Health and Safety in the news this week

Fire in Shepherd’s Bush Tower Block

A fire in Shepherd's Bush Green in London affected five floors of the 18-storey Shepherd’s Court building, resulting in its evacuation.

At least 120 firefighters from London Fire Brigade tackled the blaze, which they brought under control, and Hammersmith and Fulham Council arranged rest areas and housing for those affected.

London Ambulance Service said it treated two patients at the scene, but neither required hospital treatment. One person was treated for smoke inhalation.

Fire crews were investigating the cause of the blaze, and remained at the scene “damping down”.

The blaze damaged around a quarter of a four-room flat on the seventh floor, half of a flat on the eighth floor, around a quarter of a flat on the ninth floor, half of a flat on the tenth floor and a small part of the flat on the eleventh floor.

Shadwell fire station manager Paul Hobbs said: ""The fire spread from the seventh floor via the outside of the building.  Crews wearing breathing apparatus used jets to extinguish the fire on each floor of the building. They worked quickly in difficult conditions to tackle the fire.  At the height of the blaze, nearby Shepherd's Bush station was closed and the adjacent West 12 shopping centre evacuated."

HSE prosecution round up:

Man sentenced for pretending to be Gas Safe Registered

A 35-year-old self-employed worker from London has been given two suspended jail terms for falsely claiming to be Gas Safe Registered.

At the Old Bailey the court heard how the man signed Gas Safe certificates for a number of properties. This was only discovered after a gas leak was reported by National Grid at a rented property.
Brian Winters of Hertford Road, Edmonton was found guilty of four charges of regulation 3(7) of the Gas Safe Installation and Use Regulations 1998 and was given an 18 month suspended sentence for two years for the property where a gas leak occurred and 12 months suspended for two years for the three other charges.  He was also given two community orders.
Health and Safety Executive Inspector Monica Babb said after the hearing: 

“Gas Safe registered engineers are regulated and have to ensure they can prove they are competent. This safe guard is removed when people choose not to register, putting people at risk in their homes.  It is important that anybody who has gas work carried out checks their engineer is carrying a valid gas safe registered identification card. They should also check online or call Gas Safe Register to confirm they are competent to carry out the work.”

Construction firm sentenced after worker falls down a lift pit

Cardiff-based construction company, Jehu Project Services Ltd, has been sentenced after a worker was seriously injured falling down a lift pit.

The incident happened on 8 July 2015 at a construction site in Pontcanna, Cardiff. Stephen Harrison, a specialist drilling contractor, was employed by Jehu to help refurbish a 73-bed care home when he fell into the basement of a lift pit that was under construction.

Mr Harrison stepped onto the ground floor having been working off a tower scaffold, but stood on a loose concrete block causing him to fall backwards, head-first, into a skip full of rubble on the floor below.

A specialist Fire and Rescue team were nearby and after stabilising Mr Harrison, attached him to the hook of a tower crane and winched him out of the pit, over the site and into the car park of a housing estate nearby where an ambulance was waiting.

Mr Harrison suffered shattered vertebrae, five broken ribs, a punctured lung and spent 18 days in hospital. He is still recovering and although not paralysed, his injuries were life-changing and he will not return to work.

HSE investigated the incident and found that Jehu had been using a system of lightweight barriers around the edges of the drop, along with bean bags at the bottom of the hole, but these were incompatible with all of the work that needed to be done by the different contractors and had been removed. Following the incident, all of the danger areas were fenced with scaffolding.

Newport Crown Court heard that there were numerous management failings associated with this project, which included a lack of effective site management and supervision, a construction plan that did not properly consider obvious working at height risks and a lack of an effective Temporary Works Management System.

Jehu Project Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Regulation 13(1) and Work at Height Regulations 2005, Regulation 6(3) and was fined £143,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £15,029.30.

HSE Inspector Liam Osborne, who brought the case, said:

“Jehu had been given many warnings in the past by HSE about the lack of effective planning, managing and monitoring on their construction sites, as well as warnings about unsafe working at height. The court heard some really positive steps the company are now taking to put these matters right, including making substantial management changes.  It is crucial that construction firms properly think through the risks involved before starting work, they then need to ensure there is a workable plan to iron-out or manage the resultant dangers.  There is a clear hierarchy for managing work at height risks, site managers need to prevent it if possible and then provide suitable fixed barriers. Lower-order measures, such as soft-landing systems or the use of harnesses should only be selected as a last resort and if it is safe and appropriate to do so”.

Bulgarian firm fined for poor work at height

A Bulgarian construction firm has been fined after a member of the public reported unsafe working practices during the construction of an adventure course in Markeaton Park, Derby.

Derby Magistrates’ Court heard how a passing member of the public noticed work at height being carried out from a pallet on the forks of a telehandler at the site in Markeaton Park, where a high ropes adventure course was being constructed by Bulgarian based firm Walltopia.

The member of the public first reported this to the company but despite receiving assurances the matter would be dealt with, unsafe work at height continued. They then reported it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

HSE’s investigation at the site found work was taking place on a section of roof 11 metres off the ground, without the use of any means to prevent two workers falling from the open edges. In addition, these workers were accessing the roof by climbing from the basket of a cherry picker.

Walltopia of Bulgaria Boulevard, Letnitsa, Bulgaria, was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,013.25 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

After the case, HSE Inspector Lee Greatorex said:

“Using a pallet on a telehandler for planned work at height is an unacceptable means of access. It appears that the company failed to put in place control measures after being alerted about this.  Walltopia failed to follow recognised industry standards during work at height and did not make effective changes to the control of their working methods following the matter being brought to its attention. Work at height should always be sufficiently planned and managed to protect workers from being exposed to extreme risks from falls from height. In this case someone could have suffered significant injuries or death”.

Distillery blaze left 21-year-old worker engulfed in flames

A distillery in Oldbury has been fined after an employee was engulfed in flames in a fire that destroyed the warehouse and its contents.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how ethyl acetate (highly flammable liquid) was being transferred from a bulk storage tank into an intermediate bulk container when an employee was engulfed in flames. The 21-year-old sustained twenty percent burns to his head, neck and hands.

The fire, at the Alcohol Limited distillery on Crosswell road in Oldbury, destroyed the warehouse and caused damage to nearby cars and houses. West Mercia Fire and Rescue Service were called to bring the fire under control.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 26 November 2012 found that the most likely source of ignition was a discharge of static electricity generated by the transfer of the liquid.

There was poor maintenance of pipework and associated valves. There was a failure to competently inspect the equipment or monitor the systems of work.

Alcohols Limited, of Charringtons House, The Causeway, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £270,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,009.

After the hearing HSE inspector Kieron Jones said:

“Companies that fail to ensure the integrity of their safety critical equipment place their employees, members of the public, emergency services and their entire livelihood at risk of serious harm.  Poor management of highly flammable liquids can have catastrophic results both for individuals and businesses.”

Source: www.hse.gov.uk

Health and Safety in the news this week

Newport residents voice health concerns over dust from development

Residents in Newport have raised health and safety concerns over the content of dust coming from a construction site.

The brownfield site, formerly Whiteheads Steelworks, runs alongside the heavily-populated Mendalgief Road as well as two schools and a retirement home.  Around 500 homes are set to be built by Walters Group in a £75 million Welsh Government-backed development from Tirion Homes.

Construction work has left several cars along the road covered with powder and resident Christopher Doig, who collected samples of the dust from his windowsill, found that the substance stuck to a magnet.  The former engineer, 72, once had pneumonia and is worried that the dirt thrown up into the air could set off another attack.

“I was out in the garden the other day trying to enjoy a cup of tea and our table was covered in the stuff,” said Mr Doig. "We’ve been having this since December and I’ve had enough.  The concrete is being smashed up into a fine powder and it’s getting everywhere.  We're all breathing this stuff in and we've got no idea what's in it."

Other residents along Mendalgief Road have also noticed ‘high’ levels of dust on their cars and windows.

Bill Barnett, 70, said he and his wife Irene, 66, have been 'plagued' by the dust which is getting into their home.  He said they have both been to the GP three times with chest problems which they suspect is due to the levels of dust.  Mr Barnett said: "The dust is constant - it's black and brown.  You can feel it like sand in your mouth.  We can't open any of the windows because of it even though it's stifling."

The couple said they have been spending around £10 a week to clean both of their cars due to the constant dust.

Councillor Ibrahim Hayat said himself and other Newport City Council members shared the concerns of his constituents.

Cllr Hayat said: “Within minutes of being in the area I can feel it against my chest and in my eyes, so I can’t imagine what it's like for those who live here.  We just don’t know what is in this stuff – for all we know it could lead to health problems a few years down the line."

Councillor Hayat added that a project manager from Walters is reportedly organising an 'urgent public meeting' for an unspecified date.

Environmental health officers from Newport council visited the site following concerns raised by residents and said they have advised contractor on how to keep dust levels down.

A council spokesman said: "Newport City Council is satisfied that the contractors are following the correct working practices.  We will continue to work with them to ensure dust emissions are minimised and managed appropriately."

A spokesman for Tirion Group said the council's environmental health officers have been 'satisfied that the site complies with all necessary environmental standards on every visit.'

He said: "At Whiteheads we are working closely with remediation contractors Walters UK to ensure minimal disturbance is caused to local residents while the site is prepared for construction, and that the highest safety standards are adhered to.  Walters has worked with Celtic Technologies throughout the remediation process to ensure that the levels of on-site soil and dust are monitored constantly, and to ensure that they pose no danger to local residents or the general public."

He added Tirion has conducted a timetable of regular consultation meetings with local residents and will continue to do so in the future.

Source: South Wales Argus

 

HSE prosecution round up:

School fined after worker fell from height

A school in Brentwood has pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations after a worker was injured as he fell from a roof.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard how in January 2014 a maintenance team at the school was working to replace components on a bay window of a residential flat within the school grounds.  A 63-year-old employee was working on the roof of the bay window when his foot got caught and he fell approximately 2.6 metres to the ground below.  He was taken to hospital and was found to have suffered injuries including a broken collarbone and chipped vertebrae.

An investigation by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that there were no effective guardrails or any other means of protection to prevent workers from falling from the roof.  There were no supervisory arrangements and the work was not carried out in a safe manner.

Brentwood School Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Brentwood, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £1,477 in costs.

Security firms fined over death of security guard

Two security companies have been fined after a security guard died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Javaid Iqbal, a 29 year old father of three, was employed by London based KK Security Services Ltd as a security guard on a construction site in Leigh, Wigan.  KK Security were sub-contracted by Veritas Security (Southern) Ltd, a Southampton based company, despite it being written into the contract from the client that no sub-contracting would take place.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that during the early hours of 6^th December 2014, the site’s generator failed in sub-zero temperatures and, in an attempt to keep warm, Mr Iqbal lit some barbecue coals in a wheelbarrow which he placed in a 20 foot steel container used as the site office.  Mr Iqbal was found dead by police a few hours later having died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The court also heard that Mr Iqbal had made a number of attempts to re-start the site generator and had sought assistance from both his employers but neither had provided any meaningful assistance to him.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that KK Securities Limited failed to provide a management system to protect the welfare and safety of their employees, particularly lone workers.  No real provision had been made by the company for emergency support, the only option open to Mr Iqbal being to ring his employer who was hundreds of miles away and could offer no practical assistance.

The investigation also found Veritas Security (Southern) Limited failed to put proper arrangements in place with the site occupier for emergency situations outside office hours, such as a loss of power or heating.

HSE Principal Inspector Neil Jamieson said after the hearing:

“Mr Iqbal should have been required to ring and speak to his company every hour or have some form of panic button. His calls were not being monitored.  Instead of this he was simply required to text in every hour stating that all was well.

“This tragic death could have been so easily avoided had either KK Securities Limited or Veritas Security (Southern) Limited made adequate arrangement to regularly check on Mr Iqbal’s welfare during the quiet hours.  Instead, it appears he was left to fend for himself”.

KK Security Services Ltd, of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £8,000 with £ 4,854 costs.

Veritas Security (Southern) Ltd, of St Anne Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £8,000 with £6,220 costs.

Both parties were also required to pay an additional £120 victims surcharge.

Diecasting firm fined after worker suffers serious burns

Manchester aluminium diecasting producer Presbar Diecastings Ltd, has been fined £140,000 after a worker suffered life threatening injuries when he became trapped in a machine.

Manchester Crown Court heard that on 7 July 2015 the worker had entered the middle of the aluminium diecasting machine between the furnace pot and the front bar to clear a build-up of metal.  Whilst carrying out this routine procedure the robot arm started to move, the worker tried to move out of the way but was trapped by the ladle containing 400 degrees centigrade molten metal attached to the robot arm.  He suffered a cardiac arrest and fourth degree burns.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the machine had only been partially guarded making access to the ladle possible. This was despite there being a risk assessment in place at the time of the incident identifying the hazard of contact or entrapment with the ladle.

Presbar Diecasting Ltd of Store Street, Manchester pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The company was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay £9,788.56 costs and £120 victim surcharge.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Principal Inspector Mike Sebastian said:

“A man suffered life changing injuries which could have been prevented if the machine had been properly guarded.  Employers should ensure that they regularly check, assess and review the guarding on their machinery to ensure that all access to dangerous parts in prevented.”

Worker suffers serious burns after clothing catches fire

A foundry based in Batley has been fined after a worker suffered serious burns when his clothing caught fire.

Bradford Crown Court heard how an employee of Batley Foundry Limited was undertaking work involving the use of isopropanol and a paint-like solution. The bucket containing the solution caught fire which then set light to his clothes, causing serious burns.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 5 August 2014 found that the company failed to provide adequate training, work equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Batley Foundry Limited, of Warwick Road, Batley, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9000.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector John Boyle said:

“A worker was left with serious injuries as a result of this incident.  Had the company taken a number of simple measures prior to the work activity taking place – such as the provision of suitable work equipment, training and personal protective equipment – then it may well have been avoided.”

Source: www.hse.gov.uk

 

 

HSE prosecution round up:

Company expose family to risk of asbestos

 

A Hertfordshire-based home improvement company has been fined after the unsafe removal of asbestos material from a domestic property.

St Albans Magistrates’ Court heard how Ace of Hearts Home Improvement Limited (AOH) removed asbestos containing materials (ACM) from a domestic property in St Albans.

The Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) soffits surrounding the underside of the guttering around the front, gable end and back of the property had been dismantled in an unsafe manner creating the serious risk of respiratory exposure of asbestos fibres to the two workers and the residents of the property (family of four including two children).

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 25 September 2015 found that the company were not licensed to remove asbestos.
Ace of Hearts Home Improvements Limited, of Alldicks Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) and Regulation 16 of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2012, and The Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 33 (1) (g) in that it failed to comply with an Improvement Notice, and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,118.50.
 

Timber-frame firm fined for fire safety and traffic offences

J G Hale Construction Ltd based in South Wales has been fined £100,000 for running an unsafe timber-frame construction site.

Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court heard that HSE launched an investigation on 27 July after making an unannounced visit to inspect Hale’s site in the centre of Blaenavon.

Fifty-four timber-frame houses were under construction, which carry a serious fire risk if not planned or managed properly, as the structures are made from wood. If a fire starts, the speed and intensity of fire spread can be extreme – putting workers and even members of the public at risk of harm.

HSE found that measures to prevent a fire starting and getting out of control had not been properly taken. All the houses were under construction at broadly the same stage with little fire protection, a lack of site management control, insufficient means to detect a fire and raise the alarm, poor control of ignition sources and a general lack of emergency planning. Workers were also at risk of being struck or crushed by construction vehicles on site.

Improvement Notices were served regarding fire and vehicle safety issues and these were complied with after two further inspection visits.

J G Hale Construction Limited, of Milland Road, Neath, South Wales, who also manufacture timber frames for the construction industry, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 27 and 29 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, and was fined £40,000 and £60,000 respectively. They were ordered to pay full prosecution costs of £4633.76 and a statutory surcharge of £120.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Liam Osborne said: “Hale Construction had been given plenty of warnings about fire-safety and traffic risks in the recent past, including from HSE.

 

“Timber-frame houses are perfectly safe once they’re finished and protected, but when under construction they can be very dangerous. Stringent fire-safety standards need to be in place well before the build starts, and then maintained and monitored”.

Source: www.hse.gov.uk

 

Health and Safety in the news this week

 

Producers of Star Wars plead guilty

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd has today pleaded guilty to failing to protect actors and workers following an incident in which actor Harrison Ford was seriously injured during the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd is based in Queen Caroline Street, London, and appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court on 26 July, pleading guilty to two charges. The case has now been transferred to Aylesbury Crown Court, date to be confirmed.

Mr Ford suffered a broken leg and other injuries when he was struck by a metal door on the set of the Millennium Falcon. The incident happened on 12 June 2014 at Pinewood Studios.

A spokesman for HSE said:

“During the filming of Star Wars Episode Seven: The Force Awakens, the actor Harrison Ford was badly injured after he became trapped under a rapidly closing metal-framed door. The power of the door’s drive system was comparable to the weight of a small car.  This was a foreseeable incident.  Foodles Production (UK) Ltd has accepted it failed to protect actors and staff and HSE welcomes the firm’s guilty plea.

Every employer in every industry has a legal duty to manage risks in the workplace. Risks are part and parcel of everyday life, and this is acknowledged by health and safety law – but they still need to be identified and managed in a proportionate way.

The British film industry has a world renowned reputation for making exceptional films. Managing on-set risks in a sensible and proportionate way for all actors and staff – regardless of their celebrity status – is vital to protecting both on-screen and off-screen talent, as well as protecting the reputation of the industry.”

HSE prosecution round up:

Worker dies from toxic gas

A medicinal herbal manufacturing company in Lincolnshire has been fined after a worker died from exposure to a toxic gas.

Leicester Crown Court heard Karl Brader, 50, was working for Herbs in a Bottle Limited. He was using cleaning chemicals to clean a changing room when he was exposed to a toxic gas (likely to be chlorine) and died at the scene.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, which occurred on 2 September 2014, found that Mr Brader had not been trained in the safe use of chemicals and no company Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessment had been carried out.

Herbs in a Bottle Limited, of Bourne End, Essendine, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulation 6(1)(a) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and was fined £45,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,842.

HM Inspector Stephen Farthing said:

“This was a tragic industrial incident that was entirely preventable had suitable precautions been taken. Karl Brader had not received any training in the safe use of hazardous chemicals and as a result died from the exposure to a toxic gas.  Companies should ensure that they assess all the risks associated with the use of dangerous chemicals and that exposure to their employees is either eliminated or minimised.”

Bradford firm fined after worker fell through skylight

A company which manufactures signage and displays for high street retailer was sentenced today for safety breaches after a worker fell to his death through a roof light.

Richard Perry, 43, was working with a colleague covering roof lights with blackout vinyl in June 2014 at Whiteghyll Plastics Ltd.  This was in an attempt to block out the sunlight to reduce the heat within the factory.  Mr Perry fell 5.5 metres through a fragile roof light to the fabrications department below.

The company failed to adequately supervise Mr Perry and another employee.  There were several missed opportunities by a number of managers to stop them from working on the roof.  The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the firm over the incident.

Whiteghyll Plastics Ltd of City Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £120,000 with £37,655 costs by Bradford Crown Court.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Andrea Jones commented:

“Two employees were on the roof for some time with no precautions in place to prevent falling through fragile roof material or off the open edge of the roof.  This accident would not have happened if these two employees had been appropriately supervised by management.  Falls from height, particularly from roofs is the highest cause of fatal accidents.”

Richard was a father of two, his wife was pregnant with their second son when he died. His wife, Samantha, said:

“Richard was so looking forward to meeting his second son. Sadly he never got the chance to do that. Every time I look into his eyes I feel an immense sadness that he never got to meet his amazing Daddy.  Not only did my boys lose their Daddy but I lost my husband, my best friend and my soul mate.  I feel as if my heart was ripped out and died with him.  I kissed him goodbye on Friday 13 June 2014 and he never came home.

I never expected this to happen.  Nobody should die at work and leave behind a young family and wife. He had his whole life ahead of him.”

Firm sentenced after worker’s arm severed

A Bristol based manufacturer of concrete products has been fined after a worker’s arm was torn off when it was pulled into the rotating tail pulley of a conveyor belt.

Bristol Crown Court heard the injured man was making adjustments to a misaligned conveyor belt at Concrete Fabrications Ltd plant in Henbury, Bristol on 18 May 2015.

The court heard that to do this, the man, who does not wish to be named, had to adjust tensioning rods which were located inside the machine’s guards, in close proximity to the conveyor belt and rotating tail pulley.

The worker noticed that aggregate had built up on the tensioning rod and he tried to knock off the material with a hammer so he could use a spanner to adjust the rod. However, the hammer was dragged into the rotating machinery along with the employee’s arm which was severed between the shoulder and the elbow.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), prosecuting, told the court that Concrete Fabrications Ltd should have had adequate guards on dangerous parts of machinery.

It said clear procedures should exist regarding maintenance and adjustments of machinery and arrangements should be in place to ensure that machinery is not run without the necessary guarding in place, and that clear isolation and lock off procedures exist.

An unsafe system of work existed for the maintenance of machinery, in so much that the dangerous moving parts of the machine were exposed during maintenance operations.  A sufficient risk assessment would have identified the risks associated with tracking conveyor belts, and identified appropriate control measures.

Concrete Fabrications Ltd of Cole Road, St Phillips, Bristol, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974 and was fined £100,000 with £7758 costs awarded to HSE.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Matthew Tyler said:

“Companies need to ensure the risks associated with maintenance tasks are adequately assessed, and effectively controlled, through adequate guarding of dangerous parts of machinery, and the existence of clear robust procedures in respect of maintenance and adjustments of machinery, including isolation and lock off requirements.  The consequences of not doing this are clear to see here today.”

National Steel firm fined £1.98 million for safety failings

Tata Steel has been fined after two workers suffered injuries to their hands in two separate incidents involving machinery.

Northampton Crown Court heard how a 26-year-old employee lost two thirds of his left hand and his middle and ring fingers whilst trying to clear a blockage on a steel tube manufacturing line which had unsuitable guarding, and in a separate incident, a 52-year-old team leader lost part of his little finger when his left hand was caught, again in an inadequately guarded machine, whilst he was receiving refresher training.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incidents, which occurred on 12 September 2014 and 19 February 2015, found that there was a failure to appropriately guard and manage the risks arising from dangerous parts of these items of machinery.

Tata UK Limited, of Millbank, London, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined a total of £1.98 million (£185,000 was for the first offence and £1.8 million for the second offence) and ordered to pay costs of £22,500.

HSE inspector Mark Austin said after the hearing:

“Guarding of dangerous parts of machinery is a fundamental of ensuring workers’ safety.  HSE will not hesitate to hold those accountable who do not fulfil their legal obligations, especially if that results in someone receiving life changing injuries.”

Company dismantling HGV fined for safety failings

A North Lincolnshire company has been fined after a worker was injured whilst dismantling a HGV tipper lorry.

Scunthorpe Magistrates’ Court heard how two employees of R Martinson Limited were dismantling an HGV lorry using a telehandler like a mobile crane for lifting operations.

One employee operated the telehandler to remove a metal rail weighing about 44 kg from the chassis when it struck the second employee, 68-year-old George Henry Johnson. He suffered a traumatic skull fracture that have left him with permanent injuries and reliant on other family members for his care.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred in April 2015 found that the company failed to adequately plan, organize, control and monitor the way in which the operation was undertaken.  Using a telehandler to lift and move parts like a mobile crane is a high risk activity and the company failed to apply basic principles of health and safety management to reduce the risk of serious personal injury.

R Martinson Limited of Havering, The Bays Shore Road, Garthorpe, North Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay costs of £1,293.10.

Agency worker injured at Malting factory

A malting company based in Suffolk has been fined after an agency worker was injured when he fell from a ladder.

Scarborough Magistrates’ Court heard how an agency worker employed with Pauls Malt Limited at their West Knapton malting factory, near Malton, was injured when he fell approximately two metres from a ladder. He sustained two fractures to his right foot and bruising to his chest and head injuries.

He was in the process of checking the fill level of the malt in a container that he was loading for export prior to closing the hopper feed.  The container was fitted with a full-size fabric liner with a high level loading flap which would be zipped up once the container was full.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 6 May 2015 found that the company had not carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the work at height involved in closing the zipped flaps on the fabric liners used to line containers that were being loaded with malt for export.

A system of work had developed which involved propping a 4-metre long ladder against the rear of the container to gain access to the zip-up flap. The ladder was too long for this purpose and was propped at too shallow an angle.  The ladder slipped outwards at the foot causing the agency worker to fall with the ladder.

Pauls Malt Limited (trading as Boortmalt), of Eastern Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,257.

Source: www.hse.gov.uk