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
22 June Asbestos failures lead (again) to substantial fines A building contractor has been fined after failing to carry out the correct procedures after asbestos was found during the refurbishment of a building at Bedford School in Bedford. Asbestos failures included the lack of a demolition/refurbishment survey and failure to manage asbestos after it was disturbed. Luton Crown Court heard how on 11 August … Read More
6 June Lack of a Safe System of Work leads to fatal crushing In many cases, the safety of workers using potentially dangerous equipment can be achieved by the use of a suitable Safe System of Work. Conversely, the lack of a safe system of work can lead to serious (and even fatal) consequences. Unfortunately, in a recent case waste paper management company has been fined £250,000 after an employee … Read More
17 May Remember: Lorry Loading must be planned The £40,000 fine handed down to a scaffolding contractor serves as a reminder that even the simple act of Lorry Loading must be planned. Derby Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 22nd February 2016 at a site in Chaddesden, 24-year-old [LG] was injured while scaffold fittings were being loaded into bins on the back of a … Read More
14 May Captive Key duplicate leads to Interlock guard bypass – Maintenance Fitter Killed A maintenance fitter died after he was trapped in a conveyor used a spare captive key (part of a safety interlock) to access a guarded enclosure and work on the machinery while it was still powered up. The use of the spare key led to the interlock guard bypass which led to the fatality. The … Read More
8 May Grenfell Tower Inquiry – Phase 1 dates have been announced The Grenfell Tower Inquiry hearings schedule has been announced Phase one will focus on the factual narrative of the events of the night of 14 June 2017. This will include: the existing fire safety and prevention measures at Grenfell Tower where and how the fire started the development of the fire and smoke how the fire … Read More
2 May Forged asbestos documents leads to fine and suspended jail sentence Forged documents led to prosecution: fines and suspended sentences In April 2018, an asbestos removal company and two of its managers were prosecuted after forging documents in order to obtain an asbestos licence from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how, between 16 March 2012 and 10 March 2016, Excavation … Read More