Health and Safety Failings – Inadequate training leads to £10k fine

Inadequate training leads to £10k fine 

Key Facts:

• An HSE investigation was launched after a worker’s hand was crushed by a pressure beam at a Birmingham factory.
• The worker was unable to work for over 3 months after the incident.
• Inadequate training and a failure to appropriately manage the site maintenance programme were at the root of the incident.
• The company was fined £10,000 and costs of £940.50 for safety failings.

The Case:

An investigation by the HSE was launched after a maintenance engineer’s hand was crushed at a global materials company in an incident on 9 July 2014 as a result of inadequate training.

The worker was removing chocks from the bed of a plate at the Birmingham factory when the incident happened. The chocks were being used to prop a pressure beam whilst maintenance work was being undertaken. As soon as the chocks were removed, the beam fell on the employee’s hand.

The employee was unable to return to work for over three months as a result of his injuries.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that the company had failed to provide adequate information, instruction and training to its workers, and had failed to appropriately manage the site maintenance programme.

The case was heard on 20 March 2015 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £10,000 and costs of £940.50.

What the HSE inspector had to say:

Speaking after the hearing the HSE Inspector Paul Cooper stated that:

“ThyssenKrupp Materials should have spent time working out a safe working methods for all maintenance tasks, especially those which were routine. There were no written risk assessments or safe systems of work in place.

The company should also have made sure that the engineers were given the necessary training on the machines and the information they needed to operate them. Instead, they were given nothing and expected to learn as they went along.

Since the incident the firm has brought in service engineers to do the most intricate maintenance work and arranged for those engineers to give the employees training on the machines. Had they done this before, a worker could have been spared a painful injury.”

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.

 

Inadequate training and supervision caused this worker injury and cost him the ability to work. Employers have a duty to provide all employees with whatever information, instruction, training and supervision is necessary to ensure health and safety at work. By providing appropriate training, you can help to develop a positive health and safety culture within your business. This includes making your employees competent in health and safety, and can help you avoid the distress and costs of accidents and occupational ill health.

Further information and guidance aimed at those responsible for work equipment can be found here.

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