7 June Roof works fall from height A fall from height during roof repair works leads to prosecution and fine – a Stranraer based groundwork company was fined after a worker fell more than seven metres through a fragile roof. The Stranraer Sheriff Court today heard the 42-year-old had been sub-contracted by McKeown Groundworks Limited, to carry out roof repairs on a … Read More
5 June Hotel fined for Fire Safety Failures The Central Hotel (in Golders Green, London) has been fined £20,000 for a range of fire safety offences, including the lack of a fire risk assessment, and the absence of smoke alarms and emergency lighting. The Hoop Lane Trust (owners of the Central Hotel) was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to five offences … Read More
2 June Fire safety failures Fire safety failures resulted in a corporate landlord and its management company being handed a large fine. They both failed to carry out a fire risk assessment for an apartment building, which was destroyed after a fire broke out. Property owner Crownpark Investments, along with City Estates (who managed the six-floor terraced house conversion in … Read More
22 May Workers exposed to asbestos Workers exposed to asbestos – all persons who have control of the repair and maintenance of non-domestic premises need to ensure that the correct control measures are put in place to prevent exposure to asbestos, so far as is reasonably practicable (based on Section 4 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974). … Read More
22 May Contractor imprisoned for failing to prevent exposure to Asbestos Demolition contractor imprisoned after admitting illegally removing asbestos from a building he was working on. David William Briggs, trading as Briggs Demolition was found to have ignored an asbestos survey while demolishing the former Oakbank Training Centre in Chadderton, Oldham. Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard also failed to prevent exposure to asbestos to workers and others on … Read More
19 April handheld mobile phone It is well established that drivers should pay attention to what they are doing. With respect to mobile phones, penalties for drivers who use their mobile phone while driving doubled on 01 March 2017. The penalty for a driver caught using their phone has recently increased to six points on their licence and a fine … Read More
11 April Brexit Health and Safety Brexit – the British exit from the European Union. What effect will this have on Health and Safety Law in the UK? Brexit Health and Safety – it is unlikely to lead to rapid major changes. Image created by Starline – Freepik.com To provide legal continuity, the government will prepare a Great Repeal Bill while it negotiates Brexit … Read More
7 April Fire and explosion at an oil refinery leads to £1.65 Million fine The oil and gas industry around the world has been responsible for many serious incidents of fire and explosion, some of which have claimed lives and some of which has resulted only in property damage. Start up is a notoriously dangerous time in the process safety of the plant. In this case, Liverpool Crown Court was told that … Read More
4 April Control measures need to be managed A recent case demonstrates that control measures need to be managed. Control measures are things that we identify in risk assessments and procedures that are intended to keep people safe. If control measures are not adhered to (ignored, or people not being aware of them) them people are not being kept safe, and they may … Read More
29 March Serious Fire at a distillery The failure to manage flammable liquids properly resulted in a serious fire at a distillery. The spirits division of a chemical distributor was fined £270,000 for Health and Safety at Work Act breaches after an employee was engulfed in flames when a fire broke out at its distillery in Oldbury, West Midlands. In August 2016, Wolverhampton … Read More