Health and Safety News

Dorset construction company sentenced after worker falls from height

Cutler Bros. Ltd and its Director, Roger Martin Cutler have been sentenced today after a worker fell through a skylight during the construction of a new farm building in Wimborne. Poole Magistrates’ Court heard that on 22nd February 2019, a self-employed labourer was working with another colleague to fit roof sheets to the newly constructed steel framed barn.

Construction company fined for breaching work at height regulations

A construction company has been fined after HSE inspectors found unsafe working at height practises and unsafe crane operations during a routine inspection. Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court heard how on 15 October 2019, a routine inspection in Malvern, Worcestershire, observed a crane in an unsafe position on the roadside.

School fined after member of the public sustains fatal head injury in fall

A school has been fined after a member of public tripped over a retaining wall and sustained a fatal head injury.Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard how on 17 February 2017, a family member attended The Leys & St Faith’s Foundation School in Cambridge to watch an evening performance. While walking towards the hall the woman tripped over a small retaining wall and fell to the ground sustaining a serious head injury. She died six days later in hospital.

'No prospect' of Drayton Manor paying £1m fine over child's death

The former operator of a theme park in Staffordshire has been fined £1 million after a schoolgirl died on a ride, but there is no prospect of the penalty being paid as the former theme park operator is in administration, the judge has said. Eleven-year-old Evha Jannath was on the Splash Canyon rapids ride at Drayton Manor during a school trip in May 2017 when she was 'propelled' from a vessel into the water.

Jersey construction firm fined £25,000 for breaking health and safety law

A construction firm in Jersey has been fined £25,000 for breaking a health and safety law after two of its workmen fell from a 'poorly constructed platform'.The Royal Court heard how the firm, JP Mauger, 'failed to protect the health, safety and welfare of its employees' after allowing construction work to take place on a platform that was in an 'unsafe condition'.

Two construction companies fined after working platform failed

Two construction companies have been sentenced following an incident were a working platform failed and a bricklayer using the platform was injured. Durham Crown Court heard how, on 1 July 2019, Dere Street Homes Limited were acting as principal contractor and provided components for a proprietary polypropylene working platform at a new build at Marley Fields, Wheatley Hill, County Durham.

Energy company fined after worker suffers multiple injuries in fall from height

Energy company, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd, has been fined after an agency worker fell 1.8 metres from a blade platform. Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 11 November 2017, the 30-year-old was working inside one of the turbine blades at the company’s blade factory in Hull. Inside the blade is a midway platform referred to as the “web”.

Covid-19: 48,000 businesses sign up for rapid testing

More than 48,000 businesses in England have signed up for workplace Covid testing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. Mr Hancock said it marked a 'huge step forward' in getting businesses 'back on their feet' and keeping people safe. Businesses of all sizes can register to order lateral flow tests for their workers until 31 March.

No jab, no job? Health and safety versus civil liberties

No jab, no job – easy to say but a minefield to navigate. As the NHS programme rolls impressively on, thoughts turn to how useful vaccine protection might be. The UK does not generally mandate medical treatment. It works on the basis of consent which is largely effective, for example with infant immunisations.

Mattress manufacturer fined after employee dragged into machine

A Nottingham mattress manufacturer has been fined after an employee of the company suffered multiple injuries to his arm, shoulder, ribs and neck after he was drawn into a NG-06 Semi-Automatic Mattress Rolling Machine (MRM). An investigation by The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company did not prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machine and had not implemented a suitable and sufficient safe system of work which would direct employees to not place their hands close to the dangerous parts of the machine.