Health and Safety News

Scaffolding company fined after scaffolding collapsed

A scaffolding company has been fined for safety failings after scaffolding collapsed on to a street in Maidenhead while it was being dismantled. High Wycombe Magistrates Court heard how the collapse could have resulted in serious injury or loss of life.

Logistics company fined after a worker was injured in explosion

A&D Logistics Limited, a national logistics haulier, has been fined after a worker suffered flash burn injuries when there was an explosion as he opened the door of a container. Paisley Sheriff Court heard how, on 7 January 2019, a team leader was requested by a member of the management team to dry out condensation from the office accommodation container. The custom and practice within the yard was to use a propane fuelled open-flame gas torch attached to a 47Kg LPG cylinder which was left burning within the container.

10 year old tyre ban enters law

On 26 October 2020, The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 statutory instrument was made. Three days later it was laid before Parliament. It comes into force on 1 February 2021. As a result, 10 year-old and older commercial vehicle tyres will be illegal in the UK from the 1 February 2021.

HSA report shows 68% of inspections result in enforcement

OF ALL inspections and investigations carried out in Ireland 2019, 68% resulted in enforcement being taken, new figures released by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) reveal. Of the 9,270 inspections carried out, 7,891 were proactively completed in relation to occupational health and safety, and 1,379 were completed in relation to chemicals.

HSE releases annual injury and ill-health statistics for Great Britain

Statistics released today show that Great Britain is still one of the safest places in the world to work with the lowest number of deaths on record. However, more than half of Britain’s working days lost in 2019/20 were due to mental ill-health. The annual report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) includes statistics for work-related ill health, workplace injuries, working days lost, enforcement action taken, and the associated costs to Great Britain.

Manufacturer fined after worker’s arm caught in machinery

A company that manufactures composite hose products has been fined after an inexperienced agency worker was injured when he was pulled into a spinning lathe, sustaining open fractures to his right arm. Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 20 November 2018, a worker at Novaflex Ltd was operating a lathe at the Bromborough site when the sleeve of his sweatshirt caught between a pitch wheel and rotating mandrel, pulling his arm into the machine.

Metal pressings manufacturer in court over segregation failures

A manufacturer which failed to safely segregate workers and vehicles has been ordered to pay £525,000 after a worker was hit by a forklift truck. On 23 November 2018, the employee was working at G-Tekt Europe Manufacturing's premises in Tredegar, south east Wales. He was struck by the vehicle, causing a serious brain injury which led to him being placed in an induced coma.

Manufacturing workers still being exposed to dangerous levels of air pollutants in the workplace

Up to 440,000 workers with health conditions that are worsened by air pollution are still being exposed to unhealthy levels of airborne hazards and pollution; regulation limits are too weak and are not being enforced, according to a new whitepaper. The whitepaper by Global Action Plan and Zehnder Clean Air Solutions has discovered that the quality of the air in the manufacturing sector continues to be underplayed and not acted upon with workers in the UK still being exposed to unhealthy levels of airborne hazards and pollution.

HSE and Sefton Council target Liverpool City Region for COVID-secure spot inspections

Sefton Council is one of many local authorities working with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) checking on businesses to make sure they are COVID-secure. Sefton is part of the Liverpool City Region that has just been placed in the highest lockdown tier following discussions between central and local government.

UK nuclear regulator starts legal proceedings against Sellafield Ltd

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has started legal proceedings against Sellafield Ltd over an alleged health and safety breach at its nuclear processing site earlier this year, the watchdog said on Friday. The charge relates to an incident on April 24 when a Sellafield employee sustained injuries while working on high voltage electrical equipment.