Day of action in Manchester city centre
A team of inspectors from Britain’s workplace regulator are heading to Manchester city centre as part of its priority to tackle ill-health on construction sites. The 12 inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will head to the city next Tuesday (21 October). They will turn up without warning at various businesses and sites […]
Biffa fined almost £2.5 million after worker crushed by skip wagon
A waste management company has been fined £2.48 million after a worker was run over by a reversing skip wagon at a waste transfer station in Bradford. James Tabiri, 57, was working as a sort line operative at Biffa Waste Services Ltd’s waste transfer site in Bradford. On 10 August 2023, while making his way […]
Builder given suspended sentence after roof worker fell to his death
Man had been helping with roof work on an extension when he fell No measures were in place to stop falls from height. HSE guidance is available. A self-employed builder from Reading has been given a suspended prison sentence after a man fell to his death while assisting with roof work. Raffaele Vigliotti, 68, who […]
Construction company fined £546,000 following death of employee
Worker struck by reversing road-sweeper Family describes Robert Morris as “the centre of our world” HSE guidance is available on safe use of vehicles on site A construction company that specialises in road resurfacing in London has been fined £546,000 after one of its employees was killed by a reversing road-sweeper. Robert Morris, 48, was […]
Two companies fined after worker falls through fragile rooflight
Man fell through fragile roof light. He had to be rescued by firefighters after becoming impaled. HSE guidance about working at height is available. Two companies have been fined after a man fell through a fragile rooflight at a factory in Keighley, impaling his leg on machinery below. A.T. Lee Properties Limited and LJH Property […]
HSE urges industry to check guidance following Swindon explosion
Product Safety report updated today, Friday 10 October HSE investigating possible link with incident in South Wales Regulator has “significant concerns” about the safe use of the machines in question The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urgently asking all companies using similar printing machinery to that involved in a recent industrial explosion to […]
Man sentenced after carrying out illegal gas work
A Middlesbrough man has been given a suspended prison sentence after carrying out illegal gas work. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Neil Burton carried out boiler services in a home in Stockton-on-Tees on two occasions, in May 2021 and April 2022. Although Burton had previously been on the Gas Safe […]
World Mental Health Day: Protect your team’s mental health – and your business
To mark World Mental Health Day 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging employers to go beyond raising awareness and take practical steps to prevent work-related stress. In 2023/24, approximately half of all self-reported cases of work-related ill health in Great Britain—whether new or ongoing—were linked to stress, depression, or anxiety, according to […]
Contractor told to carry out unpaid work after ignoring HSE action
Workers put at risk of serious injury. Inspector slams contractor for showing “complete contempt” for workers’ safety HSE guidance is available on safe working from height and demolition. A London contractor has been given a suspended prison sentence after risking the lives of workers and ignoring action taken by Britain’s workplace regulator. The Health and […]
Company fined after much loved family man killed by reversing HGV
Several failings identified during investigation. Man described as ‘my everything’ by his daughter. HSE guidance is available. A manufacturing company has been fined £240,000 after a grandfather was killed by a reversing HGV in Birmingham. David Saint – described as ‘my everything’ by his daughter – worked as an engineering manager at Northwood Consumer Limited, […]
Getting personal hearing protection right: what really matters
Personal hearing protection is the last line of defence between your workers and permanent hearing damage. But poor management turns every pound spent on earmuffs and earplugs into wasted money. “This isn’t about blame – it’s about recognising a key challenge,” explains Chris Steel, HSE’s Principal Specialist Inspector. Personal protective equipment sits at the bottom […]
Council fined after man falls while installing town’s Christmas tree
20-foot tree toppled during Bury Market installation HSE has well-established guidance on safely working at height Bury Metropolitan Borough Council has been fined £200,000 after a man was injured while installing the town’s Christmas tree. The council employee was using a scissor lift to straighten the 20-foot tall Christmas tree when it toppled over […]
Manufacturing company fined £15,000 for wood dust failures
A manufacturing company has been fined £15,000 after exposing its own workers to wood dust and failing to comply with two improvement notices. Wood dust can cause serious and often irreversible health problems, including sino-nasal cancer, asthma and dermatitis. Employers have a legal responsibility to prevent or adequately control exposure in the workplace. After concerns […]
Company director avoids prison over wood dust failures
The director of a Norwich woodworking company has avoided an immediate spell behind bars after he exposed his employees to harmful wood dust. Wood dust can cause serious and often irreversible health problems, including sino-nasal cancer, asthma and dermatitis. Employers have a legal responsibility to prevent or adequately control exposure in the workplace. John Risby, […]
Company fined after 21-year-old worker dies
A company in Peterborough has been fined £67,000 after a young employee lost his life. George Setchfield was found unconscious over the side of a large container while working for Electrostatic Magic Limited at the firm’s site in Peterborough. George’s mum says his passing has affected “every aspect” of her life. The 21-year-old had entered […]
NHS trust fined after employee found unconscious in manhole
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been fined £480,000 after an employee suffered a brain injury after he was found unconscious in a manhole. The man had been unblocking a drain at the hospital on 1 February 2022 when he was discovered by other members of staff. He was rescued from the manhole by […]
Arriva and cleaning firm fined after worker killed at bus depot
A national bus company and a commercial cleaning firm have been fined after a “much loved young man” was killed at a depot in Hemel Hempstead. Albin Trstena, from Tottenham, was working for Cordant Cleaning Limited, when he was hit by a reversing bus being driven by a colleague on 5 November 2019. The 25-year-old […]
Monthly roundup – December 2023
The final month of the year has seen the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conclude complex prosecutions against two care settings. December also saw cases relating to two frightening offshore incidents that resulted in fines totalling more than £1million. Another prosecution came about after a member of the public captured shocking footage on their mobile […]
Company and director sentenced after worker fractures arm and leg
A company and its director have been sentenced after an employee fell from height and suffered serious injuries. Andrew Smith fractured his left femur, left elbow, left arm and pelvis after falling approximately three metres off a ladder on 28 July 2021. He had been working for Profascias Ltd at Park Lane Primary School in […]
North Wales health board fined after failings resulted in woman’s death
One of the largest health boards in Wales has been fined £200,000 after a patient died in its care. Llandudno Magistrates’ Court heard that 46-year-old Dawn Owen was found unconscious at the Hergest Unit – a secure mental health unit – at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor on 20 April 2021. Dawn’s family have called on […]