13 March Health and Safety Failings – Fine issued following excavation collapse Fine issued following excavation collapse Key Facts: Building firm owner was left partially buried, and broke his leg and ankle in excavation collapse The HSE inspector described him as being ‘reckless with the lives of his employees’. The director and the firm were both fined £15,000 each, as well as being ordered to pay £1,176 … Read More
12 March Health and Safety Failings – Fine issued for multiple health and safety failings Fine issued for multiple health and safety failings Key Facts: The site was in such a dangerous condition that 8 notices were immediately issued by the visiting health and safety inspector Dangers included unguarded dangerous machinery, exposure to risk of electrocution, and asbestos contamination. HSE inspector said that the standards were “totally inadequate” and that … Read More
10 March Health and Safety Failings – Quarry safety failings lead to firm’s second fine Quarry safety failings lead to firm’s second fine Key Facts: Quarry blast sent rocks of up to 15 kilos flying across a public road towards employees HSE identified serious control failings in quarry safety Blast not properly planned, and inadequate safety measures in place Firm fined £30,000 – having already been fined £20,000 in 2013 … Read More
9 March Health and Safety Failings – LOLER breach leads to worker losing leg LOLER breach leads to worker losing leg Key Facts: 49-year-old factory worker struck by 850kg frame Frame fell two metres before landing on worker’s leg following LOLER breach Due to resulting injuries, worker’s left leg needed to be amputated Two firms fined nearly £50,000 and costs following HSE investigation Read More
6 March Fine issued for breach of work at height regulations Demolition firm fined for breaching work at height regulations Key Facts: Demolition firm caught on camera risking workers’ lives whilst undertaking work at height An immediate enforcement notice was served to the firm following an HSE visit The firm was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,053 in costs Read More
5 March Machinery Safety – Fine issued after worker drawn into unguarded machine Machinery Safety – Fine issued after worker drawn into unguarded machine Key Facts: Worker left with multiple serious injuries, including a broken neck after being drawn into an unguarded machine Machinery safety overlooked The HSE said that the incident ‘could and should have been prevented’ The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £1,252 … Read More
5 March Spotlight On Peter Baker – HSE’s new chief inspector of construction Peter Baker – HSE’s new chief inspector of construction Peter Baker has been appointed as the HSE’s new chief inspector of construction and will replace Philip White on 1 April 2015. Peter is currently the head of the HSE’s Chemicals, Explosives and Microbiological Hazards Division which regulates the onshore major hazard industries. The post of … Read More
3 March NHS Trust in court over asbestos find NHS Trust in court over asbestos find Key Facts: Asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK Asbestos fibres were found in several areas of an NHS Trust basement Recommendations following an earlier asbestos survey were not acted upon The Trust were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £696 in costs Read More
2 March Builder fined after worker’s fall from height Builder fined after worker’s fall from height Key Facts: Roofing work was poorly supervised and undertaken without safety equipment Worker in fall from height of nearly six metres and was ‘lucky not to have lost his life’ in the incident Partner fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,717 in costs as a result of the … Read More
27 February Farm worker exposed to toxic gases Prosecution following farm worker’s exposure to toxic gases Key Facts: A farm owner and his two businesses have been fined following as a result of serious safety failings A worker, 29, died as a result of exposure to toxic hydrogen sulphide gas The HSE found a number of unsafe practices and failings The owner and … Read More