6 April Health and Safety Failings – Firm prosecuted after wrong magnet costs worker his toes Firm prosecuted after wrong magnet costs worker his toes Key Facts: An engineering firm have been prosecuted after a worker suffered severed and broken toes when a metal sheet dropped on his feet. The magnet the workers were using to lift the sheet was not appropriate for the size and weight of the sheet being … Read More
3 April Health and Safety Failings – Scaffolding collapse leads to fine Scaffolding collapse leads to fine Key Facts: Scaffold collapse following loft conversion firm’s failure to comply with CDM regulations. A worker fell 6m to the ground after scaffolding gave way under excessive weight. The company was fined £5,000 and £1,019 in costs. Read More
2 April Health and Safety Failings – Two tradesmen prosecuted for Gas Safe breaches Two tradesmen prosecuted for Gas Safety breaches Key Facts: Two tradesmen have been prosecuted after failing to comply to Gas Safety Regulations. A boiler was fitted in a residential property in an ‘immediately dangerous’ manner, by an engineer who was not on the Gas Safe Register. They were fined a total of £3,300, £1,100 in … Read More
31 March Health and Safety Failings – Firm in court after employee’s hand trapped in metalworking lathe Firm in court after employee’s hand trapped in metalworking lathe Key Facts: A worker’s gloved hand was drawn into a metalworking lathe in what the HSE called ‘an entirely avoidable incident’. The company had been prosecuted twice before for issues of health and safety. The firm were fined £8,000 for breaching health and safety regulations. Read More
30 March Health and Safety Failings – Oven explosion results in prosecution Oven explosion results in prosecution Key Facts: An industrial oven exploded after flammable materials unknowingly loaded into it. The HSE investigator said that the incident ‘could have, and should have, been avoided’. The company have been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,588. Read More
27 March Health and Safety Failings – Risk assessment failings lead to prosecution Risk assessment failings lead to prosecution Key Facts: An ecology consultancy firm have been prosecuted after a worker broke her back falling through a loft hatch. The HSE said that “A ‘one size fits all’ approach is obviously not suitable and the company’s tick-box approach to risk assessment failed to protect this worker.” The company … Read More
26 March Health and Safety Failings – Westfield shopping centre prosecuted over work at height failings. Westfield shopping centre prosecuted over work at height failings Key Facts: A construction worker fell through unguarded gap in roof deck at Westfield shopping centre. The worker dislocated and fractured his shoulder and was unable to work for six months. The owners of the shopping centre were fined £10,000 and costs of £1,247. Read More
24 March Health and Safety Failings – Overlooked machinery safety leads to injury and prosecution. Overlooked machinery safety leads to injury and prosecution Key Facts: Machinery safety was overlooked and inadequate at a vegetable nursery company. As a result, a worker was drawn into a machine, and required his arm to be surgically reattached. The company was fined £18,000, a victim surcharge of £120 and ordered to pay £862.25 in … Read More
23 March Health and Safety Failings – Fatal fragile roof incident results in fine Fatal fragile roof incident results in fine Key Facts: A worker fell to his death whilst undertaking work on a fragile roof. The HSE described it as being a tragic and preventable accident. Many safety controls were missing from the site, and the project had not been adequately planned. The roofing firm was fined £10,000 … Read More
20 March Health and Safety Failings – Lift malfunction at London’s Tower Bridge leads to prosecution Lift Malfunction at London’s Tower Bridge leads to prosecution Key Facts: A lift carrying 9 tourists and 1 agency worker plummeted 3 metres following a lift malfunction. The ‘catastrophic failing’ could have been avoided through proper review of earlier failings. The lift maintenance firm was fined £50,000 and costs of £50,000. Read More