• CCTV captures moment a ride-on pallet truck collides with fork lift truck inside busy warehouse in Barnsley
• 20-year-old worker suffered several fractures to his foot and nerve damage
• Leggett & Platt Components Europe Limited had failed to consider impact of changes it had made to workplace transport routes

CCTV has captured the moment a young worker was injured when the ride-on pallet truck he was using collided with a fork lift truck in a warehouse in Yorkshire.

Bed spring manufacturer Leggett & Platt Components Europe Limited has been fined after Charlie O’Dowd was injured in the incident at its Long Royd warehouse in Barnsley on 14 November 2024.

The then 20-year-old had been using a ride-on pallet truck during the installation of new automated machinery within the warehouse. However, his truck, which was unguarded, collided with a fork lift truck being driven by another employee, resulting in multiple fractures to his foot, as well as longer term nerve damage.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had made changes to its workplace transport routes to accommodate the installation works taking place. However, these changes meant that both ride-on pallet trucks and fork lift trucks were required to use the same routes, within what was a busy stock loading area. Visibility was limited and vehicle movements had increased.

The HSE investigation concluded that the company had focused on the installation of the new machinery but had failed to adequately consider the impact that significant changes to workplace transport arrangements would have on worker safety. The changes to vehicle routes had not been properly risk assessed before being implemented.

Every year, there are accidents involving transport in the workplace, some of which result in people being killed. HSE guidance explains what should be done to keep workers safe – Introduction to workplace transport safety – HSE.

Leggett & Platt Components Europe Limited, pleaded guilty to a breach of  Section 2(1) of the Health & Safey at Work etc. Act 1974 in relation to the safe use of workplace transport within the warehouse. The company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £3,374 at Leeds Magistrates Court on 20 October 2026.

HSE Inspector Chris Parker said:

“This case highlights the importance of carefully assessing the wider safety implications of any changes made within a workplace, even where those changes may be temporary.

“When workplace transport routes are altered, employers must ensure that the risks created by those changes are properly assessed and controlled before they are introduced.

“Had suitable planning and risk assessment been carried out, this incident could have been prevented.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and paralegal officer Zara Salman and advocacy undertaken by enforcement lawyer Arfaq Nabi.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. HSE guidance on managing workplace transport safely can be found at: Workplace transport – HSE.
5. 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.

• Three-tonne steel beam fell into bath of molten zinc that created wave that covered worker
• 33-year-old man spent 11 days in intensive care requiring 13 operations
• Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited fined more than £500k after HSE investigation finds chains used to lift beam were damaged and deteriorated

One of Britain’s leading steel galvanizers has been fined more than £500,000 after one of its workers suffered 40 per cent burns to his body when hit by a wave of molten zinc at its site in Devon.

The employee was working for Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited at its site in Marsh End, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate in Crediton, Mid Devon, when the incident happened on 12 October 2021.

Hot dip galvanizing is a process that provides long-term protection against rust and corrosion of steel products. On the day in question, a lifting chain, carrying a roller steel joist weighing nearly three tonnes, failed. The beam fell into a galvanizing bath and the resulting wave of molten zinc covered the 33-year-old, before hitting a wall and surging back along the floor towards him.

CCTV footage from the scene shows the worker alight and running towards the emergency shower where his clothes were removed and he was doused in water. He was initially treated at the scene by paramedics, before being taken by air ambulance to Southmead hospital in Bristol. He had suffered 40 per cent burns and remained in intensive care for 11 days undergoing 13 separate operations. Any remaining healthy skin was grafted to repair his burnt body.

During his lengthy treatment the man suffered infection and sepsis leaving him with multiple long-term health conditions.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the set of chains used to lift the heavy steel beam had signs of damage and deterioration and there was a failure to withdraw them. Crucially, the chains had not undergone their mandatory regular inspection.

The investigation also revealed that the load slinging arrangement used at the time of the incident was incorrect, which meant that the load being lifted was greater than the safe limit for the chains. The risk assessment in place at the time of the incident for “immersion & swilling” had no reference to checks on chains, or what type of sling configuration to use.

Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited failed to meet several regulations and standards. Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998, lifting accessories must be thoroughly examined by a competent person at least every six months. Both the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) code of practice and the user manual for the chain manufacturer state that chain slings used in acidic environments, such as zinc galvanising, should be inspected before each day’s use.

The Health and Safety Executive publishes freely available guidance which underlines the importance of thorough inspection of lifting equipment, including the benefits of an ‘examination scheme’.

Wedge Group Galvanizing Limited of Stafford Street, Willenhall, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £566,666 and ordered to pay £15,521 in costs at Bristol Magistrates Court on Wednesday 14 October 2026.

HSE inspector Alexander Ashen said:

“This wholly-avoidable incident led to a young man having to endure truly terrible injuries – and the disturbing truth is that the consequences could have been even worse.

“It is shocking that an industry-leading firm,, with considerable resources at its disposal, should risk the lives of its workers with substandard inspection protocols.

“Our thoughts are with the victim at the heart of this incident, his friends and family, and all those at the site who have been affected by what happened that day.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Gemma Zakrzewski, Paralegal Officer, Farhat Basir and Rowena Goodwin, Enforcement Advocate.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here Planning and organising lifting operations – HSE
5. 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.

• 40-year-old father of one was crushed by load weighing over 200kg
• His injuries were so serious he now lives in a care home
• City Electrical Factors Limited failed to plan work properly and fined £4million

A Telford-based electrical wholesaler and manufacturer has been fined £4million after an employee sustained life-changing injuries when he was crushed during loading operations using a forklift truck.

The 40-year-old father of one from Telford was working for City Electrical Factors Limited at its Proteus Switchgear Industrial Division on 4 October 2024 when the incident happened.

The man had been acting as a “spotter” while a forklift truck loaded heavy switchboard equipment onto a flatbed lorry. The load, which weighed 231kg, was not secured to the forklift and fell on top of him. He sustained brain and spine injuries and underwent lifesaving surgery. However, he can no longer do anything for himself and is unable to communicate with others. As a result of these injuries, he now lives in a care home and requires 24/7 care.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that City Electrical Factors Limited failed to ensure that the lifting operation was properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner. There was no risk assessment or lift plan, and employees had not been provided with information or instructions about the lifting operation, despite this being a regular activity.

The investigation also found that the load could have been secured to the forklift truck using pre-existing anchor points. The load also had lifting eyes welded to it, which meant that the crane attached to the delivery lorry could have been used as a safer alternative to the forklift truck. Instead, employees were appointed as “spotters” and were expected to steady the loads whilst they were being moved and lifted. This was clearly an unsafe and unnecessary system of work.

HSE guidance states that lift plans should address the risks identified by the risk assessment and identify the resources required, the procedures and the responsibilities so that risks are managed, and any lifting operation is carried out safely. You can read more about our guidance here: Planning and organising lifting operations – HSE.

City Electrical Factors Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £4m and ordered to pay £6,304 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates Court on 16 October 2026.

HSE inspector Keeley Eves said:

“This incident had truly tragic consequences.

“To make matters worse it was completely avoidable and caused by a failure to properly plan for the job taking place.

“The company could have used safer alternative methods to lift the load, such as the lorry-mounted crane which was available, instead of using the forklift truck.

“Instead, the employee was placed at unnecessary risk and now has to live with his devastating injuries.

“Loading and unloading operations remain one of the most hazardous transport activities in the workplace. Employers must ensure that lifting operations are properly planned by competent persons, supervised and carried out safely.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and paralegal officer Lynne Thomas, while the investigation was supported by visiting officer Sarah Ough.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here Planning and organising lifting operations – HSE
5. 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.

• Apprentice engineer Conor Moseley, 20, died when a fire suppression system unexpectedly activated, filling the engine room with toxic gases.
• HSE investigation found no safe system of work existed for coordinating multiple contractors working in the cramped engine room, and no effective emergency plan was in place.
• Company fined after pleading guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

One of Britain’s leading fishing industry firms has been fined £100,000 after an apprentice engineer died in the engine room of a trawler in Newlyn Harbour.

Conor Moseley, aged 20, died when fire extinguisher gases left him unable to escape the engine room of a trawler on 15 November 2019.

Conor and three other workers were carrying out work on the Resurgam, a fishing vessel owned and operated by W. Stevenson & Sons Limited, when a fire suppression system being installed by Ocean Engineering (Fire) Ltd unexpectedly activated. It filled the engine room with hot, toxic gases, creating dangerous conditions and making it difficult to see.

The small, enclosed engine room had only one way in and out. Workers had to climb a ladder and pass through a hatch one at a time, passing through a gas jet in excess of 75°C. The other workers managed to climb out, but Conor was overcome by carbon monoxide and other substances, leaving him unable to escape.

His colleagues tried to rescue him, putting themselves at risk in the process, but they were unable to reach him. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service later rescued Conor from the engine room, but he could not be revived.

Tracy Moseley, Conor’s mother, reflected on her son’s life and the impact his death has had on them.

“Growing up Conor loved nothing better than helping out on his dad’s boat.

“Conor always made himself available to help his father when he came in from sea and would be ready to help him land his catch even after a full day’s work. Now for Steve, my husband, there is just an empty place that cannot be filled.

“All we have now are his ashes which are kept in his bedroom.  Every morning I go in and say, ‘morning little man I love you’ and blow him a kiss.  I never say ‘good morning’ as it can never be a good morning without him.

“At night I blow him a kiss and say ‘night night little man, I love you’.”

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the risks created by several contractors working in the cramped engine room had not been properly considered. One contractor described the room as a mess, with poor lighting and trip hazards, and said that at one point six or seven people were working in the space. One witness described it as chaos.

There was no safe system of work for installing the fire suppression system and no effective emergency plan. A permit-to-work system could have been used to coordinate the different activities and ensure they were carried out safely. HSE’s Safety in Docks Approved Code of Practice highlights the need for parties to work together and have an overall written plan covering responsibilities, shared risks and emergency arrangements.

At Truro Crown Court on 15 October 2026, W. Stevenson & Sons Ltd entered guilty pleas to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, sections 2(1) and 3(1). The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £27,906.

HSE principal inspector Helena Allum said:

“This was a particularly complicated case requiring significant HSE specialist and scientific input. A number of duty holders played a part in the circumstances leading to the death of Conor; all were investigated.

“While W. Stevenson & Sons Ltd was not responsible for the fire suppression system going off unexpectedly, it was responsible for considering what could go wrong during the installation and maintenance activities, and coordinating them so that as few people as possible were put at risk.

“They had not considered how workers could be quickly rescued in an emergency and receive prompt medical attention. This should be a key consideration when people are working in a restricted space.

“Conor’s death was a tragedy. He need not have been in the engine room at the time. When the worst happened, they couldn’t get him out in time to save him.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE senior enforcement lawyer Jon Mack and paralegal officer Mike Millman.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. 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.

• Adam Evans was landlord of property and failed to get safety checks on gas boiler for eight years
• His tenant was a woman who lived in the property with her five children
• Annual gas safety checks are a legal duty

A landlord has been sentenced after failing to ensure gas safety checks were carried out at a rented property in Wirral.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that property owner Adam Evans failed to have annual safety checks carried out for a period of eight years. The house, on Salisbury Drive in New Ferry, was occupied by a tenant who lived with her five children.

HSE began its investigation in October 2024 after receiving a concern from Wirral Borough Council. The woman had lived at the property since 2016 and reported that no annual gas safety checks had been carried out during her tenancy.

Following enquiries, HSE requested copies of gas safety records from Mr Evans. He provided a certificate dated November 2024 that had been completed following the concern, but was unable to supply any records covering the previous eight years.

Gas safety checks are a basic legal requirement for landlords and are essential to ensure that appliances and flues are safe. Failing to have these checks carried out places tenants at risk of serious harm, including carbon monoxide poisoning.

The sentencing comes after the HSE issued a warning to the public recently amid a surge in prosecutions against those carrying out illegal gas work – Families warned of risk to life from unregistered gas work amid surge in prosecutions of illegal traders – HSE Media Centre.

Adam Evans, of Brownlow Road, New Ferry, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on 8 October 2025.

Members of the public are reminded that landlords must ensure that gas appliances are checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer and that records of these checks are retained. Carbon monoxide alarms should also be installed to provide an early warning of danger.

HSE inspector Ian Betley said:

“Adam Evans showed a complete disregard for the law and put the lives of a mother and her children at risk.

“The case highlights a serious failure by him to comply with well-established gas safety requirements.

“Annual gas safety checks are a legal duty and are in place to protect tenants from very real and potentially fatal risks.

“Landlords must ensure that gas appliances and flues are properly maintained and inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Failure to do so will not be tolerated and enforcement action will be taken.”

Gas engineers and consumers can contact the Gas Safe Register in any of these ways:

Website: www.gassaferegister.co.uk

Phone – Consumers: 0800 408 5500; Engineers: 0800 408 5577

Email – [email protected]

This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Chloe Ward and paralegal officer Sarah Thomas.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Guidance on domestic gas health and safety is available.
5. 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 and Wales can be found here and for those in Scotland here.

• Connor Lambert, a trainee painter, was electrocuted while working in Chester
• The 24-year-old and his partner were expecting their first child
• His step dad has been sentenced for failing to properly plan for the work

A sole trader has been sentenced after his stepson was fatally electrocuted while working on a domestic property in Chester.

Daniel Watton, 50, trading as Inside Out Painters and Decorators Property Maintenance, was given a suspended jail sentence in relation to the death of trainee painter Connor Lambert. The 24-year-old, from Market Drayton, died after coming into contact with electricity, when a ladder was being moved near overhead power lines. He had been working at the house in Farndon on 29 July 2024 when the incident occurred.

Connor had been expecting his first child with partner Megan McCann at the time, and she described him as having the ‘cheekiest grin’ and being someone who loved family life.

Connor’s partner Megan McCann said:

“Connor was amazing. He had the cheekiest grin and would light up any room he was in – he was so funny.

“He was a caring person who always put everyone else first. He was very ambitious and he was an avid Arsenal fan. He went to loads of matches with my father and brother.

“He was a happy person who loved family life.

“We had been trying for our own family for three years and he was over the moon when we found out I was pregnant. 

“He never missed a midwife appointment and was elated when we found out we were having a baby girl.

“We had been on the phone talking the morning he died – I had just taken delivery of a moses basket and I was heavily pregnant at 32 weeks.

“But within minutes I got another phone call to say there had been accident and Connor was dead.

“I never thought I would have buried the love of my life and then given birth to our daughter 23 days later.

“She knows daddy is in the sky and at night he shines as a star – I’m making sure she knows who Connor is, but at some point I will have to explain to her what happened.

“I will never get over Connor’s death – I still feel angry, numb and feel a massive part of my world has gone.”

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Connor had been moving a fully extended ladder with a colleague at the gable end of the property. During this process, the ladder either came into contact with an overhead power line or came close enough for an electrical arc to form. While Connor was killed, his colleague suffered burns to his hands, feet, and stomach.

The investigation also found the work at height had not been properly planned, supervised, or carried out safely. The selected equipment and methods of work were unsuitable for the task and the risks associated with working near overhead power lines had not been adequately assessed or controlled. Additionally, the investigation identified issues in relation to the training and competence of those carrying out the work.

The original plan of work involved using a tower scaffold and ladders to paint the exterior of the property, including an area with a glass canopy; however, this approach was neither suitable nor safe. In practice, the work deviated from this plan, with ladders used throughout. This method was approved by Daniel Watton, but was also unsuitable and unsafe as demonstrated by the fatal incident.

Connor’s father Craig West, said the loss of his son had changed him, adding:

“This experience has changed me, my emotions, my temperament and my outlook on life.

“I’m agitated regularly and can become angry easily. I have lost the spring in my step and no longer have the drive I once had and work now has become a chore.

“After the findings of the inquest I find Connor’s accident even more tragic as it should have so easily been avoided.

“I do hold people responsible for this situation.”

HSE guidance states that where work at height cannot be avoided, it must be properly planned, appropriately supervised, and carried out safely. This includes using suitable equipment and work methods and ensuring those involved are competent. Where work near overhead power lines is unavoidable, measures must be taken to eliminate or reduce the risk, such as isolating the power supply, using appropriate equipment, and maintaining safe distances.

Daniel Watton, of Bean Bank, Wollerton, Market Drayton, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £10,645 in costs at Warrington Magistrates Court on 6 October 2026.

HSE inspector Keeley Eves said:

“This tragic incident meant a father never got to meet and hold his baby daughter.

“The fact it could and should have been prevented with proper planning and control measures, makes it all the more stark.

“Work at height and work near overhead power lines are both high-risk activities. Employers must ensure that suitable equipment is selected, risks are fully assessed, and workers are adequately trained and supervised.

“The very lives of those workers depend on these decisions.

“Our thoughts remain with all of Connor’s loved ones.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Jonathan Bambro and paralegal officer Lynne Thomas. The investigation was supported by Natalka Heath, HSE Visiting Officer.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. 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.

• Woman suffered burns to hands, face and legs when disposing of pyrotechnic waste at site in Lincolnshire
• GMK Limited had not risk assessed the work or provided her with suitable PPE
• HSE investigation also found company was in breach of its explosive licence

One of the country’s leading distributors of firearms for sports shooting and law enforcement has been fined £800,000 after a worker suffered burns at its site in Lincolnshire.

The 36-year-old was disposing of waste pyrotechnic material inside a manufacturing facility when it ignited and caused burns to her hands face and legs. An investigation by Britain’s workplace regulator found there was no suitable risk assessment and no safe system of work carried out by GMK Limited when the incident happened at the company’s Faldingworth base on 10 January 2023.

The woman had been working alongside a colleague disposing of waste pyrotechnic composition inside the production building at the site. The pair had been using a metal tray designated for the destruction of excess powders. However, during the process, a quantity of pyrotechnic composition came into contact with the hot tray and ignited unexpectedly, resulting in a flash that caused burns.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) established that GMK Limited permitted the woman to carry out a disposal method for waste pyrotechnic composition that had no safe system of work. They had also failed to carry out a risk assessment and the activity was undertaken in an unlicensed part of the building.

The investigation also identified that the company failed to provide the woman with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), which, if provided and correctly used, may have prevented or significantly reduced the injuries she sustained.

Although GMK Limited had an established and recognised method for the disposal of waste pyrotechnic substances and articles, this approved procedure was not followed on the day of the incident. Instead, the unapproved disposal method carried out within the production building had been informally used for a number of years and had been undertaken on multiple occasions without proper assessment, controls, or oversight.

The industry guidance for the Safe Management of the Disposal of Explosives details what the explosives industry expects at a burning / disposal ground and how it is managed. It was a reasonably practicable to ensure that disposal took place at the designated area using the prescribed methods in the guidance document.

During the investigation HSE also identified that GMK Limited were in breach of their explosives licence in that they were storing pyrotechnics in areas within the production building that were not licensed for that purpose.

GMK Limited, of Fareham, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 7 of the Explosives Regulations 2014. The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay £10,306 in costs at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 2 October 2026.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Philip Smith said:

“For a leading company such as GMK to fail in the most basic of ways is hugely concerning.

“This young woman’s injuries could have easily been avoided with the implementation of safe working practices and use of the correct PPE.

“I hope the scale of fine handed out sends a message to industry that failing to protect workers will result in HSE taking action.”

The prosecution was brought by HSE advocate Tom Ledden-Rocks, enforcement layers lawyers Laura Lax and James Towey and paralegal officer Sarah Thomas.

Further information.

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. 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

• 25-year-old man crushed while repairing excavator bucket
• HSE investigation of incident also uncovered failure to control exposure to welding fume

A company in Northumberland that manufactures earth moving attachments, such as excavator buckets, has been fined a six-figure sum after a man was crushed during repair works.

The 25-year-old suffered multiple fractures when he was crushed by an excavator bucket as he carried out repairs to it on 10 November 2023.

When inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation into the incident, they also identified failures in respect of how welding fume was being controlled during welding and burning activities.

The man had been working for Miller UK Ltd at a site in Cramlington when the incident happened. The work involved removing worn pieces of steel from the excavator bucket. As the man was working within the mouth of the bucket, its structural integrity failed and the bucket collapsed onto him. He became trapped inside and it was only when two colleagues attached an overhead crane and lifted the bucket sufficiently that he was able to crawl free.

He sustained eight fractured ribs, two fractured knees, two fractured vertebrae and a bruised left lung.

The HSE investigation also found Miller UK Ltd had failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the repair work leading to the bucket collapse, and had failed provide a safe system of work and adequate instruction to its employees.

It was during a subsequent inspection by the HSE that inspectors observed workers using plasma cutters and welding equipment without suitable control measures to adequately control the risk of exposure to welding fume, a hazardous substance that can cause cancer.

HSE investigators also identified that the company had failed to conduct a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks associated with exposure to welding fume in its repair department. The company subsequently failed to implement and monitor measures required to reduce exposure to welding fume to as a level as low as reasonable practicable, including use of local exhaust ventilation.

Miller UK Ltd, of Cramlington, Northumberland, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002. The company was fined a total of £173,334 and ordered to pay £8,674 in costs at North Tyneside Magistrates Court on 2 October 2026.

HSE inspector Matthew Dundas said:

“Our investigation identified that the repair work taking place was not being done safely and it left the man with serious injuries.

“Had the company identified the risk and ensured its employees were adequately instructed and trained, this incident would not have happened.

“This was an unusual case as the investigation was initiated following an incident where a young man was very seriously injured, however the subsequent intervention discovered additional failings, which led to further charges.

“As a result of the investigation, it was identified that other workers were not being adequately protected from the risks of welding fume.

“I hope this case highlights that HSE can and will take action when duty holders fail to discharge their health and safety obligations.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Iain Jordan and paralegal officer Zara Salman.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. 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.

• 59-year-old father of two was killed when he fell from first floor
• The work had not been properly planned or measures put in place
• Falls from height remain leading cause of fatalities in construction industry

An Oxfordshire-based construction company has been fined £120,000 after a carpenter died when he fell through an unsafe first floor while carrying out refurbishment work.

W G Carter Limited, of Appleton, was sentenced following the death of 59-year-old Richard “Felix” Roper, who fell from height while working at a domestic property in Gloucestershire.

Mr Roper, a father of two, had been carrying out work on the first floor of Manor Barn House, Nether Westcote, on 30 August 2022, where extensive repairs were being undertaken to replace rotten floor joists and floorboards.

He had been tasked with replacing damaged floor joists while other workers removed sections of flooring in the same area. Large parts of the first-floor structure had been stripped back, leaving open gaps between joists. In addition, some joists were either missing altogether or had not been secured.

It was while working in these conditions, Mr Roper fell from the first floor to the concrete ground floor below. He sustained severe head injuries and died in hospital the following day.

A joint investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Gloucestershire Police found that the work at height had not been properly planned, appropriately supervised, or carried out safely.

The investigation identified several serious failings. Workers, including Mr Roper, were able to access areas of the first floor where flooring and structural supports had been removed, despite there being insufficient measures in place to prevent falls. At the same time, other workers were continuing to remove floorboards, creating and increasing the risk of falling from height.

Following the incident, HSE served a Prohibition Notice, stopping further work at height until adequate safety measures had been introduced.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace death and injury with the latest statistics from HSE showing that they account for over a quarter of all work related deaths in 2025/26.

HSE guidance states what an employer must do to protect their employees from falls from height including making sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.

The investigation found that W G Carter Limited had failed to adequately plan the work and implement suitable measures to prevent workers from falling. After the incident, the company adopted a safer method of working, installing floor joists from below using appropriate work-at-height equipment and preventing access to the first floor while the work was being undertaken.

On 24 September 2026, at Bristol Magistrates Court, W G Carter Limited, of 81A Eaton Road, Appleton, Oxfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £120,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,247.

HSE principal inspector James Lucas said:

“Due to the failings of this company, a man lost his life.

“Every year, workers are killed or suffer life-changing injuries because work at height has not been properly planned or suitable safeguards have not been put in place.

“Had appropriate controls been in place, Felix’s death could have been prevented.”

“Our thoughts remain with Felix’s family. He was a valued colleague and a much-loved father of two who lost his life in circumstances that should never have arisen.”

The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Gemma Zakrzewski, enforcement advocate Rowena Goodwin and paralegal officer Hannah Snelling.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. 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.

• 23-year-old fell from ladder while erecting fence near the A19
• The work had not been properly planned
• Falls from height remain leading cause of death and injury

A fencing and land services company in Ripon has been fined after an employee suffered spinal fractures when he fell from a ladder during the erection of an acoustic fence.

The 23-year-old man was working for Metcalfe Fencing Contractors Ltd at a site in North Tyneside on the 10 of December 2024. He had been erecting a four metre tall, 265 metre long section of acoustic fencing in between the busy A19, near Holystone, and a housing estate.

The work was planned in such a way that required the use of a ladder on uneven, muddy ground, and an excavator was used to lift the fence panels over the head of the operator situated on the ladder. However, the slings of the excavator became tangled in the ladder during this operation, causing the ladder to tip, and the employee to fall approximately two metres onto the ground.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Metcalfe Fencing Contractors Limited failed to properly plan the lifting operation and the work at height activities.

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace death and injury and HSE guidance states that employers must ensure lifting operations and work at height activities are properly planned, and that they are carried out in a way which is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe. This includes making decisions about whether the work at height can be eliminated entirely. You can read more about our guidance here – Work at height – HSE.

Metcalfe Fencing Contractors Ltd, of The Annexe Heatherlands, Grantley, Ripon, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £22,000 and ordered to pay £5,327 in costs at South Tyneside Magistrates Court on 29 September 2026.

HSE inspector Matthew Dundas said:

“Every year, a significant proportion of accidents, many of them serious and sometimes fatal, occur as a result of poorly planned lifting operations or work at height activities.

“This particular incident was wholly avoidable. Had the company used reasonable practicable measures such as remote release clamps on the lifting equipment, and tag-lines to avoid the need to work on a ladder, this injury would not have occurred.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Iain Jordan and paralegal officer Zara Salman.

Further information:

1. 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.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. HSE guidance on working at height is available.
5. 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.