29 April Electrical burns to a demolition worker Two companies have been fined after a worker received serious electrical burns during demolition work. The Magistrates’ Court in Chelmsford heard how in April 2017 two demolition workers employed by a sub-contractor (R B Haigh & Sons) were removing electrical distribution equipment from a switchgear room at the former Molecular Products site in Thaxted, Essex. … Read More
28 April Changes to RIDDOR Forms The HSE are currently in the process of updating the suite of RIDDOR Forms. The look and feel of the forms is being modernised, but the functionality and the reporting requirements are to remain unchanged. As a result of these changes, when an updated form is accessed notifiers will no longer receive an email copy. … Read More
4 April Asbestos disturbed – hoteliers fines A Devon based hoteliers was been sentenced after asbestos-containing materials (ACM) were disturbed during a major refurbishment at The Park Hotel in Barnstaple. The Magistrates’ Court in Newton Abbot heard that between October 2016 and May 2017 construction work was undertaken to refurbish the hotel on Taw Vale. Parts of the hotel were originally constructed during … Read More
11 September New School closes due to Safety Concerns It is not great to read that a School closes due to Safety Concerns. This is disruptive to the pupils and immensely frustrating to their families. A brand new, state-of-the-art School in Dumfries has closed on safety grounds, just a month after opening. This follows two safety incidents at the North West Community Campus. In the … Read More
6 September Local Council fined after workers exposed to asbestos in a Primary School Asbestos in a Primary School – Kent County Council (KCC) was fined £200,000 after asbestos was disturbed at Lansdowne Primary School. Canterbury Crown Court heard how, in November 2014, an environmental health officer was carrying out a routine food inspection when they noticed what looked like an asbestos rope hanging from the ceiling. A prohibition notice … Read More
6 September Asbestos containing metal gauze products supplied to schools The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it has been made aware that two UK Laboratory Supply companies have supplied schools (and potentially other users) with gauze mats that contain asbestos. These metal gauze mats are designed for use over Bunsen burners. The HSE has served enforcement notices on both companies. A spokesperson for … Read More
1 August Prison Sentence for Roofing Contractor Council H&S officers reported dangerous roof work to HSE – Prison Sentence for Roofing Contractor. A roofing contractor has been sentenced for safety breaches after workers were left at risk of falling from unprotected roof edges in February 2016. The failures of C Smith Roofing (Mr Chris Smith T/A) were discovered by local council health and safety … Read More
1 August Unsafe roof work Unsafe Roof Work – a roofing contractor employed by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has had its unsafe working practices exposed after an employee fell through a roof light. In a prosecution brought by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Dudley magistrates heard how people were working on the roof for Woodhull Roofing had no safety … Read More
31 July Workers leg crushed by concrete block Leg crushed – life-changing injuries for an agency worker The construction company Kier Infrastructure has been fined £600,000 after a seven-tonne concrete block fell on an agency worker on a rail bridge site in Cardiff. The court was told that agency worker, PW aged 42, suffered life-changing injuries when a seven-tonne block of pre-cast concrete fell on … Read More
9 July Machinery Safety Failure leads to fatality This is another reported case of a machinery safety failure leading to a fatality. In this case, Leeds Magistrates Court heard how, on 28 February 2014, a 50-year-old employee of WE Rawson Limited leant into a packaging machine whilst attempting to free a stuck package. Whilst doing so, he became trapped between an upper and lower … Read More