Health and Safety News

Deaths, falls and assaults among catalogue of health and safety concerns

A council health and safety report includes details of a port explosion which killed a worker, an attack on a social worker and other incidents on Wearside in 2018/19. An explosion which killed a Sunderland dock worker will be examined by city leaders next week.

Firms reminded to remember fall risk from vehicles

On 25 October 2017, a Braithwaite Engineers Limited employee was injured when he fell from a lorry bed whilst unloading the lorry at their site in Risca. The fall resulted in multiple fractures of his head, ribs, shoulder blade and fingers, causing him to miss over five months of work. Investigating, the HSE found the company had failed to provide employees with suitable and clear instructions and training so that employees did not access lorry beds in an unsafe manner.

Company and sub-contractor fined after worker falls from height

Two companies, P.D.R. Construction Limited and Metcalfe Roofing & Building Services Limited, have been fined after a worker fell through a fragile mesh roof whilst carrying out work at height. Teesside Crown Court heard how, on 21 July 2016, the injured person had been in the process of installing a roof on a new KFC Drive Thru in Coulby Newham. Whilst moving materials on the roof, he stepped backwards onto an adjacent fragile mesh roof that was not loadbearing, falling approximately three metres and suffering multiple fractures of his lower left back.

Groundworks company fined after security guard suffers life changing injuries

A groundworks company has been fined after a security guard suffered serious hand injuries. Bristol Magistrates’ Court heard how on 17 November 2017 at the site on Ableton Lane in Avonmouth, a plant driver employed by APK Earthmoving Limited requested the assistance of a security guard working for a separate company to remove a trailer from a bulldozer whilst the machine was operated by the driver. The security guard’s right hand was trapped between a metal post and the bulldozer resulting in the amputation of his middle and ring fingers, and loss of movement in his index finger of his right hand.

Company fined after employee seriously injured in fall from lorry

A manufacturer of steel water storage tanks and supporting towers has been fined after a worker suffered multiple fractures following a fall from height. Cwmbran Magistrates Court heard how, on 25 October 2017, a Braithwaite Engineers Limited employee was injured when he fell from a lorry bed whilst unloading the lorry at their site in Risca, resulting in multiple fractures of his head, ribs, shoulder blade and fingers, causing him to miss over five months of work.

Fine after serious crush at recycling plant

In this incident, Mr Mucha had reversed the RCV into the processing plant in preparation for unloading. The unloading process required the driver to operate controls located to the rear of the RCV. It was while Mr Mucha was working to the rear of the vehicle that the incident occurred.

Where are the traffic accident blackspots in your area?

Use the interactive map to find out the prevalence of traffic accidents in your area.

Volvo fined after ‘life changing injuries’ suffered in crush incident

The HSE investigation found that Volvo Group UK Limited had failed to provide a sufficient number of wheel chocks for use by its employees and failed to provide information, instruction, supervision and training of its employees in their use. Volvo Group also failed to provide a suitable induction of the employee in safe working practices, it was found.

Solar panel company fined after worker falls through skylight

A solar panel company has been fined after a worker fell through a skylight during the installation of solar panels on a farm workshop in East Sussex. Brighton Magistrates Court heard how, on the 23 July 2018, an employee of SolarUK Limited was carrying out installation work on the fragile roof in Ninfield.

Company fined following multiple safety failings on construction site

A construction company has today been fined after failing to ensure the safety and welfare of workers on site during the renovation of a property. Preston Magistrates’ Court heard how, between 12 December 2015 and 14 June 2018, Navkaar Limited put its workers at serious risk of personal injury or death at a construction site in Blackpool.