What's new at HSE » Press release

Carbon monoxide awareness week warning to rogue gas fitters

HSE — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:10:52 +0000

Rogue gas fitters are being warned that they will be taken to task over shoddy jobs that risk lives.

HSE is using Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week (16-20 November) to renew its commitment to bring them to justice. According to provisional figures, HSE successfully prosecuted 28 people for breaching gas legislation in 2008/09, covering 66 separate offences.

View press release ‘Carbon monoxide awareness week warning to rogue gas fitters’

Suspended prison sentence for gas fraud plumber

HSE — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:31 +0000

A plumber from Mansfield has been given two suspended prison sentences and 100 hours community service for endangering homeowners’ lives in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

HSE and Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards jointly prosecuted Lee Underwood, trading as LPH and Lee Plumbing and Heating.

View press release ‘Suspended prison sentence for gas fraud plumber’

Failings led to drowning of seven-year-old

HSE — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:30:07 +0000

HSE said today that serious management failings led to the death of a young boy, who drowned in a swimming pool at a Dundee leisure centre.

The seven year-old, Luke Hutton, died in September 2007 at the Olympia Leisure Complex, Dundee.

View press release ‘Failings led to drowning of seven-year-old’

Theme park prosecuted after toddler is injured

HSE — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:38 +0000

HSE today (16 November) successfully prosecuted Malton-based theme park, Flamingo Land Ltd, after a toddler fell eight feet through a simulator ride last year.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,277 costs at Scarborough Magistrates Court.

View press release ‘Theme park prosecuted after toddler is injured on ride’

Property developer fined for putting workers at risk

HSE — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:10:28 +0000

A London property developer and landlord was yesterday fined £10,000 at City of London Magistrates Court after workers on two of his developments were put at risk.

HSE prosecuted Lahrie Mohamed of South Woodford, London, after uncovering breaches of health and safety law on two sites in Waltham Forest, north east London.

View press release ‘Property developer fined for putting workers at risk’

Employer without compulsory insurance fined

HSE — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:15:00 +0000

A Cambridgeshire retailer has been fined £1,000 for failing to have compulsory insurance to protect his employees.

The case has prompted HSE to remind all employers about the need for insurance and warn that it will take action against those who fail to protect their staff.

View press release ‘Employer without compulsory insurance fined’

Safer movement of heavy goods - HSE drive to lift standards in Scotland

HSE — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:30:22 +0000

HSE Inspectors will be carrying out a series of inspections at harbours, marine bases and pipe yard sites throughout the North East and Highlands of Scotland targeting work involving the lifting and movement of heavy goods.

The aim of is to raise awareness, promote sensible management and improve standards at the locations visited in the coming week.

View press release ‘Safer movement of heavy goods - HSE drive to lift standards in Scotland’

The Mirror’s ‘Penman and Sommerlad Investigate’ focuses on health and safety

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:54:12 +0000

Last year was the safest in history for British workers. There were 180 workplace deaths in 2008/9, the lowest ever recorded. According to The Mirror’s ‘Penman and Sommerlad Investigate’ column, there’s ‘record low workplace deaths - but it’s still 180-a-year too many’

View news announcment ‘The Mirror’s ‘Penman and Sommerlad Investigate’ focuses on the real health and safety risks’

Ship repair company fined £85,000 after crane platform crush fatality

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:15:58 +0000

HSE highlighted the importance of having sufficient information, training and supervision for lifting operations, following a successful prosecution of a Cornwall ship repair company.

This alert comes after A & P Falmouth Limited, C/O A & P Tyne Limited, Tyne & Wear, was charged with Health and Safety breaches following the death of employee (Reginald) John Datson on 8 August 2006.

View press release ‘Ship repair company fined £85,000 after crane platform crush fatality’

Company fined after wall collapses on Wigan worker

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:20:56 +0000

A construction company in Leigh has been ordered to pay £11,517 after one of its workers was seriously injured when a wall collapsed on him in Wigan.

HSE prosecuted Hughes Brothers Building & Joinery Ltd following the incident at its site on Millers Lane in Platt Bridge.

View press release ‘Company fined after wall collapses on Wigan worker’

HSE warns firms to better protect employees who work at height

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:00:23 +0000

HSE has delivered a stark warning to companies who fail to protect employees working at height - they will be held to account.

The warning follows a hearing yesterday (November 12) at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court when Pontiac Coil Europe Ltd, of Nottingham pleaded guilty to/was found guilty of a breach of Regulation 6(3) and 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

View press release ‘HSE warns firms to better protect employees who work at height’

Director fined for repeated negligent safety practices

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:00:47 +0000

A businessman from Northamptonshire has been fined £60,000 after ordering a worker to clean a moving machine that trapped and mangled his arm, requiring it to be amputated.

Paul Richard Llewellyn James, 58, of Cranford, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to two breaches of Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, brought under Section 37 of the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974.

View press release ‘Director fined for repeated negligent safety practices after worker’s arm amputated’

Worker loses arm despite century-old protective law

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:00:43 +0000

A court today heard how an Inverurie papermill worker lost his arm despite a century-old piece of legislation designed to protect factory workers.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court today (11 November 2009) fined International Paper (UK) Limited of Inverurie, £6,000 after they pleading guilty to a breach of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

View press release ‘Worker loses arm despite century-old protective law’

Edinburgh council fined £14,000 for asbestos failures that put workers at risk

HSE — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:28 +0000

Edinburgh Council has today (11 November) been fined £14,000 after 14 of its employees, were potentially exposed to asbestos while carrying out refurbishment work.

The workers, including joiners, had been instructed to remove laboratory doors from Castlebrae Community High School back in April 2007 and carry out alterations at the council’s workshop on Murrayburn Road.

View press release ‘Edinburgh council fined £14,000 for asbestos failures that put workers at risk’

Pet food company fined after three injured in explosion

HSE — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:40:11 +0000

A pet food manufacturer has been ordered to pay £29,271 today after three workers were seriously injured by an offal cooker explosion in Cumbria.

HSE has prosecuted Alba Proteins (Penrith) Ltd following the incident at its Wildriggs plant in Penrith. The company was fined the maximum £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,271 at North Cumbria Magistrates’ Court today.

View press release ‘Pet food company fined after three injured in explosion’

Fife farmers urged to sign up for safety event

HSE — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:45:03 +0000

Farmers from across Fife are being encouraged to attend an event that will arm them with the advice they need to make their farms safe places to work and help reduce accidents.

HSE is running a free Agriculture Safety and Health Awareness Day (SHAD) next week (19 November) as a way for those working on farms get practical advice from LANTRA instructors with an industry background.

View press release ‘Fife farmers urged to sign up for safety event’

South West Scotland farmers urged to sign up for safety event

HSE — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:35:44 +0000

Farmers from across Dumfries and Galloway are being encouraged to attend an event that will arm them with the advice they need to make their farms safe places to work and help reduce accidents.

HSE is running a free Agriculture Safety and Health Awareness Day (SHAD) next week (17-18 November) as a way for those working on farms get practical advice from LANTRA instructors with an industry background.

View press release ‘South West Scotland farmers urged to sign up for safety event’

HSE warns of dangers of using unregistered gas fitters

HSE — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:00:35 +0000

The HSE has warned of the dangers of using unregistered gas fitters after a Lincolnshire plumber carried out work which posed a risk to public safety.

Stephen McGill was fined a total of £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, and Regulation 6(1) of the same regulations.

View press release ‘HSE warns of dangers of using unregistered gas fitters following prosecution of Lincolnshire plumber’

Companies fined after fatal concrete collapse at Heathrow Terminal 5

HSE — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:30:44 +0000

Two construction companies have today been fined £105,000 after one man died and another was seriously injured when a concrete slab collapsed at Heathrow Airport in 2005, despite an earlier recall of defective equipment.

View press release ‘Companies fined after fatal concrete collapse at Heathrow Terminal 5′

HSE consults on EU artificial light regulations

HSE — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:13:16 +0000

HSE has today released a consultation document outlining how it plans to implement a European Union (EU) Directive to protect workers from hazardous sources of artificial light.

Intense sources of artificial light in the workplace, particularly from UV radiation and powerful lasers can harm the eyes and skin of workers and need to be properly managed.

View press release ‘HSE consults on EU artificial light regulations’