Risk, Health and Safety Information

Barking garage fined for dangerous repair work

A Barking garage has been prosecuted for allowing workers to continue using unsafe electrical equipment for car repairs.

On 19 January 2011 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) banned M &K Autos Ltd from using a two-post vehicle hoist at premises on the Barking Industrial Estate until repairs were made on exposed live cables and terminals.
However, workers were not instructed to stop using the equipment, which put them at risk of electrocution.

Westminster Magistrates' Court heard (26 September) that when a HSE inspector revisited the site in April he found the hoist was still in use and that no remedial work had been undertaken.

M&K Autos Ltd, of the Rippleside Commercial Estate, Ripple Road, Barking, pleaded guilty to breaching the requirements of a prohibition notice served under Section 22 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Mohammed Tahir Mortuza said:

"Live exposed terminals on the damaged vehicle hoist were just centimetres away from hand operated controls, and it is extremely fortunate that no one was injured or even killed.

"The risks associated with electricity are well known and documented, and when equipment is prohibited for use by HSE it is for a good reason. By failing to comply, M & K Autos put their mechanics at risk of electrocution. HSE will always take action when such breaches occur."