Company fined after roofer fell through unguarded loft hatch
Mark Smith fell through loft hatch while re-roofing house in Wimbledon.
The roofer fractured his back and has been unable to return to work.
Falls from height remain a leading cause of death and injury.
A Hampshire-based company has been fined after a roofer suffered life‑changing injuries when he fell through an unprotected loft hatch while carrying out work on a domestic property in Wimbledon.
Mark Smith had been working for Willow Services (Southern) Limited on 13 May 2024, where he was re‑roofing the house. The 41-year-old had been stripping out internal insulation within the roof space, when he stepped onto an unguarded loft hatch which had not been identified or protected.
The unguarded loft hatch
He fell approximately 11 feet to the floor below, landing on his back. He had fractured his L1 vertebra and his hip and has been unable to return to work since. His employment was later terminated by the company.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to suitably plan the work at height. The company did not ensure adequate measures were in place to prevent falls and had failed to provide competent supervision of the work.
The work had not been properly planned
The investigation also identified that those overseeing the work did not have the necessary training or experience to safely manage construction‑related activities.
HSE guidance provides practical advice on planning, organising and carrying out roof work safely. It highlights the need to properly assess risks from working at height, identify fragile surfaces, provide suitable access equipment, and ensure falls are prevented wherever possible.
The guidance also stresses the importance of competence and supervision and applies to construction, maintenance, repair, cleaning and demolition activities. Following this guidance can help reduce the risk of fatal and serious injuries when working on roofs. Work at height – HSE.
Falls from height are the leading cause of injury and death in construction
Willow Services (Southern) Ltd, of Westbrooke Close, Waterlooville, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £5,607 in costs at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 30 April 2026.
HSE Inspector Laurence Goodacre said:
“Falls from height remain the leading cause of fatal incidents in the workplace, particularly within the construction industry.
“This incident was entirely avoidable and resulted from a failure to properly plan the work and provide competent supervision.
“Had the loft hatch been identified and protected at the planning stage, Mr Smith would not have suffered these life‑changing injuries.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Neenu Bains and paralegal officer Atiya Khan
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
Man thought he was ‘going to die’ after electric shock from overhead powerline
Dramatic CCTV footage captures moment tree surgeon suffers electric shock.
He had been part of team of three clearing vegetation on busy road in Wiltshire.
Lighting tower he was pushing made contact with 11,000 volt overhead powerline.
CCTV shows the dramatic moment a tree surgeon suffered a powerful electric shock from an overhead powerline while carrying out maintenance to hedges on a busy road near Royal Wootton Bassett.
Shortly after midnight on 19 January 2024, Joshua Pocknell was working as part of a team of three on the A3102 when the mobile lighting tower he was pushing made contact with an overhead powerline.
The 26-year-old described the moment the lighting tower hit the overhead powerlines and that he ‘couldn’t let go of it’.
“My whole body locked and I felt hot and cramping, he said.
“I could hear the electricity in my head and thought I was going to die.
“I hit the floor and passed out, still cramping.
“I later discovered a hole had burnt through my arm and hip all the way to the bone.”
He had sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital, where he spent the next five weeks.
“My injuries were complex and challenging and there were five or six different surgeons involved in my treatment, he added.
“I still experience considerable pain and strange bodily sensations, including nerve pain and itching.
“This incident has torn the life from beneath me and I don’t think I will be able to return to the job that I used to love.”
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident found employer Upton Specialist Tree Services had requested a permit to carry out the work of a night time from Wiltshire Council. It had been decided to do the work after dark due to the needs of traffic flow as the A3102 acted as a diversion for M4.
However, the company had failed to adequately plan for or risk assess the dangers posed by overhead power lines. The company did not implement suitable control measures, such as barriers, instruction or training in operating the mobile lighting tower. Overhead powerlines had not been properly assessed or controlled,
particularly following the change to night time working requiring the use of a mobile lighting tower.
HSE guidance states that employers must identify and assess the risks from overhead power lines, particularly where equipment capable of reaching them is used. Workers should be provided with suitable information, instruction and training on the safe use of such equipment, including maintaining safe clearance distances. Work should be properly planned, supervised and reviewed if working methods change. Further guidance is available on our website – Overhead power lines – HSE.
Upton Specialised Tree Services Ltd, of Horton Heath, Wimborne, pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching Regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 by virtue of Regulation 3. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £6,237 in costs at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 1 May 2026.
HSE inspector Tom Preston said:
“Joshua is lucky to be alive.
“Overhead electrical power lines present extreme risks to workers, but the risks can and must be controlled.
“Work near overhead power lines should only be carried out where it can be done safely, following a suitable risk assessment, the use of barriers or safety zones, and proper training on the equipment being used.
“In this case, a worker sustained severe injuries in a traumatic incident for all concerned that was entirely preventable.
“HSE will take action against those who fail to take the steps necessary to protect people at work.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Karen Park, Rowena Goodwin as the prosecution advocate and Gabrielle O’Sullivan as the paralegal officer.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
Cardiff University fined £280,000 after two employees develop occupational asthma
Two employees developed occupational asthma after prolonged exposure to animal allergens.
Both are now left with lifelong conditions; one was unable to continue in their role.
HSE found the university failed to properly control the risks over a 15-year period.
Cardiff University has been fined £280,000 after two employees developed occupational asthma because of exposure to animal allergens in the workplace.
Britain’s workplace regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), found that between 2008 to 2025, the university failed in its duty to identify and implement suitable controls to prevent employees’ exposure to animal allergens. Both employees affected have been left with lifelong conditions as a result, and one was unable to continue in their employment.
In a statement, one of the affected employees said: “I was diagnosed with occupational asthma and occupational rhinitis, and my lung function has been permanently decreased by 33 percent.
“As a result, my breathing has been terrible, and I struggle walking any distance. Going upstairs is really difficult. I have to take steroid inhaler, a nasal spray and a bronchodilator throughout the day as I need it.
“I become breathless when having long conversations and I am unable to walk and talk at the same time anymore.”
HSE’s investigation found that Cardiff University had failed to put in place adequate measures to protect workers from exposure to animal allergens, despite relevant legislation being in place since 1989 under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), and specific guidance relating to laboratory animal workers being available since 2011.
Occupational asthma is a recognised work-related disease that can have serious and permanent consequences. Employers working with animals or other biological agents must assess and control the risks of exposure to allergens and ensure appropriate protective measures are in place.
Cardiff University pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The university was fined £280,000 and ordered to pay £11,745in costs at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 30 April 2026.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Janet Hensey said:
“This was a case of Cardiff University failing to properly deal with very real risks to employees working with animals and not putting suitable controls in place to prevent exposure.
“The fact this went on for 15 years is truly concerning.
“Occupational asthma is a recognised work-related disease with potentially disabling consequences.
“HSE will not hesitate to take action against organisations, which do not do all that they can to keep people safe.”
This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Daniel Poole and paralegal officer Helen Jacob.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people & places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences in England can be found here and those for Scotland here.
Tissue manufacturer fined after worker injured hand unblocking machine
24-year-old worker suffered serious damage to his hand following the incident.
HSE investigation found machine blockages were commonplace and company hadn’t acted on 2021 risk assessment
HSE guidance makes clear importance of safe isolation procedures before unblocking machinery.
A tissue manufacturing company has been fined after an employee was seriously injured while clearing a machine blockage at its factory in Blackburn.
The 24-year-old, a lead machine operator, was working for WEPA Professional UK Limited at its premises on Waterfall Street on 31 March 2024. During the manufacturing process, a tissue blockage occurred in the rollers of the machine and the worker instructed his colleague to ‘jog’ the machine while he cleared the paper by hand.
Jogging – also known as inching – refers to the momentary energisation of a motor to move it in small, precise increments, only while the operator holds down a button.
However, as the man did this, his right hand became trapped in the roller. Although he managed pull his hand out of the machine, he had sustained crushing injuries to it.
The man had been attempting to clear a tissue blockage in the rollers of the machine
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that tissue blockages were a regular occurrence at the factory, happening around 2-3 times a day. However, there was also no safe system of work in place for unblocking the tissue and the risk assessment in place at the time of the incident, which had last been reviewed in 2021, identified that formal safe operating procedures were needed to reduce risk, but this was never actioned by the company.
HSE guidance on safe use of work equipment highlights the importance of following safe isolation and lock-off procedures before carrying out any maintenance or unblocking work on machinery. Employers must ensure that equipment is properly isolated from all power sources and that systems are regularly monitored and reviewed to prevent inadvertent contact with dangerous parts of machinery.
WEPA Professional UK Limited, of Waterfall Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 etc. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,107 at Burnley Magistrates Court on 29 April 2026.
HSE principal inspector Emily Osborne said:
“A young worker was left with a serious injury as a result of an accident which could easily have been avoided.
“There was no safe system of work in place for the task as well as a lack of instructions and training to ensure workers knew how to carry out the task safely.
“Instead, the firm’s failures led to the man suffering a severe injury to his right hand.”
This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Gemma Zakrzewski and supported by paralegal officer Hannah Snelling.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
Recreational diving instructor fined after falsifying HSE diving medical certificate
Diving instructor used falsified medical certificate to seek employment
Document was identified and reported by a local diving school
HSE warns it will take action against misuse of safety-critical certification
A recreational diving instructor has been fined after falsifying a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commercial diving medical certificate.
Stuart Elmes, of Bournemouth, falsified the certificate while seeking employment as a PADI instructor in March 2025. The document was identified by a local diving school and subsequently reported to HSE.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), supported by the Approved Medical Examiners of Divers (AMED) board, confirmed that the certificate had been falsified.
Commercial divers must hold a valid medical certificate issued by an HSE-approved doctor to confirm they are fit to dive. This is a legal requirement under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and is a critical safeguard to protect both the diver and others involved in diving operations.
Under Section 33(1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, it is an offence to make, or possess, a document that closely resembles an official document and is intended to deceive.
Stuart Elmes pleaded guilty to breaching Section 33(1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 17 April 2026. He was fined £700 and ordered to pay £2,620 in costs and a victim surcharge of £280.
HSE Diving inspector Christopher Booker said:
“Diving commercially is a high-risk activity. Being assessed as medically fit to work underwater, including when providing diver training, is an essential part of ensuring safety — not only for the individual but also for their students and colleagues.
“Stuart Elmes falsified an HSE diving medical certificate and used it to seek employment in the recreational diving industry.
“HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those found to be in possession of, or using, falsified fitness to dive certificates.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement advocates Rowena Goodwin and Neenu Bains, supported by paralegal officer Michael Millman.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
UK firms win national awards for innovative designs to reduce musculoskeletal risk for workers
A civil engineering firm and an air ambulance charity have won national awards for designs that eliminate the risk of musculoskeletal injuries at work.
Robots and bespoke roller systems eliminate manual lifting risks.
Winners mark the 10th year of the MSD Risk Reduction Through Design Awards
Designs developed with workers could inspire other employers to follow suit.
Workers at two UK organisations will benefit from healthier working conditions after innovative design changes to cut musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) earned their employers this year’s MSD Risk Reduction Through Design Awards — now in their tenth year.
The awards, sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), recognise employers who have redesigned tasks to remove the risk of MSDs — injuries to the back, joints and limbs that are among the most common causes of work-related ill health in Britain.
MP Coleman Ltd, a civil engineering and materials company, won the main award. Workers were manually palletising 25kg bags — each handling around 5 tonnes of material per shift — involving repetitive bending and twisting that caused lower back fatigue and shoulder discomfort. A robotic arm now picks, places and stacks the bags automatically, with an automatic wrapping unit replacing manual stretch wrapping entirely. Perimeter guarding (not shown in the photos)) and automated controls improve safety and simplify the workflow.
No jobs were lost; workers were upskilled into other activities.
Before: Workers manually palletised 25kg bags from conveyor. This involved constant bending and twisting motions. After: A robotic arm loads bags from conveyor to pallet, which is then wrapped automatically
Thames Valley Air Ambulance, the charity serving more than 2 million people across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, wins the Small to Medium Enterprise Recognition Award. Training manikins weighing between 20kg and 40kg had to be handled multiple times a day by two workers, with restricted space making ideal lifting postures difficult,increasing injury risk. Bespoke roller shelving and a height-adjustable roller trolley, designed with equipment manufacturers, health and safety specialists and workers, has substantially reduced MSD risk and made it a one-person task.
Before: Manikins stored on fixed shelving in a restrictive area, compromising workers’ posture when handling. After: Custom roller shelving installed with a height-adjustable roller trolley, eliminating the need to carry the 20kg-40kg manikins to the training area
Chris Quarrie, HSE’s Chartered Ergonomist, Human Factors Specialist and chair of this year’s judging panel, said:
“We congratulate both MP Coleman and Thames Valley Air Ambulance for reducing workplace MSD risks for their workers, hopefully their ideas can inspire others. This is the tenth year of the MSD risk reduction through design awards, and they demonstrate how design changes can eliminate or significantly reduce MSD risk — creating healthier workplaces.”
More information about Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF): https://ergonomics.org.uk/
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.
Company fined for not having compulsory insurance for its workers
Cheshire-based scrap merchant didn’t have employers liability compulsory insurance.
Issue came to light after visit from the Health and Safety Executive.
HSE reminding companies that having insurance not an ‘optional extra’.
Britain’s workplace regulator is reminding all company owners of their legal responsibility to hold Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI).
The message comes from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following its prosecution of Mill House Metals, a scrap metal merchant based in Widnes, Cheshire.
The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 towards costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969. By law, employers are required to insure against liability for injury or disease to their employees arising out of their employment – it is compulsory insurance.
Liverpool Magistrates Court heard that following an incident at its Hale Road site, the HSE found that there had been no valid certificate of insurance between 18 April 2025 and 30 September 2025. As Mill House Metals Ltd were unable to produce a valid ELCI certificate, this meant that their staff had no means of pursuing a civil claim against the business had they been injured at work or contracted a work-related illness or disease.
Mill House Metals Ltd, of Hale Road, Widnes, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching the Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969. The company was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs at Liverpool Magistrates Court on 15 April 2026.
HSE principal inspector Emily Osborne said:
“Had Mill House Metal’s employees suffered a work-related injury or illness that warranted a claim for damages, they would have been denied a chance to claim the compensation as recompense for any pain and suffering they had endured.
“That is the purpose of ELCI. It is not a trivial optional extra, it is a compulsory requirement that is designed solely to protect employees.
“The law expects employers to take all reasonably practicable steps to prevent their workforce from being injured or becoming ill, but if incidents do occur then Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance cover is vital.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Gemma Zakrzewski.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
Chemical company fined £3.8 million after investigation into serious chemical burns suffered by two employees
HSE investigation found clear failings leading to two separate incidents of exposure to caustic soda at Essex-based manufacturer.
Employee lost part of their leg in 2019 incident after stepping in puddle of caustic soda at West Thurrock site.
In 2022 a second worker needed skin grafts after suffering burns while decanting caustic soda at Grays site.
Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL), a chemical manufacturing company based in Essex, has been fined £3.8 million after two employees at two separate sites suffered serious chemical burns as a result of exposure to sodium hydroxide, known as caustic soda.
In the most serious incident, an employee lost his leg below the knee. In the second, another employee sustained burns requiring skin grafts to heal.
Across both sites, HSE found a consistent failure to properly assess and control the risks associated with handling and containing hazardous substances.
First incident – West Thurrock, 6 December 2019
Michael Bartholomew, now 60, a father of two and grandfather of seven from Grays in Essex, was working as a chemical loader at ICL’s site at Old Power Station, Stoneness Road, West Thurrock when he stepped into a puddle of liquid suspected to contain caustic soda. The safety boots he had been provided with were not in good condition and did not provide adequate protection against the chemical — and had not been sufficiently tested against British Standards. Mr Bartholomew sustained serious burns that resulted in his leg being amputated below the knee. He has not been able to work since.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found multiple leaks of hazardous substances from pipework, valves, hoses and vessels across the site. There was no suitable system for the inspection, maintenance and testing of pipework and equipment to prevent or reduce the likelihood of leaks in the area where Mr Bartholomew was walking. Systems of work did not account for spillages, there were inadequate controls for clearing them up, the ground around the boiler house was unmade — enabling puddles to accumulate — and there were insufficient designated or enforced walkways to direct workers safely across the site.
In a Victim Personal Statement following the amputation, Mr Bartholomew said:
“I felt that this was game over for me. I would not be able to work or support my family. I miss my work and my work colleagues.
“Losing my independence and work is a huge loss and I feel I have gone through a grieving process as my work life was such an important and integral part of my life.
“I used to go to track days and drive different cars, I cannot do any of these things anymore…I used to take my grandchildren out fishing, I used to play football with them in my back garden, I can’t do any of these things with them anymore.”
A safety boot Mr Bartholomew was wearing when he received the injury
Second incident – Titan Works, Grays, 30 August 2022
At ICL’s Titan Works site on Hogg Lane, Grays (now closed), an employee was manually decanting caustic soda at 50% concentration using a hose into 25-litre containers, in order to top up intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) to the required concentration. After completing the task three times, he noticed that drips from the hose had fallen onto his foot, causing burns that later required skin grafts to heal. He has since returned to work.
The HSE investigation found there was no risk assessment or documented safe system of work for this task. Investigators also found that it would have been possible to automate the process entirely by bringing back into service an existing automatic IBC dosing plant with fixed pipework and remote controls — removing the need for manual handling of caustic soda altogether. Following the incident, the use of 25-litre containers was stopped, and IBCs were instead delivered to site already mixed to the required concentration, eliminating the risk entirely.
About caustic soda
Sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda, is used in the manufacture of washing and cleaning products. It is a white, odourless solid at room temperature and is strongly alkaline. It has a strong corrosive action on all body tissue, causing burns and frequently deep ulceration.
HSE guidance is clear that employers must take reasonable steps to reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous substances like caustic soda. The first priority is to prevent exposure altogether — for example, by changing how the work is done and making sure equipment and pipework are properly maintained.
If exposure can’t be avoided, it must be properly controlled using good working practices. Personal protective equipment (PPE) should only be used as a last resort and not relied on as the main way to manage the risk.
Industrial Chemicals Ltd, of Jupiter House, Warley Hill Business Park, The Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3BE, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The company was fined £3.8 million and ordered to pay costs of £124,748 at Southwark Crown Court on 21 April 2026.
The Caustic Loading area from the ICL site
HSE inspector Julia Gebauer said:
“This was a company operating with significant volumes of a highly corrosive material but had manifestly failed to put proper measures in place to protect their workers and prevent exposure.
“The consequence was two separate incidents at two separate sites – one of which resulted in life-altering injuries – that pointed to a pattern of avoidable risks that Industrial Chemicals Ltd could and should have prevented.
“That Mr Bartholomew didn’t have protective boots that were up to standard when he stepped in a puddle of caustic soda was only one of many failures that Industrial Chemicals Ltd have been held to account for.
“I hope the scale of the fine handed down brings some closure to the workers at the centre of this case and sends a clear message to employers that they must have proper plans in place to prevent their workers being exposed to danger.”
The HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer William Bodiam and paralegal officer Chidimma Elechi.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
Manufacturing company fined £340,000 after worker seriously injured while cleaning machinery
Company failed to put suitable measures in place to protect employees.
Worker suffered long-term damage to his hand following the incident.
HSE guidance emphasises importance of safe isolation procedures before cleaning machinery.
A manufacturing company has been fined £340,000 after an employee was seriously injured while cleaning machinery at its site in Swindon.
The 42-year-old man had been working a night shift for Tyco Electronics UK Limited at its premises on Faraday Road on 7 March 2023. He had been tasked with cleaning a machine used to manufacture pellets made from a mixture of raw materials. During the cleaning process, the worker manually raised the hydraulic ram inside the machine and opened the door. He then used his left hand to reach into the open space to clean the machine.
The machine mentioned
However, as he withdrew his arm, the door fell at the front of the machine and activated the hydraulic ram, trapping his limb. He managed to pull his arm free, tearing nerves and tendons, before shouting for help.
He required three operations to reattach his fingers and spent ten days in hospital. He attended Southmead Hospital twice weekly for dressing changes and physiotherapy. He continues to experience loss of sensation and movement in his fingers, although he has regained some movement in his thumb.
Close up of the hydraulic ram
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Tyco Electronics UK Limited failed to put suitable and sufficient measures in place to prevent employees from being put at risk while cleaning the machine.
The investigation also identified that employees had not been provided with sufficient information and instruction on how to use and clean the machine safely. Training was found to be inadequate, and employees were not suitably supervised.
HSE guidance on safe use of work equipment highlights the importance of following safe isolation and lock-off procedures before carrying out any maintenance or cleaning work on machinery. Employers must ensure that equipment is properly isolated from all power sources and that systems are regularly monitored and reviewed to prevent inadvertent start-up.
Tyco Electronics UK Limited, of Company Secretariat, Faraday Road, Swindon, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £340,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,145 at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 17 April 2026.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Emma Preston said:
“Machinery accidents during maintenance and cleaning are all too common, often with serious consequences.
“Workers should ensure that machinery is properly isolated from all sources of power so that it cannot restart during the task.
“Incidents like this can and should be prevented by following robust lock-off procedures.”
This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Neenu Bains and supported by paralegal officer Hannah Snelling.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.
Waste management company prosecuted after worker crushed by excavator
Worker suffered life-changing injuries after being run over by a reversing 15-tonne excavator.
HSE found the company failed to protect pedestrians from moving vehicles in the yard.
A waste management company in Hampshire has been prosecuted by Britain’s workplace regulator after a man had both legs amputated when he was crushed by a 15-tonne excavator.
The 24-year-old man was working for R W Waste Limited at its yard in Shedfield on 7 November 2023. The excavator, operating in the same yard, reversed over him as he was sorting waste. Both of his lower legs were later amputated and he has been unable to return to work since.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that R W Waste Limited failed to protect workers and other visitors to the site. The company had not put in place suitable arrangements to keep pedestrians safe while vehicles were moving around the yard.
CCTV screenshot of waste yard prior to incident
Health and safety legislation requires workplaces to be organised so that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely. Where large vehicles must reverse, employers must consider additional precautions and implement them where appropriate to protect those working nearby. HSE guidance on reversing states that most of these accidents can be avoided by taking simple precautions.
R W Waste Limited, of Botley Road, Shedfield, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
At Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 16 April 2026 the court heard that the appropriate fine, after trial, would have been £180,000, reduced to £120,000 to reflect the company’s guilty plea. However, as the company had gone into liquidation and was unable to pay, it was ordered to pay a nominal fine of £1. No order for costs was made for the same reason.
HSE Inspector Nicola Pinckney said:
“The failures of this company has left a young man with truly life-changing injuries.
“He has not been able to work since.
“Unfortunately, this type of accident is sadly not uncommon in this industry.
“After the incident, and following enforcement action taken by HSE, the company did introduce a number of readily available measures that significantly reduce the risk of this happening again.
“We take these failures seriously and will hold those to account who fail to keep their workers and other people safe.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and supported by HSE paralegal officer Gabrielle O’Sullivan.
Further information:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
Further details on the latest HSE news releases are available.
