Health and Safety News

Lightwater Valley fined £350k over boy's rollercoaster fall

A theme park where a boy fell from a rollercoaster has been fined £350,000 for health and safety breaches. The seven-year-old was airlifted to hospital with head injuries after falling from the ride at Lightwater Valley in North Yorkshire in May 2019. York Magistrates' Court heard the ride no longer operated and the park viewed the accident with 'great sadness'.

HSE statement following incident at water recycling centre in Avonmouth

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remains at the site of a water recycling centre in Avonmouth following yesterday’s fatal explosion. HSE is fully supporting the investigation into the incident, for which Avon and Somerset Police have primacy.

Council fined £300k after toddler fell through gap in railings

A local authority has been fined after a young child fell almost three metres to the floor from a gap in railings, sustaining serious head injuries. On 16 November 2018, a family was visiting Chester City centre to watch the Christmas parade. While standing at a viewing point on The Rows at Bridge Street, their 21-month-old daughter fell through a gap in the railings onto the floor below, fracturing to her skull.

HSE launches investigation into Urbaser worker’s death

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched an investigation into the death of a refuse collector working for Urbaser at a school in Kent on 25 November. The worker, who has not yet been named, was completing his morning collections at the Benenden School on behalf of Tunbridge Wells borough council. He was hit by a refuse collection vehicle in the school’s grounds and died at the scene. No-one else hurt in the incident.

Footage reveals dangers of not paying attention in roadworks

Highways England has urged motorists to drive carefully through roadworks as it reveals new research and shocking footage that show the dangers of not paying attention. Latest data shows road workers have reported around 6,500 incidents over three years of drivers going through cones and into roadworks sites – an average of 175 a month.

HSE to prosecute following Birmingham fatal wall collapse in 2016

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution is being brought against two companies after five workers were fatally injured and another seriously injured at a site in Birmingham. On 7 July 2016, Ousmane Kaba Diaby, Saibo Sumbundu Sillah, Bangally Tunkara Dukuray, Almamo Kinteh Jammeh and Mahamadou Jagana Jagana were all fatally crushed by a collapsing wall at the site on Aston Church Road in Nechells area of the city. Tombong Camara Conteh sustained serious injuries.

Recycling oven makes asbestos safe to reuse

Approximately 60% of asbestos taken to landfill is in the form of roof sheets. Removing asbestos roof sheets involves putting them in a skip and sending to landfill. There has been no alternative – until now, it is claimed. Approximately 60% of asbestos taken to landfill is in the form of roof sheets. Removing asbestos roof sheets involves putting them in a skip and sending to landfill. There has been no alternative – until now, it is claimed.

Construction firm fined £130,000 after employee fell to his death through Preston warehouse roof

A construction firm has been fined £130,000 for health and safety breaches after a roofer fell to his death through a warehouse roof in Preston. Mieczyslaw Solowski, 59, known to colleagues as Mitchâ, suffered fatal head injuries and died instantly in the accident in Brockholes View on April 10 2015.

Glasgow cash and carry fined £120,000 after worker's fall

A Glasgow wholesale company has been fined £120,000 over health and safety failings when an employee fractured his skull falling through a ceiling. Cash and carry Alfa Wholesale Ltd pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court last week. Roman Khan, 24, fell through a plasterboard ceiling while retrieving stock from a mezzanine at the warehouse in Anderston in November 2017.

Gig workers win PPE battle

Gig economy workers are entitled to the same health and safety protection as permanent colleagues, the UK High Court has ruled. Last week, the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) won a judicial review against the UK government calling for workers in the UK gig economy to be granted the rights they are entitled to under European safety and health law, including the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).