 September to attend a special aquaculture and maritime safely awareness event. It aims to remind farmers of the best ways of working to keep themselves and others safe and will provide an opportunity for the industry to get together and share their experiences. The event begins with registration at 10.30 and follows the success of three similar events earlier this year. The event is free and spaces are still available. |
HSE (National) Press Release SCO/183/10 6/9/10 Contact: email - ann.poyner@hse.gsi.gov.uk Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Event helps borders construction companies cut deaths. |
| Construction workers across the Borders are being urged to pick up lifesaving advice at a forthcoming event on Wednesday 29 September. The free event, which takes place at Borders Union Showground, Springwood Park, Kelso, aims to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities that occur in Scotland each year in the construction industry, as well as the number of people suffering from work-related ill health. The event will offer practical information to employees and self employed on how to deal with some of the most common hazards on small construction sites. Places are still available to attend. |
HSE (National) Press Release SCO/184/10 15/9/10 Contact: Mary Bendoris on 0141 275 3028 or mary.bendoris@hse.gsi.gov.uk Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| West Yorkshire glazing company fined for workers' fall risk. |
| Intercity Glazing Systems Ltd fined £10,000 and costs of £2,538 under WHR 2005. The company made workers work at height without a safe system in place, leaving them at risk of falling up to 6 metres. During work on a building HSE found the company did not properly supervise or manage staff working at height. Some equipment, including scaffolding, was not being used safely, and guardrails were also missing from some parts of the working area. |
HSE (Yorkshire and The Humber) Press Release 13/9/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Standen Engineering Ltd |
| Fined £800 under SMSR 1992. Accident occurred on Juko Supermidi potato harvester (modified to harvest bulbs) when an employee of Staffsmart (UK) Ltd, working at Warwick HRI (University of Warwick), was drawn into contra rotating rollers on a drop conveyor. The harvester was modified by Standen Engineering Ltd on import and supplied to Warwick HRI without adequate guarding of contra rotating rollers. Extended working platform effectively disabled any reach guarding on the original Juko Supermidi potato harvester. |
HSE Prosecution 4172320 5/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| University of Warwick |
| Fined £3,000 under PUWER 1998. Accident occurred on Juko Supermidi potato harvester (modified to harvest bulbs) when an employee of Staffsmart (UK) Ltd, working at Warwick HRI (University of Warwick), was drawn into contra rotating rollers on a drop conveyor. Guarding on contra-rotating rollers was inadequate, and the extension of the working platform effectively negated any original distance/reach guarding. |
HSE Prosecution 4172332 5/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Comet Group plc |
| Fined £75,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Company failed to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the H&S of persons other than employees whilst roof repairs were being undertaken at one of the Comet retail stores. A contractor was carrying out roof repairs. Deficiencies included Comet Group plc failings within contractor management procedures that resulted in the failure to take reasonable steps to ensure the contractor they had engaged was competent, allowing an unsafe work method to commence unchecked and allowing the work to continue without monitoring being undertaken. |
HSE Prosecution 4185867 5/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Elliott Loohire Limited |
| Fined a total of £7,000 under WHSWR 1992 and HASAWA 1974 s2. Site Manager (IP) was struck by an FLT whilst instructing staff in the yard. Due to inadequate separation of pedestrians and vehicles. |
HSE Prosecution 4192225 5/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| P J B Haste |
| Fined £1,600 under HASAWA 1974 s2. At the time of the incident, IP was working on his own with a chainsaw. Prosecuted in their capacity as a partner in P and M Haste. |
HSE Prosecution 4201261 5/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Randell & Janes Roofing Specialists Ltd |
| Fined £2,000 under WHR 2005. Employee fell whilst removing roofing sheets. The system of work used by the IP and his supervisor was to use a roof ladder to work on the roof as sheets were removed. No effort had been made to eliminate the risk of persons falling from the ladder between the roof joists or to mitigate the effects of a fall (bean bags). A safe system of work would have been to use an access system with leading edge protection, work from a safe platform (eg mobile elevating work platform) or provide fall mitigation such as bean bags or birdcage scaffold below. Therefore, the risk gap is substantial. In addition to this the management controls in place prior to the accident, and before, are poor with no evidence of planning and ineffective supervision. The injured person was 19 year old at the time of the accident and sustained a broken arm. He fell 3-4 metres onto a concrete floor. |
HSE Prosecution 4206110 5/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Jonathan Pearn Wyatt |
| Fined £10,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee left the farm, driving a tractor, to tip a load of manure in his trailer. Whilst tipping, the drawbar ring broke and the drawbar went through the cab and fatally crushed the employee. |
HSE Prosecution 4156939 6/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Timothy John Wyatt |
| Fined £10,500 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Employee left the farm, driving a tractor, to tip a load of manure in his trailer. Whilst tipping, the drawbar ring broke and the drawbar went through the cab and fatally crushed the employee. |
HSE Prosecution 4156944 6/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| TS (UK) Limited |
| Fined a total of £140,000 under HSFAR 1981 and HASAWA 1974 s2. Fatal accident to an employee when a pallet containing 55 bags of polypropylene fell on him whilst he was cleaning up a spillage on the yard. This material is dangerous to stack, as it can pour out, making the stack unstable. TS (UK) Limited failed to ensure the safety of its employees as they did not provide guidance about how to stack the pallets and did not have a worker trained in First Aid on duty. |
HSE Prosecution 4188468 7/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Moor Park Charitable Trust Ltd |
| Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. DP and others involved in demolition of wooden classroom when it collapsed. |
HSE Prosecution 4193968 7/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Shaw Group UK Ltd |
| Fined £40,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Scaffolder employed by Hertel UK Limited suffered multiple injuries when he fell approximately seven and a half metres from a mobile elevated work platform. The platform was struck by a radio controlled overhead crane causing it to topple over. The incident occurred during the construction of a new Cell Chlorine Plant at the live premises of Ineos Chlor Limited. Shaw Group UK Limited were the subcontractor responsible for the installation of mechanical equipment, pipe work, steel support work and electrolyser cells/frames. |
HSE Prosecution 4110430 8/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Health Protection Agency |
| Fined £25,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. A waste bin containing the hazard group 3 micro organism E.coli 0157 which could not be rendered "leak proof" due to a broken lid catch was dropped spilling the contents during transfer from the containment lab to the autoclave suite. Four staff members were potentially exposed. No maintenance was carried out on the waste bins used at containment level 3. This was compounded by a clear knowledge of bin defects which prevented the ability to render them leak proof 18 months prior to the incident. |
HSE Prosecution 4140131 9/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Kent Commercial Finishing Ltd |
| Fined £2,500 under PUWER 1998. Accident investigation at Wilton Plaza. Worker was injured using an unguarded screed pump. |
HSE Prosecution 4196495 9/7/10 Week ending: 17/09/10 |
| Construction giant fined £160k after man falls to his death. |
| Kier North West (part of the Kier Group) fined £160,000 and costs of £43,993 under HASAWA 1974 s2. Karl Davis, who was married, was working on the first floor of a building when a guardrail gave way and he fell out of an open window frame. Mr Davis remained in a coma for 3 months before he died, less than a week after his 43rd birthday. A rubbish chute had been attached to a temporary guardrail at the window frame, loading to a skip below. Kier North West's site management team had failed to ensure that the guardrail could withstand the weight of the chute and materials being thrown down it. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/54Kier 23/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Deadline approaches for emissions register. |
| Large businesses and public sector organisations have until 30 September to register for the UK's mandatory climate change and energy saving scheme. The scheme applies to all companies that consumed more than 6,000 MWh of half-hourly metered electricity during 2008. |
Safety Management September 2010:6 www.environment-agency.gov.uk/crc Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Industry awaits Lord Young's report. |
| Lord Young was expected to submit the report of his review into health and safety to the Prime Minister on 7 September. Industry groups have expressed concern that proposals for de-regulation present a real danger to the UK's safety record. |
Safety Management September 2010:7 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| New concern over asbestos in schools. |
| The coalition Government's decision to scrap the Building Schools for the Future programme has led to renewed warnings that there is a real risk of children, teachers and support staff being exposed to asbestos fibres. It is thought that some schools may not have carried out maintenance as they believed they would be part of a new schools building programme. |
Safety Management September 2010:8 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Voluntary consultant accreditation progresses. |
| Plans for a voluntary accreditation scheme for safety consultants are set to be announced in tandem with Lord Young's review, with an aim of being up and running in January 2011. |
Safety Management September 2010:9 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Why we need to publicise all safety convictions. |
| The recent Buncefield fines have generated many headlines, but much more needs to be done to highlight the lessons to be learned from smaller cases. (Neal Stone) |
Safety Management September 2010:15 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Safety - not shaken or stirred for Aston Martin. |
| The Aston Martin is one of the most iconic luxury sports cars in the world. As makers of such a high quality sports car, Aston Martin has to ensure its high standards are maintained throughout its culture and practice, especially with regards to health and safety. (Joanna Gurman) |
Safety Management September 2010:33-36 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Focus on Northern Ireland. |
| Whether you call it a province, a region or a country, Northern Ireland has plenty to teach us. (Catherine Burrell) |
Safety Management September 2010:38-41 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Slip slidin' away in the healthcare sector. |
| Slips and trips account for a major slice of injuries to NHS employees and members of the public on healthcare premises, so it is vital for the sector to get to grips with the problem. (Julian Topping) |
Safety Management September 2010:43-46 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| New agreement to improve health and safety on construction sites. |
| The HSE has signed an agreement with the Building Control Alliance (BCA), in a bid to work more closely to improve health and safety standards in the construction industry. It sets out how HSE and building control professionals will co-operate to help and support each other, for example in providing health and safety advice to the construction industry, but clearly distinguishes their separate regulatory roles and responsibilities. The BCA represents those building control professionals responsible for ensuring compliance with building regulations, whether in Local Authorities or the private sector, and the professional bodies that accredit them. Building control professionals regularly visit sites and are in an excellent position to promote good health and safety practice to duty holders. |
HSE (National) Press Release 17/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Atherton roofer fined after putting lives at risk. |
| Mark McKernan fined £2,000 and costs of £2,000 under WHR 2005. Mr McKernan and 3 employees were seen working on 2 residential properties with nothing to stop them plunging to the ground below if they slipped. An HSE inspector also watched workers throwing slates from the roof of the houses into a skip below, just a few feet away from a busy pavement. The company should have erected a guardrail around the roof or used scaffolding to prevent potential falls or serious injuries. A rubbish chute or other suitable equipment should have been used to transport waste safely to the ground. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW51/Mark McKernan 17/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Manufacturer fined over former soldier's death. |
| Building Chemical Research (1984) Ltd (BCR) fined £16,000 and costs of £8,000. Company Director, Stuart Reich, 62, fined £4,000 and costs of £2,000. Both fined under HASAWA 1974 s2. Paul Palmer, 44, father of one and a former soldier, was killed after climbing into a powerful, slow speed industrial mixing machine to clean it, when it was switched on by another employee. It should have been impossible to switch on the machine while someone was inside. The guard on the mixer was totally inadequate and both the safety switches failed. If the machine had a proper guard and a working cut-out switch Paul Palmer would be alive today. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/22BCR 20/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Prestwich firm fined after putting lives at risk. |
| Viewline Northwest Ltd fined £5,000 and costs of £2,274 under WHR 2005. The company did not do enough to stop its workers falling from height. A worker was seen on a house roof with nothing in place to stop him falling, which could have caused a serious injury or even proved fatal. HSE inspectors saw the man working on the roof of a home while standing on a platform with no guardrail. The company had previously been warned by HSE about putting workers at risk when working at height after a similar incident. HSE ordered the work to stop immediately until the company addressed its concerns. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW49Viewline 20/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Husband and wife fined over gas safety breaches. |
| Atulkulmar Ratilal Patel, 55 and Chetna Atulkulmar Patel, 51, were fined a combined total of £6,500 and costs of £1,800 under GSIUR 1998. The couple were co-landlords of a property and unable to provide a landlords' certificate. Mr Patel also replaced a boiler without being competent to do so, and without being Gas Safe registered. |
HSE (National) Press Release 830/SWW10 20/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Majority of local authorities satisfy asbestos management rules in 'system build' schools. |
| The majority of local authorities in England with 'system build' schools have procedures and precautions in place to manage asbestos safely, according to a survey and follow-up inspection programme. Of the 152 councils in England that have responsibility for providing education, 110 satisfied the HSE, via an online survey, that they have systems in place to meet their duties under the Control of Asbestos Regs 2006. The other 42 authorities were visited by HSE inspectors to ensure that they were also managing the risks from asbestos. These inspections resulted in 32 councils being given further advice about practical improvements and 10 authorities receiving enforcement notices to improve asbestos management standards, covering issues such as training and the need to provide information for trades people carrying out work at the schools. |
HSE (National) Press Release 21/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Port authority and shipping company fined £185,000 drowning. |
| Newhaven Port & Properties Limited fined £85,000 and costs of £34,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Forship S.p.a, of Italy fined £100,000 and costs of £43,782 under HASAWA 1974 s2. A ferry owned by Forship S.p.a, docked at Newhaven when the incident happened. Crew member Luigi Feola, 38, was responsible for bringing fresh water on to the ship and was seen carrying a hose along a narrow strip of quay alongside the ship just before the incident. An hour later someone on board heard a splash in the water and raised the alarm. A search was mounted immediately, but Mr Feola's body was not found until the next day. He had suffered a head wound before drowning. HSE found that the quayside had insufficient edge protection, was not properly lit and the risks of the job had not been properly assessed. The investigation also showed that Mr Feola had been working almost 100 hours a week for Forship S.p.a. After the incident, HSE issued Newhaven Port & Properties Limited with an IN requiring the company to maintain the quay in a safe condition, but the company failed to comply. |
HSE (National) Press Release COISE/2109 21/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Textile company fined after worker's arm crushed in roll of fabric. |
| E-Leather Limited fined a total £13,500 and costs of £5,000 under PUWER 1998 and MHSWR 1999. Agency worker Robert Dunn, 32, was operating a fabric winding machine when his left arm was drawn into the roll of material and crushed, breaking all three arm bones. He has had to have metal plates inserted to help support his broken bones. Mr Dunn also suffered a ripped cartilage in his left knee, caused by the sudden movement. HSE found inadequate safety guards on dangerous parts of machinery and no sufficient and suitable risk assessment in place. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE-E-30 21/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Preston engineering firm in court over workers' death. |
| Autoy Ltd was fined a total of £17,500 and costs of £12,251 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and MHSWR 1999. Michael Lohaza, 45, was found dead after becoming trapped in a lathe at Autoy Ltd's site. He was found by two colleagues in a small building next to the main workshop, where he had been working alone. Mr Lohaza had worked for the firm for 28 years. He was killed when he became entangled on a one-metre-long metal screw, while cutting its thread on a lathe. The screw was rotating approx 200 times every minute. Autoy Ltd failed to ensure Mr Lohaza's safety and failed to assess the risks workers faced while operating lathes. |
HSE (National) Press Release HSE/NW/34Autoy 24/9/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Encon Engineering Wales Ltd |
| Fined £8,000 under PUWER 1998. A machinist lost four fingers whilst cleaning swarf from the cutters on a Cincinnati Vertical Miller. The machine was without guards. |
HSE Prosecution 4205540 12/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| John Long |
| Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. The employee was standing on the roof of a former riding stable, removing corrugated panels, when he fell 8 metres to the ground below. He suffered serious injuries. John Long allowed workers to be exposed to risks to their health and safety. |
HSE Prosecution 4159502 13/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Andrew Oliver |
| Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. The employee was standing on the roof of a former riding stable, removing corrugated panels, when he fell 8 metres to the ground below. He suffered serious injuries. Andrew Oliver allowed workers to be exposed to risks to their health and safety. |
HSE Prosecution 4159514 13/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Adrian Peter Evens |
| Fined £2,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2. The employee was standing on the roof of a former riding stable, removing corrugated panels, when he fell 8 metres to the ground below. He suffered serious injuries. Adrian Evens failed to ensure the safety of his employees. |
HSE Prosecution 4192952 13/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Building Adhesives Ltd |
| Fined £10,000 under PUWER 1998. Accident/amputation to employee. |
HSE Prosecution 4197215 14/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Prowash Systems Limited |
| Fined a total of £6,750 under ELCIR 1998. During an inspection the company was unable to produce a valid Employer's Liability Compulsory Insurance Certificate, a notice to produce was served, but not complied with. |
HSE Prosecution 4204930 14/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| The Cedars Steeplejack (Midlands) Ltd |
| Fined a total of £6,600 under WHR 2005. Two cleaners were cleaning bird debris from the bell chamber in the tower of a church. The work was not adequately planned and the system of work chosen, involving the use of scaffolding boards, was not safe. Worker stepped on fragile floor boards (fragile as a result of water and beetle damage), which gave way under his weight. He fell 6.3 metres to the floor below. |
HSE Prosecution 4189479 15/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Motherwell Control Systems 2003 Limited |
| Fined £1,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Investigation of supply of Automatic Tank Gauging systems and high level switches at Buncefield terminal prior to explosion and fire. |
HSE Prosecution 4029192 15/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| British Pipeline Agency Limited |
| Fined a total of £300,000 under COMAH 1999 and WRA 1991. Between 18 November 2001 and 12 December 2005 BPA failed to take all measures necessary to prevent major accidents and limit their consequences to persons and to the environment following a release of fuel and/or fire fighting liquids discharged from Tank 12 at the Buncefield Depot. |
HSE Prosecution 4194308 16/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Total UK Limited |
| Fined a total of £3,600,000 under HASAWA 1974 s2 and s3 and WRA 1991. Prosecution of Total UK Limited by Competent Authority following a loss of containment and explosion on 10 December 2005 at the Buncefield Terminal. |
HSE Prosecution 4194982 16/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Pirelli Tyres Ltd |
| Fined £9,000 under HASAWA 1974 s3. Fork lift truck collision with contractor causing major injury. |
HSE Prosecution 4173181 16/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Advanced Scaffolding (GB) Ltd |
| Fined £3,500 under WHR 2005. Self employed roofer suffered injury as a result of fall through an inadequately supported scaffold working platform. Failure to ensure scaffold working platform was of sufficient strength and rigidity. |
HSE Prosecution 4201540 16/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
| Conder Solutions Limited |
| Fined £15,000 under PUWER 1998. The IP sustained a serious injury when his right hand was amputated whilst holding a strip of emery cloth against a rotating metal work piece on a metalworking lathe. |
HSE Prosecution 4205128 16/7/10 Week ending: 24/09/10 |
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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.