29 March Recycling Industry – cardboard storage injury A recycling company has been fined £160,000 for a cardboard storage injury arising from a bale crush event. The Smethwick-based firm, Arrow Recycling, has been fined after its failure to safely stack cardboard bales led to a worker being crushed under more than a third of a tonne of the material and being placed in … Read More
27 March Gas Cylinder Fatality An unfortunate series of events led to a gas cylinder fatality – A worker died when one of 66 heavy argonite gas cylinders hit him as they were propelled at speeds of up to 170 mph after one toppled over, discharged high-pressure gas, which caused it to collide with others and set off a chain reaction. The fatal … Read More
24 March Death of a Contractor The death of a contractor has resulted in a large fine for Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited. The self-employed contractor fell from a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) and later died from his injuries after a conveyor was started. In March 2015, the contractor had been working at the height of nearly five metres installing revised fire … Read More
20 March Construction failures – directors jailed Construction failures – directors jailed A Greater Manchester construction company (SR and RJ Brown Ltd) has been fined £300,000 for Corporate Manslaughter, and two of its directors have been jailed for 20 months after covering up the events that led to a worker’s death. The directors attempted to cover up events after the death of a worker. The court … Read More
17 March Asda fined £300,000 for Food Safety Offences Food Safety Offences – Asda has been fined £300,000 after inspectors found dead mice and flies at a depot that distributes food to online shoppers in London and Essex. In May 2016, inspectors found dead mice and flies at a depot that distributes food to online shoppers in London and Essex. Asda pleaded guilty to … Read More
16 March Fire Safety Failings in Student Lettings Fire Safety Failings in Student Lettings housing 23 students has resulted in a substantial £150,000 fine, along with £40,000 in costs. Further to this, the Company Director was handed a three-month prison sentence (suspended for 12 months) and ordered to pay £5000 in costs. The lettings company was fined for serious fire safety failures, including: … Read More
15 March Construction Safety – Fall from Height leads to £400k fine Construction sites continue to have problems managing work at height. The construction company Kier Construction Limited has recently been fined £400k after a worker fell from height. The Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how a worker (JM) was installing plywood boards covering holes on the third floor of a building at a construction site in Uxbridge … Read More
12 March Fire Safety Prosecution, £108,000 fine A landlord has been hit with a bill of over £100,000 following a fire safety prosecution after flouting safety requirements at five flats. The Stockport-based company was fined a total of £108,000 for 12 separate offences and ordered to pay costs of £5,692. The company was represented by a solicitor but did not attend the court hearing. … Read More
7 March Jail sentences for Safety Failures The news has contained some recent examples of jail sentences for safety failures. Haulage Company Director and Mechanic sent to jail for four deaths A haulage company boss and a mechanic have both been jailed following a tipper truck crash in 2015 that killed four people in Bath. The lorry driver was cleared of dangerous driving … Read More
7 March Unlimited fines in the Magistrates’ Court There have been some recent changes in the sentencing arrangements for Health and Safety Offences. The current position is that for offences committed on and after the 12th March 2015 the maximum penalty in the magistrates’ court is an unlimited fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both. In the Crown … Read More