24 February Jail for Director – following serious fire injury to worker Jail for Director of three construction companies (two of which have been dissolved and one is still active). The director has received an eight-month prison sentence and has been disqualified from being a director for seven years after his actions nearly resulted in the death of a worker. A 17-year-old employee was left with life-threatening … Read More
2 February Ignoring a Prohibition Notice leads to fine and suspended sentence The Managing Director of a skip fabrication company was caught using a piece of equipment that was subject to an HSE prohibition notice only two hours after the inspector’s visit in which the equipment was condemned. Unsurprisingly, he was fined for ignoring a Prohibition Notice and was also given a suspended sentence. MH, who ran … Read More
20 January HSE Inspections 2017 (respiratory sensitisers and/or carcinogens) According to the HSE website, here is some information about HSE inspections 2017:From January 2017 inspectors will be targeting sites that carry out metal fabrication looking at the control of exposure to welding fume and metalworking fluids. Information on controlling the risks from these hazardous substances can be found through the inspection programme link above. … Read More
5 January COSHH extrinsic allergic alveolitis leads to £800,000 fine Metalworking fluid – COSHH extrinsic allergic alveolitis – an Uxbridge manufacturer of ejector seats has been fined £800,000 after three workers developed debilitating lung conditions. Three skilled CNC machine operators developed extrinsic allergic alveolitis after many years of years of exposure to the mist of working metal fluid. The lung condition, also known as hypersensitivity … Read More
2 December Work at Height – worker survives fall, but Tesco fined over £500,000 Work at Height, fall leads to large fine despite worker surviving the fall We need to remember in 2013/14 falls arising from work at height were the most common cause of fatalities accounting to one in three fatal injuries to workers (RIDDOR) So imagine the shock, a worker working on a Tesco store roof falling … Read More
21 October Safe isolation of plant and equipment – Part 2: Key Stages Safe isolation of plant and equipment – Key Stages Introduction This blog post follows on from Safe Isolation of Plant and Equipment, Part 1. In order to allow various processes such as: cleaning, maintenance, plant repair and modification to take place, safe isolation of plant and equipment is essential. This is not specifically covered by … Read More
14 October Increased risk of jail for H&S offences Increased risk of jail for health and safety offences: 23 people received either an immediate or suspended custodial sentence between the beginning of February and mid-September, which is about three per month. On 1 February 2016, the new sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences came into force. To put this into perspective, 189 individuals were sentenced to … Read More
11 October tyre fitter injured injured in split rim explosion Following the failure to carry out proper risk assessments and to implement simple and sensible control measures, a tyre maintenance company has been fined after a tyre exploded seriously injuring a worker. Nottingham Crown Court heard an employee of Tyre Maintenance Limited went to the waste and recycling centre in Beeston to replace tyres on … Read More
7 October Asbestos Exposure – failure to carry out a survey Asbestos exposure occurred when a Bolton nightclub owner failed to carry out a survey for asbestos before starting on the refurbishment of a local night club. Once again, we are reporting on an avoidable asbestos exposure to workers. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its sole director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the … Read More
6 October Drum explosion – residual vapours A drum explosion occurred due to residual flammable substance. A Kent company who supplies road safety products has been fined after a worker suffered life-threatening injuries when a drum he was working on exploded. Maidstone Crown Court heard how 41-year-old AF, an employee of Highway Care Limited, was using a plasma cutter to cut up … Read More