Health and Safety Failings – Fuel firm fined after worker injured

Fuel firm fined after worker injured

Key Facts:

• A fuel firm have been prosecuted after a worker was struck by a vehicle.
• The HSE investigation identified several key failings, including a lack of a safe system of work
• The firm was fined £20,000 plus costs.

The Case:

The HSE launched an investigation into the health and safety practices of a fuel firm after one of its employees was hit by a vehicle in a works yard in an incident in 19 Feb 2014.

The worker was kneeling in the to clean the drains in the works yard, when a vehicle being driven by an employee from the adjacent company approached and struck him. He was left with injuries including a fractured bone in his neck.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that there was no safe system of work in place, as no barriers had been implemented to segregate the work area, no signs were in use, and carrying out the work whilst vehicles were not moving had not been considered.

The case was heard at Shropshire Magistrates’ Court in May 2015, where the fuel firm pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,989.

What the law states:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states:

‘It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.’

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