Consultants out and about…

Spotted by our consultant Michael Broder in Kensington during morning rush hour - construction workers were loading waste into this skip with no safety controls in place and no consideration for the passing traffic or pedestrians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health and Safety in the news this week

Star Wars film maker fined £1.6 million for injuring Harrison Ford

The makers of Star Wars: The Force Awakens have been sentenced after failing to protect the actors and workers while on set during filming at Pinewood Studio, Slough, Buckinghamshire.

Harrison Ford suffered a broken leg and deep lacerations when he was knocked off his feet and pinned to the floor of the Millennium Falcon set as a prop door closed on him. HSE’s investigation found that there was no automatic emergency cut off, to protect those on set, instead relying on the reactions of the prop operator(s) to bring the door to a stop.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard how a combination of preventable events, starting with how the door was designed, led to the incident.
During dress rehearsals on the 12 June 2014 Harrison Ford walked back towards the entrance ramp of the Millennium Falcon and pressed the prop door button to ‘close’ the door. As the cameras were not rolling he did not expect it to close. The production crew member who was operating the prop believed they were in full rehearsal and closed the door.

The door’s steel frame was overlaid with sheets of metal and had a tapered edge. Its operation moved from ceiling to floor in a sharp downward motion. It did not have any automated safety mechanisms to cut out if a person was unexpectedly under the door.

The risk of the door causing a serious injury or death had been highlighted by one of the health and safety officers for the production company. Foodles Production (UK) Ltd should have put a system in place to ensure the actors and production workers were protected. A different design with inbuilt safety features or using a different material could have guarded against any possible miscommunication on a busy film set.

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd, who had pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to Section 2 and Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, were today fined £1.6 million and ordered to pay costs of £20,861.22 at Aylesbury Crown Court.

HSE’s Divisional Director Tim Galloway said:

“This incident was foreseeable and preventable and could have resulted in more serious injury or even death.  The power and speed of the door was such that, had Mr Ford or anyone else had been struck on the head by the door as it closed, they might easily have been killed.  It was only the almost instantaneous actions of the prop operator in hitting the emergency stop that prevented the door from continuing to press down on Mr Ford as he lay on the floor.  I think everyone would accept that all the people who work in the film industry have a right to know that the risks they take to entertain us, including when making action movies, are properly managed and controlled.”

HSE prosecution round up:

Paper mill worker left with disabling crush injuries

A Halifax paper mill firm has been fined for safety breaches after a worker suffered severe crush injuries to his right hand.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the injured worker sustained serious crush injuries in September 2013 while changing a couch roll on a board machine at Sonoco Cores & Paper Limited’s Halifax plant. The worker’s middle finger was severed in the machine and he required subsequent amputation of both his index and ring fingers.  He is now registered as partly disabled.

Sonoco Cores & Paper Ltd of Stainland, Halifax pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £120,000.00 with £6,354.00 costs.

After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector Jackie Ferguson said: “The Company failed to provide a safe system of work for changing couch rolls on a board machine. Their risk assessment for this type of work was not suitable or sufficient; it had identified the hazard, yet it did not consider the likelihood or severity of the risk and did not identify appropriate measures to prevent an uncontrolled fall of the machine’s hinged steel arm.  Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Supermarket in court after worker injured in roof fall

Supermarket chain Tesco has been fined after health and safety breaches led to a worker falling through a skylight.

The employee of Tesco Maintenance Ltd was lucky to suffer only minor injuries after falling 30 feet through a fragile skylight onto the trading area floor of the Tesco Liscard Express store in Liscard Village, Wallasey, on the 13^th June 2014.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the worker was part of a team carrying out repairs to the roof and gutters of the store when the incident occurred.

Tesco Maintenance Ltd and Tesco Stores Ltd were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found that no risk assessment or method statement had been produced prior to carrying out the work. The fragile skylights should have been identified and precautions taken but Tesco Maintenance Ltd had received no information relating to the fragility of the roof from their client Tesco Stores Ltd.

Tesco Stores Ltd of Tesco House, Shire Park, Kestrel Way, Welwyn Garden City, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 10 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £200,000 with £712.70 costs.

Tesco Maintenance Ltd of Tesco House, Shire Park, Kestrel Way, Welwyn Garden City, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £300,000 with £624.60 costs.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Chris Hatton said:

“Contractors should treat all roofs with care and check before starting any work if they are fragile. I am shocked at a company the size of Tesco failing to take even basic precautions to prevent injury to its employees and further, to risk injury to the public.”

Bolton night club owner fined over asbestos exposure

A Bolton night club owner has been sentenced after admitting a failure to carry out a survey for asbestos before starting on the refurbishment of a local night club.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how UK Night Life Limited and its sole director, Charles John McGrath, undertook the management of a refurbishment project between 1 August and 12 August 2015 on The Level nightclub, Mawdsley Street, Bolton without an experienced contractor in place to manage the site. Up to 20 workers were potentially exposed to deadly asbestos fibres in order for the club to open in time for Fresher’s week and an influx of students to the club.

The site first came to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) attention in August 2015 following a complaint from Bolton Council regarding unsafe construction works throughout the site.

The HSE inspector served a total of three Prohibition Notices and two Improvement Notices, along with a Notification of Contravention for a foreseeable risk of asbestos exposure, a lack of competent site manager, risk of falls from height, unsuitable welfare facilities and inadequate fire safety precautions.

Charles McGrath, sole director of UK Night Life Limited, of Mawdsley Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulations 5(a) and 16 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and was fined £5,720.00 with costs of £3,535.86.

In his summing up, District Judge Sanders remarked that Mr McGrath had chosen to rush through the works with unqualified and inexperienced people running the site on a day-to-day basis. He went on to say that it was clear that these offences amounted to a ‘degree of cost cutting at the expense of safety’.

HSE inspector Matt Greenly said after the case:

“Mr McGrath totally failed in his duty to protect his workers, subcontractors and anyone else accessing this site from a foreseeable risk of serious harm. Asbestos related diseases are currently untreatable and claim the lives of an estimated 5,000 people per year in the UK.

The requirement to have a suitable asbestos survey is clear and well known throughout the construction industry. Only by knowing if asbestos is present in any building before works commence can a contractor ensure that people working on their site are not exposed to these deadly fibres.

The cost of an asbestos survey is minimal compared to the legacy facing anyone who worked on this site. They now have to live with the realisation that due to the lack of care taken by Mr McGrath they may face a life shortening disease at some point over the next 30 or more years, from an exposure which was totally preventable. This case sends a clear message to any company that it does not pay to ignore risks on site, especially to simply keep to a self-imposed tight schedule.”

Worker injured after being struck by concrete skip

A site manager and a worker have been fined for safety failings after another worker was struck by a concrete skip at a construction site in South London.

Woolwich Crown Court heard how on 23 February 2012, Ryan Musgrave, 27, suffered a badly broken left leg and fractures to his right ankle and several ribs, when an empty concrete skip (weighing 215kg) became detached from an excavator and fell onto him at the Harris Academy in Welling. He was unable to work for seventeen months.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 23 February 2012 found that there was no thorough examination certificate for the shackle on the excavator, and the shackle was defective.

Site manager Christopher Crowley, of Dominion Drive, Collier Row, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(1)( a) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.  He was fined £1,000, and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.

Self-employed construction worker, Michael Kernan, of CYC Coastal Club, Marine Parade, Sheerness, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) (c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000.

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Melvyn Stancliffe said: 

“Mr Crowley should have taken the shackle on the excavator out of use when he inspected it two days before the incident as he had not seen a thorough examination report for it.  The law is clear that lifting accessories must not be used unless they have been thoroughly examined in the previous six months and that there is a report available to prove that.

Mr Kernan, an experienced construction worker, accepted that he did not fully screw in the pin on the shackle as he should have done and as a result it failed.

Lifting accessories are not complex items but if they are not used properly or are not thoroughly examined periodically then the consequences can be serious. The practice known as ‘backing off’, unwinding the pin by a quarter of a turn, is not safe and shouldn’t be used.

This case highlights the importance of ensuring simple checks are carried out properly and that equipment is used correctly”.

Worker suffers severe injuries in roof fall

A roofing company has been fined after a worker fell five metres through a roof sustaining severe injuries.

St Albans Crown Court heard how a 32 year old labourer was working for Richardson Roofing Company Limited (RRCL) on a construction site at Kingsley Green, Radlett, Hertfordshire, on 8 August 2013.

The worker was fitting battens on the roof around holes for the skylights when he stepped on a membrane covering one of the holes and fell approximately five metres. He sustained two broken wrists and four fractures to the skull and was hospitalised for fifteen days. He has not been able to return to this type of work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the hole had been previously covered by boards but these were later removed in order to complete the works up to the hole’s edge, leaving the hole visually obscured by the thin roofing membrane. The company failed to properly identify and put in place controls for controlling the hazard of falling through the roof once the boards were removed.

Richardson Roofing Company Limited, of Richardson House, Moor Lane, Staines, Middlesex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,865.

Building contractor prosecuted following worker’s fall

A building contractor from Wokingham has been prosecuted after a worker fell and punctured his lung while carrying out demolition work.

Kevin Lipscombe, 58, had been asked to dismantle an old shed that was by a new build house. While working on the roof of the shed, Mr Lipscombe lost his balance and fell onto an adjacent old greenhouse. His fall, on 18 December 2014, shattered the glass and punctured his lung.

High Wycombe Magistrates’ court heard how Mr Lipscombe was not given any instructions or equipment to dismantle the shed and there has been no suitable risk assessment carried out before the work started.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that work had not been planned and there was no protection to prevent workers from falling from height.

John David McCormick (trading as Trymac Construction), pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4 (1) and 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £2,000 for each, a total of £4,000, and was ordered to pay costs of £2,147 with a victim surcharge of £120.

Construction Company fined after worker loses both legs

A Cornish construction company has been fined after their worker had to have both legs amputated, around the knee, after being crushed by a dumper truck.

Roger Daw, 58, was operating a fully loaded front tipping dumper on his employer’s site in Liskey Hill, Perranporth. He drove the dumper down an incline where it became imbalanced and overturned. Mr Daw, who appears to have not been wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle, which landed on his legs and crushed him.

Truro Crown Court heard that there were a number of failings that led to the incident. The specific type of truck being used by Mr Daw was not appropriate for the task but no-one on site had assessed the plant equipment’s limitations.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found the company had also not carried out an assessment for any of their drivers or their competence in using the plant equipment.

Roger Daw, from Plymouth, was airlifted to hospital where they had to amputate both of his legs about the knee.

MJL Contractors Ltd, Hellys Court, Water Ma Trout Industrial Estate, Helston Cornwall, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,312.56.

HSE inspector Jo-Anne Michael, said:

“Roger Daw’s life has been changed forever. If MJL Contractors Ltd had planned the work properly, assessed the equipment and the drivers this incident would not have happened.  Companies must learn that risk assessments are there to protect their workers from the real risk that mobile plant can become unstable.”

Council fined after employee was injured from fall

A Yorkshire council has been fined after an employee was injured when he fell from a ladder.

Hull Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) fell from a ladder while descending from a porch roof which was being re-felted. He fell 2.4 metres and suffered two broken vertebrae.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 23 April 2015 found that the ladder was not tied and there was no edge protection in place for the porch roof. The task had not been risk assessed and decisions regarding safety and equipment were left to the workers.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council of County Hall, Beverley, Hull, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £664.00.

Metal company fined after worker loses foot

A Bedfordshire metal company has been fined for safety breaches after a worker suffered severe leg injuries and lost most of his foot.

Luton Magistrates’ Court heard how 24 year-old Luke Simpson, who was an agency worker for the company, was injured when a trolley carrying metal stock fell on his legs causing severe injuries.

A bundle of 18 stainless steel bars weighing about 900kg was on a four wheeled trolley. The trolley was manually moved by Mr Simpson and another staff member but it tipped over and the bundle of bars fell off the top of the trolley trapping his leg and foot. He was rushed to hospital by the emergency services.

Mr Simpson’s right leg was broken and his right foot was badly crushed. Despite a number of operations to save his foot, most of it was amputated and he now has a prosthetic foot. It was many months before he was able to return to work. Mr Simpson is currently only able to work on a part-time basis.

HSE found that the metal trolleys had been used on site for some 20 years without incident. Smiths purchased the trolleys to be used as ‘workstations’, but employees had chosen to also use them to move metal stock around the site. There was no risk assessment or written system of work for these trolleys at the time of the accident. The trolley also had faulty wheels and there was no record of any maintenance.  After the accident, the trolley was given a safe working load of 500kg; half the weight placed on the trolley at the time of the accident.

Smiths Metal Centres Limited of Stratton Business Park, Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £130,000 with costs of £2,456.40 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Emma Page said:

“Luke’s life has been drastically altered by what happened and this incident could have been very easily avoided with some very simple measures. The right equipment and a correct maintenance system would have prevented this from happening.”

Manufacturing firm fined after worker crushed to death

Oldham manufacturing firm R Tindall (Fabricators) Ltd has been prosecuted after a worker died after he was crushed under metal pipework.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that 53-year-old Frank Dunne was operating a side-loader fork lift truck which was carrying a vacuum packed pipe bundle. While he was attempting to load a second bundle weighing 1.5 tonnes, it fell, crushing him underneath.

There were no eye witnesses to the incident and Mr Dunne was found over an hour later when work colleagues moved the side-loader which was still running, discovering his body under the pile.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there was no risk assessment or documented system for moving and stacking pipework or any items around the site. Also the method of packing bundles had changed without being documented anywhere. The previous method using a wooden framework was actually more stable and would have meant that Mr Dunne would not have been in a danger area if this system had continued.

R Tindall (Fabricators) Ltd of West Point Industrial Estate, Hargreaves Street, Oldham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000.

HSE Inspector Mike Lisle said:

“There was no risk assessment carried out on this new method of working and no system put in place for the operators to follow. If the company had provided a safe system of work for their employees to follow this tragic incident to Mr Dunne could have been avoided.”

Building contractor in court after worker killed by falling load

A building contractor has been fined after a worker was killed when a load fell from a tower crane during a lifting operation in Colchester.

Urban Summit Construction Ltd was the Principal Contractor on a construction site at King Edward Quay, Haven Road, Colchester, where 780 student accommodation apartments were being built.

On 8 January 2014, during a lifting operation using the site’s tower crane, a load become detached from the chains and landed on the Banksman who was in charge of the operation. David Holloway, 35, sustained extensive injuries and died on site.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Urban Summit Construction Ltd at Colchester Magistrates Court after an investigation found the company failed to ensure that lifting operation was carried out in a safe manner.

Urban Summit Construction Ltd of 15 California, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2UF, were fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £29,127 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 8 (1)(c) of The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector David King said:

“It is essential that lifting operations are carried out in a safe manner, to help ensure the lift is carried out without risk to those in the area. Lifting operations must be properly planed by a competent person, carried out by adequately trained persons, and with appropriate supervision.  Guidance on carrying out lifting operations safely is freely available on HSE’s website, if this company had properly planned and supervised this work, this tragic incident could have been avoided”

Source: www.hse.gov.uk

 

Health and Safety in the news this week

HSE: Safer Site Targeted Inspections – Coming to a street near you

HSE construction inspectors will be carrying out unannounced visits to sites where refurbishment projects or repair works are underway.

This year the initiative is being undertaken as a series of two week inspections across the country, beginning 3^rd October 2016 and ending 4 November 2016.

During this period inspectors will ensure high-risk activities, particularly those affecting the health of workers, are being properly managed.

These include:-

·         Risks to health from exposure to dust such as silica are being controlled;

·         Workers are aware of where they may find asbestos, and what to do if they find it;

·         Other health risks, such as exposure to noise and vibration, manual handling and hazardous substances are being properly managed;

·         Jobs that involve working at height have been identified and properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions, such as proper support of structures, are in place;

·         Equipment is correctly installed/assembled, inspected and maintained and used properly;

·         Sites are well organised to avoid trips and falls, walkways and stairs are free from obstructions and welfare facilities are adequate.

Where serious breaches of legislation are found then immediate enforcement action will be taken, but inspectors will also be taking steps to secure a positive change in behaviour to ensure on-going compliance.

Health and safety breaches with clients and designers will also be followed up to reinforce their duties under CDM 2015 and to ensure that all duty holders with on-site health and safety responsibilities understand and fulfil these.

Source: HSE e-bulletin service

HSE prosecution round up:

Two scaffolders receive suspended prison sentence following worker’s death

Two scaffolders from St Austell, Cornwall have received suspended prison sentences following the death of a worker who fell 7m to his death.

Roger Stoddern, 47, was dismantling scaffolding on 24 June 2013, when he fell from the flat roof of a property in St Mawes. He was taken to Derriford Hospital but died three weeks later due to the severity of his injuries.

Truro Crown Court heard how Mr Stoddern was stacking 3m roofing sheets on the flat roof of the property without any edge protection. The safety railing had been removed to allow access to the flat roof so the sheets could be stacked. The court also heard how one of the defendants replaced the safety rail following the incident to cover up the cause of the incident.

The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation, alongside Devon and Cornwall police found that Colin Marshall Scaffolding was not qualified to erect the scaffolding and there was evidence that no personal protective equipment, such as harnesses, was used. The condition of the scaffolding also failed to meet current safety standards.

Colin Marshall of St Austell, founder of the business, pleaded guilty to breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was given a four-month prison sentence suspended for two years. James Marshall, also of St Austell, Colin’s son and business partner was handed an eight-month sentence suspended for two years. They were ordered to pay costs of £25,661.

The HSE inspector said:

“Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in Great Britain and businesses have to take the safety of their workers seriously. Colin Marshall and James Marshall are responsible for the death of Roger Stoddern. It was entirely preventable and should not have happened. The risks of working at height are known. Scaffolders must ensure they use the right protective equipment and have sufficient edge protection in place to prevent workers falling.”

Construction Company fined £800,000 after worker injured

A Surrey construction company has been fined after a contractor was run over on a large site in Wokingham.

David Cole was a site foreman on the large housing development project, which started in April 2013 and has a completion date of April 2017. He was struck by, and pulled under, a large bulk powder carrier.

On 7 December 2014 Mr Cole, who was contracted to Harlequin Brickwork Ltd, was walking along the site road at Mulberry Grove toward the rear of a bulk powder (mortar) carrier. The vehicle was located on a T junction having just reversed into the junction. Mr Cole walked along the nearside of the vehicle as it pulled forward and turned towards the nearside. He was hit by the vehicle and pulled under it.

He suffered serious life threatening injuries. His skin was removed and split on his left arm and leg, he fractured his left hip requiring a pin to be inserted, and fingers on his left hand were broken. His left leg has been left permanently shorter than his right by 20mm.

Reading Crown Court heard the site, run by the Principal Contractor, Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd, had failed to plan and manage the workplace transport effectively. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), prosecuting, told the court the incident could have been avoided had they monitored and taken action to ensure workers stayed behind the pedestrian barriers and not walked on the road, and prevented large HGVs reversing hundreds of metres at a time.

Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd., of Crest House, Pyrcroft Road, Chertsey, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 36 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and was fined £800,000 plus £10,984 costs.

HSE’s inspector John Berezansky said:

“David Cole suffered life changing injuries because Crest Nicolson Operations Limited did not properly manage and monitor the workplace transport on their construction site. When working with such large delivery vehicles and construction plant, especially on projects where there are lots of pedestrians,  the principal contractor much take responsibility and ensure the health and safety of all those involved.”

Hemel Hempstead manufacturer fined £1m following worker’s death

A manufacturing company based in Hemel Hempstead has been fined £1million after a worker was crushed to death by falling machinery.

Colin Reddish, 48, from Lincolnshire was involved in moving a large CNC milling machine within the company’s Grantham factory on 30^th April 2015 when it overturned and killed him. The machine had been lifted using jacks and placed onto skates in order to give Mr Reddish access to use an angle grinder to cut and remove the bolts that had secured it to the floor.  He was working alone at the time of the incident.

Lincoln Magistrates Court heard how Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd had not ensured that workers who were tasked with lifting and moving the machine were sufficiently trained and had the right experience and training for carrying out such a potentially dangerous activity.

The Health and Safety Executive found during its investigation that the work was not properly planned. The centre of gravity of the machine had not been properly assessed and taken into account before the move took place. This resulted in an unsafe system of work being used for the job, with fatal consequences.

Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Reg 3(1) of Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety of Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £1million for breaching Section 2, with full costs £6,311 and a victim surcharge of £120.

HSE Inspector Martin Giles said:

“Colin Reddish’s death was entirely preventable. Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Ltd had already tried unsuccessfully to lift the machine using a fork lift truck but instead of learning from this failure they carried on. Their ad hoc approach to managing dangerous tasks resulted in one of their workers losing his life.

“All companies can learn from this incident and make sure they have properly risk assessed the situation before they start and that they have trained staff with the right type of experience to carry out the task in hand safely. Taking an extra few minutes to properly think through a problem could save a worker’s life.”

Somerset manufacturer prosecuted for worker’s death

A company in Somerset has been fined after the death of a worker who fell through a factory roof skylight.

Taunton Crown Court heard Samuel Wright Maxwell, 46, of Wells Somerset was employed by Cooper B Line (CBL) factory in Highbridge, Somerset.

As a maintenance worker, Mr Maxwell had permission to go onto the roofs for various tasks and did so regularly without adequate and sufficient safety measures being in place.

On the 17 May 2013, he was on the roof working when colleagues below heard a crash, discovering Mr Maxwell had fallen through a skylight onto the concrete floor of the rack assembly area seven metres below. He died shortly after the fall.

The roofs at CBL were extensive and people worked on them regularly, without proper precautions to prevent them falling.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that CBL management failed to appreciate the risks to their maintenance workers when working on the roofs. They had carried out an inadequate generic risk assessment, which failed to identify the risks and control measures necessary when its employees were working at height.

Mr Maxwell’s partner, Gwenaelle Ansquer said:

“Losing Sam in this way casts a huge black cloud over my life and the life of our daughter. Even now over three years later, I still feel like it happened yesterday. I have been waiting all that time for CBL to accept the responsibility for something that should never have happened. I wish that they had done that from the beginning. I cannot believe they ever tried to deny it”.

HSE Inspector Annette Walker said:

“The senior management of companies must learn from this tragic case that they need to take the health and safety of their workers seriously. In this case a confusing system of work had developed and unintentionally encouraged dangerous methods.  Falls from height continue to account for a significant proportion of all workplace deaths and serious injuries. Falls through fragile roofs and skylights sadly happen all too often. Businesses should ensure that all roof work including routine maintenance is properly planned and carried out safely.”

Cooper B-Line Limited, of Walrow Industrial Estate, Highbridge, Somerset, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £210,000 and ordered to pay costs of £36,493.52.

Self-employed trader fined for safety failings

A Bradford self-employed trader was sentenced today for safety breaches after poor scaffolding arrangements at a domestic property put himself and others at risk.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Mark Podstawski, 47, after an investigation found poor planning, the absence of guard rails and a scaffold not of a recognised design, put himself and others, including people on the ground at risk.

Mark Podstawski of Horton Bank Top in Bradford pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was given 200 hours community service and ordered to pay £918.02 costs by Bradford Magistrates Court.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Paul Thompson commented:

“Mr Podstawski had been served with a Prohibition Notice six months prior to this incident when he breached the Work at Height Regulations for similar circumstances. This incident could and should have been prevented. Scaffolding should always be erected to the appropriate standards and previous enforcement action should not be ignored”.

Roofing firm fined after worker’s ladder fall

A Kings Lynn roofing company has been prosecuted after a worker fell seven metres from a scaffold access ladder while assisting with chimney repairs.

Kings Lynn Magistrates Court heard how the worker was subcontracted by J Webber Roofing Limited to assist with removing waste, mixing cement and bringing tools up to colleagues who were working on the chimney at a domestic property on Beech Avenue in Kings Lynn on 10 July 2015.

The company had erected a scaffold platform around the chimney with an access ladder attached to it. The worker climbed up the ladder carrying a cement filled bucket with a radio attached to it, on his shoulder. He lost his balance and fell approximately seven metres to the ground. The fall resulted in multiple fractures to both of the worker’s wrists and his lower left arm. He required surgery and steel plates and will never regain full use of his hands.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that J Webber failed to adequately plan work at height which involved manual handling of construction materials and waste up and down scaffold ladders.

J Webber Roofing Limited of 81 Gayton Road, Gaywood, Kings Lynn pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,582 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Kasia Urbaniak said:

“The risk of falls from ladders is well known. Ladders are being frequently misused where often better specifically designed equipment is easily available.  This incident which has left a worker without the full use of his hands could have been easily avoided if a ‘gin wheel’ had been installed on the scaffold platform to transport tools and other construction materials.”

Contractor seriously injured in fragile skylight fall

London exhibition venue firm, The Business Design Centre Ltd, and a building contractor have been fined for safety failings after a specialist contractor fell through a fragile skylight.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how the Business Design Centre allowed workers to cross an unsafe roof, which contained three fragile skylights and open edges, and failed to prevent contractors crossing the same unsafe roof on a number of occasions.

The court also heard that James Murphy, 64, from Chigwell in Essex, who had been appointed by The Business Design Centre Ltd to undertake repair work at the site, had led a specialist lead contractor over the unsafe roof on 14 May 2015. As he walked over the unsafe roof the lead contractor fell through a skylight, falling 5.5m. He suffered serious injuries including a shattered pelvis, broken wrist, and a broken elbow.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the Business Design Centre failed to ensure that access to and from the areas of the roof which required repair was suitable and safe, and that sufficient measures were in place to protect against the risks of falling from height.

James Murphy failed to ensure that the job of accessing and then inspecting the auditorium roof was properly planned.

The Business Design Centre Limited, of Upper Street, Islington, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2925,56

James Murphy, of High Road, Chigwell, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £4,000 and also ordered to pay costs of £2925.56

Source: www.hse.gov.uk

Health and Safety in the news this week

Lost parrot doesn’t give a hoot about health and safety

 A parrot proved she doesn't give a hoot about health and safety after she was found flapping around a building site.

Ripley, a red eclectus parrot, was flying around the David Lloyd gym site currently under construction in United Way, Colchester.

The baffled builders, clad in hi-vis jackets and hard hats, contacted the RSPCA.

Animal collection officer Rebecca Yarrow said:

“The builders had a bit of a shock when they were confronted by a parrot on Monday morning. Ripley obviously doesn’t give a hoot about health and safety but, luckily for her, the quick-thinking workers were able to confine her in an empty room before I got there to catch her.  I took her to our Essex North East branch and Ripley is now being cared for by staff and volunteers at the RSPCA’s Danaher Animal Home”.

Source: Colchester Daily Gazette

HSE prosecution round up:

Refinery firm fined £400,000 after gangway fall

Valero Energy UK Limited has been fined £400,000 following a serious accident at its Pembroke Refinery.

Judge Peter Heywood sitting at Swansea Crown Court heard the Berth 6 access tower walkway that provided gangway access to a stationary tanker vessel on 5 March 2012 had dropped 3.5 metres, causing operator David Thomas to be trapped by a slack wire rope.

He suffered fractures and lacerations to both legs and a dislocated knee.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found multiple failings leading up to the incident which led it to launch the prosecution. The court heard numerous failings included:

• failed to carry out a sufficient risk assessment of the use and operation of the access tower, with the result that the dangers of jamming, slack cable, and personnel accessing the walkway without engaging the scotching pin were neither identified or addressed and the hierarchy of risk control was not applied.
• failed to provide adequate information, instruction and training to employees as to the safe use and operation of the access tower.
• failed to carry out adequate investigations into the previous and related incidents of September 2011, February 2011 and, in particular, August 2010.
• failed to review the check-list risk assessment in light of those incidents.
• failed to act on the recommendations of their inspection contractor, particularly in respect of the jamming problem and the absence of any access gate interlock and ignored comments on one report of their that there was a “potential fatal accident waiting to happen’’.
• failed to install any means of detection or prevention of slack cable in the mechanism.
• failed to detect that the access tower was neither CE marked, nor subject to a Declaration of Conformity, as required.

Valero Energy UK Limited (previously known as Chevron), of Pembroke Refinery, Pembrokeshire, pleaded guilty to a single charge of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at a previous hearing. It was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £60,614.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Andrew Knowles said:

“It was particularly disappointing to find that although the company knew there had been problems with the operation of the access tower the company had failed to investigate these properly and had relied on changes to instructions, rather than taking action to modify the defective hardware, as required by the hierarchy of risk control.

“This was even more surprising in view of the fact that the company operates a major hazard refinery site where you would expect such problems to be taken more seriously and effectively investigated, with suitable corrective actions implemented.”

Worker suffers life threatening injuries after drum explodes

A Kent company who supplies road safety products has been fined after a worker suffered life threatening injuries when a drum he was working on exploded.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how 41 year old Andrew Foster, an employee of Highway Care Limited was using a plasma cutter to cut up a drum that had previously contained a flammable substance. Mr Foster suffered life threatening injuries when the drum exploded in his face causing complex head and brain injuries. He has permanently lost vision in his right eye and now has very limited vision in his left eye.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 6 August 2012 found that the company failed to ensure the health and safety of their employees.

Highway Care Limited, of Detling Hill, Maidstone, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £660,000 and ordered to pay costs of £33,358.46.

HSE Inspector Caroline Fullman said.

“Andrew Foster has been left with devastating injuries that will impact on the rest of his and his family’s lives. This incident could have resulted in a fatality.

“If a welding torch or plasma cutter is used on a tank or drum that has contained or contains a flammable substance, it can explode. It only takes a small amount of residue to create a potentially flammable atmosphere.

“Mr Foster wants others to learn of the risk of hot work on drums and tanks – he was previously unaware of the risk.”

Illegal Newquay gas fitter sentenced for undertaking unregistered gas work

An unregistered gas fitter has been order to complete 250 hours of community service for illegally installing a LPG gas boiler and hob at a Newquay home as well as producing fraudulent documentation.

Dean Marshall, aged 47, of Dukes Way, Newquay, installed the gas boiler and gas hob at a property on Chynowen Lane, Newquay several years after his registration with Gas Safe Register had lapsed, meaning he wasn’t permitted to carry out gas work. His previous registration with Gas Safe Register did not cover any work on any LPG gas appliances as he had never completed the proper training for this work. Despite this he continued to use the Gas Safe Register logo on paperwork he issued.

Truro Crown Court heard today, 15 September, that Mr Marshall’s illegal gas work came to light when the homeowner, who had been repeatedly asking for the commission documentation for the new boiler, noticed that Dean Marshall had used another name and registration number on the commissioning certificate.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Dean Marshall had fraudulently used a Gas Safe registered engineer’s details to deceive the homeowners.

Mr Marshall pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3), 3(7), and 33(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was sentenced to undertake 250 hours unpaid work for each offence to run concurrently and ordered to pay £4,966.42 in costs.

HSE Inspector Simon Jones, speaking after the hearing, said:

“Only engineers registered with Gas Safe can legally carry out gas work.

Mr Marshall undertook gas work which he knew he shouldn’t do. He compounded his illegal work by fraudulently using firstly the Gas Safe Register logo on his paperwork and then the details of a properly registered gas engineer on a commissioning certificate that he issued in a clear attempt to deceive the homeowners.

Manufacturing company fined for safety failings

A manufacturing company based in Somerset has been fined for safety failings.

Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard how employees at LJH Group Limited were identified as being at increased risk from working with vibrating tools following a fitness for work assessment.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company failed to complete a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk from the use of vibrating tools and the failure to implement a suitable programme of health surveillance for their employees identified at risk.

LJH Group Limited of Leigh Road, Frome, Somerset, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,490 and a £250 victim surcharge.

West Midlands welding firm fined over worker injury

A Bilston engineering company has been sentenced after a worker was injured while operating a drilling machine.

Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Deimantas Beinoras, a 23-year-old Lithuanian national was injured while working for KV Welding Limited, which manufactures equipment for the material handling and logistics sector.

Mr Beinoras was operating a pedestal drilling machine to drill holes into some box section tubing. He was adjusting the work piece while the drill was still running when his gloved hand became entangled with the unguarded drill bit.

His arm was pulled around the drill and broke two bones in right forearm. His injuries resulted in skin graft being required on the arm.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuting, told the court that injuries could have been prevented if the drill was guarded with a telescopic guard covering the rotating drill bit, the injured person had not been wearing gloves, a suitable and sufficient risk assessment had been completed to identify required control measures and if the employee had received proper training.

KV Welding Limited of Perry Street, Bradley, Bilston admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £2,168.73 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Richard Littlefair said:

“It is vital that companies understand the importance of using suitable guarding when employees are operating drilling machines as there are significant risks involved which may lead to serious personal injury.  Other simple measures such as not wearing gloves can be taken to eliminate the risk of entanglement involved with operating drilling machines or any other machinery with moving/rotating parts.”

Source: www.hse.gov.uk

Health and Safety in the news this week

A body that was found in the rubble at Didcot power station has been identified, more than six months after the power station collapsed.

Father of one, Christopher Huxtable, 34, from Swansea was found in the ruins of the collapsed building last Wednesday.

Four people died when the plant exploded and collapsed on 23 February.

The body of Michael Collings, 53, from Teeside, was recovered from the site on the day.
John Shaw, 61, and Ken Cresswell, 57, both from Rotherham, still remain missing.

A Guard of Honour marked the removal of Christopher’s body and included representatives from the families of the missing men, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, RWE and Coleman and Company.

Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris, who has been involved with the family since the incident, said they still did not know all the facts of the collapse.

She said: “I feel very sad. My heart and my prayers go out to the family who have waited desperately for Christopher’s body to be found.  They can finally have closure, and say goodbye to him and grieve his loss.  But let’s not forget that there are two other families who are still waiting for their loved ones to be returned.”

Source: www.shponline.co.uk

HSE prosecution round up:

Roofing firms fined after worker fell to his death

Two roofing companies and one of their directors have been fined after a worker fell to his death through a skylight.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how 46 year old Lance Davies, a father of seven, died after falling over seven metres through a roof light at industrial premises in the Crumlin area of South Wales.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 15 December 2011 found that the work at height on the roof was not properly planned, managed or monitored.  There were inadequate control measures in place to prevent a fall through the roof lights.

SPAN Roofing Contractors Limited, of Sunnyside Road North, Weston Super Mare, North Somerset, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, and was fined £65,000 and ordered to pay costs of £37,500.

B & T Roofing Solutions Limited, of Arthur Street, Ystrad, Pentre, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined a total of £20,000.

Kristian Griffiths, of Arthur Street, Ystrad, Pentre, a director of B & T Roofing Solutions Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by virtue of Section 37 of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974, and was given a 160 hours community service order.

B & T Roofing Solutions and Kristian Griffiths were ordered to pay costs of £32,500 between them.

Following the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Paul Harvey said:

“Falls through fragile roof lights and roofs are one of the biggest causes of fatalities and serious injury in the construction industry.  The issue is well known in the construction industry and there is plenty of guidance available.  The tragic death of Mr Davies could easily have been avoided had the work been planned, managed and monitored effectively and simple and cost effective control measures put in place.”

Company director jailed following worker's death

A company director has been jailed for 12 months following the death of one of his workers.

Father-of-three Paul Williamson, who was 51 years old, died on 29 January 2014 when a remote controlled Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) he was loading on to a truck fell from the ramps and crushed him.

Manchester Crown Court heard how Paul Williamson had not been adequately trained on the use of the ramps, the lorry and the MEWP.  There was no risk assessment in place and no safe system of work had been created for the equipment, which had only been in operation for eight days.

The gradient of the ramps were above the manufacturer’s specification and they were not secured to the lorry.   As the MEWP, a Spider 1800, was loaded onto the truck it toppled off the ramps on to Paul Williamson.

Company director Kenneth Thelwall, Burleigh Road, Enfield, was charged under section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act, sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay costs of £4,000.  He was also disqualified from being a company director for seven years.

Thorn Warehousing Ltd was charged under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act was fined £166,000 and ordered to pay £10,400 costs. The company is currently in administration.

HSE’s Inspector, Helen Jones said:

“Kenneth Thewall failed in his duty as a director to protect his workers.  He was involved in the day-to-day running of Thorn Warehousing Ltd and should have ensured the company provided Paul Williamson with the right equipment and training to carry out his job.  Had he done so Mr Williamson would still be alive today.  This case should act as a stark warning to all company directors of their personal responsibility to protect their workers’ health and safety and the tragic consequences when they fail.”

Conservatory roof manufacturer fined after workers fall

A conservatory roof manufacturer and installer has appeared in court after a worker suffered serious injuries in a fall from a conservatory roof.

The 59 year old worker from Bolton suffered a fractured skull which resulted in a bleed on his brain and a shattered eye socket in the incident which occurred at a property in Newton Le Willows in June 2015.

The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which prosecuted Phil Coppell Ltd for serious safety failings and failing to report a previous incident in 2013 when the same employee fell off a roof and lost consciousness, and another employee suffered multiple broken ribs in a fall through a skylight.

Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court heard that two workers had been carrying out repair work on the roof of the conservatory.  Whilst working alone on the roof the employee lost his footing and fell approximately 2.5 metres onto a patio area below.

There were no preventative measures in place to prevent the risk of a fall from height.  An Improvement Notice was served by HSE during the investigation and the company subsequently developed a barrier for use as edge protection.

Phil Coppell Ltd of Cemetery Road, Radcliffe, Greater Manchester pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and breaches of Regulation 3(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, and Regulation 4(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, and was fined £40,280 and ordered to pay costs of £1,464.70.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Christine McGlynn said:

“This incident could have been avoided if the company had learned lessons from two previous similar incidents in 2013.  The risks of working from height are well known and there is plenty of guidance available.  Employees of this company were exposed to the risks of falls over a prolonged period of time.  Generally work of this nature is at the rear of premises and is not visible or easy to monitor, however this prosecution should highlight, in particular to other companies who carry out work on conservatory roofs, that they should have in place control measures to prevent the risk of falls”.

Engineering Company in court over fork lift incident

An engineering company in Knowsley has been fined after an employee was badly injured when he was struck by a metal structure during a lifting process.

The 46 year old worker from Skelmersdale sustained serious flesh wounds and a fractured arm in the incident on the 30^th June 2014.

Knowsley Engineering Services Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found the company had failed to ensure that the lifting operation was suitably planned, supervised or carried out safely.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the worker and a colleague were attempting to manoeuver the structure out of the premises using a fork lift truck.  Whilst trying to raise the structure from its supporting trestles it twisted, and swung towards the worker, entering the cab of the fork lift truck and striking him.

The company had not carried out a risk assessment and no formal training had been provided for the employees.

Knowsley Engineering Services Ltd of Peel Road Industrial Estate, Skelmersdale pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,670.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Imran Siddiqui said:

“Had the company taken basic steps such as providing suitable training so those undertaking the lift were in a more informed position to assess and then adequately manage the risks, this incident would have been avoided.”

Textile factory owner fined for insurance failings

The owner of a textiles firm has been prosecuted after failing to demonstrate that up-to-date insurance was in place.

Merthyr Magistrates’ Court heard that William Cuthbert trading as BC Shirts, failed to provide evidence of Employer’s Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over a period of six months.

William Cuthbert, trading as BC Shirts, of Unit 4, Oaklands Business Park, Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf was charged with breaching the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 and was fined £1000 in total and ordered to pay costs of £9,143.35.

Speaking after the case HSE Inspector Wayne Williams said:

“Failure to provide suitable insurance puts workers at risk of not being adequately compensated in the event of an injury or illness sustained whilst at their place of work”.

 

Engineering firm fined after worker suffers severe leg injuries

A company based in Milton Keynes has been fined for safety failings after a worker suffered serious injuries to his leg.

Aylesbury Crown Court heard how workers at GEA Mechanical Engineering Limited (GEA) were attempting to lift a 900kg decanter scroll back into its mobile trailer, following a service in the workshop.  Struggling to manoeuver it far enough into the trailer, they asked an employee from the office staff to assist them.

Ralph Jago, aged 47, a technical support supervisor, went to their aid but during an attempt to lift the decanter, it slid forward trapping Mr Jago’s right leg against metal racking and badly breaking it.  He was trapped for an hour and a half before fire and rescue services were able to free him.  He suffered serious fractures to his right leg requiring metal rods and pins to be inserted.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 29 January 2015 found that the company failed to ensure staff were suitably trained and competent to plan and carry out a lift of this complexity.

GEA Mechanical Equipment (UK) Limited, of Westfalia House, Wolverton Road, Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,831.

Construction firm in court after worker fractures spine in roof fall

Construction firm Montway Ltd has been fined £144,000 after a worker was seriously injured when he fell off a roof during demolition work.

Southwark Crown Court heard that on 25 February 2013 two workers were working on the roof of a two storey detached house at 17 Basing Hill, Golders Green in London.

Romanian labourer Mr. Ioan Vancea fell from the partly demolished roof and suffered serious injuries.  No scaffolding had been provided and the work was not being supervised.

Mr. Vancea fell some five metres from the roof to the ground and sustained a series of injuries including a fractured spine. He was in an induced coma for two weeks and remained in hospital for three months.

The site was inspected by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) two weeks after the incident and unsupervised demolition work was still being carried out. A number of serious matters were identified including asbestos which had been removed from the house and was found in a pile by a neighbouring property’s hedge and in broken pieces mixed in with other debris. Enforcement Notices were immediately served to ensure workers and members of the public were protected.

Montway Limited of Batchworth House, Batchworth Place, Church Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, WD3 1JE pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £144,000 and ordered to pay £43,606.15 in costs.

Montway Ltd originally pleaded not guilty, but changed their plea and sought a Newton Hearing to determine numerous issues it disputed.  The Newton Hearing took place before District Judge Roscoe between 23-24 May 2016.

HSE inspector Andrew Verrall-Withers commented after the hearing:

“Mr. Vancea’s injuries were life changing and he could easily have been killed.  This serious incident would have been avoided if scaffolding had been provided.  Montway Ltd’s site documents even identified it was needed.  Montway Ltd sought a Newton hearing so they could dispute numerous issues in front of a District Judge.  They were unsuccessful and the Judge’s ruling confirmed she was satisfied that their approach towards the welfare of their employees was lax and casual, and it was their overall poor management of health and safety that directly led to this incident.”

Manufacturing firm fined after worker’s arm injured in roller

A Wirral based company has been fined £170,000 after a worker’s arm was injured in machinery.

Warwick Crown Court heard how an installation engineer of Sovex Limited suffered a broken arm when it was pulled into machinery at the UK Mail site in Coventry, where he was commissioning a new conveyor belt system.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 21 January 2015, found there was a lack of effective guarding and isolation procedures on the machinery.

Sovex Limited, of Prenton Business Park, Prenton Way, Prenton, Wirral, were found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £170,000 with £24,000 costs.

Source: www.hse.gov.uk