Companies fined after dad crushed to death by machine
Two companies have been fined after a father-of-three was crushed to death by a machine. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the incident was entirely avoidable and Russell Hartley would still be alive had this work been planned, managed and monitored to a sufficient standard. Mr Hartley, was a self-employed engineer from Sheffield […]
Ten HSE stories you might have missed this summer
It has been a busy start to the summer for HSE with many prosecutions throughout June and July. Here are TEN prosecution cases you might have missed during that time: Tata Chemicals fined following young father’s death On 5 June, Tata Chemicals Europe Limited was fined more than £1 million at Chester Crown Court. The […]
Wolverhampton company fined after worker hit by forklift truck
A manufacturing company based in Wolverhampton has been fined £30,000 after a welder sustained serious injuries when he was struck by a forklift truck. David Lucas was working for Fablink UK Limited at its weld shop site on Stafford Road when he was hit by the reversing forklift on 12 January 2023. The forklift driver […]
Company fined £160,000 after worker loses legs
A company has been fined £160,000 after an employee lost both legs whilst working at its site near Warrington. On 20 June 2022, Andrew McAuley, from Runcorn, an employee of William Stobart & Son Limited was picking orders at the firm’s warehouse in Appleton Thorn. The 64-year-old was working in close proximity to a forklift […]
HSE to lead investigation into incident at Lambeth Country Show
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is now leading the investigation into a ride malfunction at the Lambeth Country Show. On 8 June 2024, four people were injured as a result of the incident which occurred at Brockwell Park in London. The ride involved in this incident is now being forensically examined by specialists at […]
Recycling company director sentenced after worker loses leg
The director of a Halifax-based recycling company has been given a community order after a worker lost part of his left leg when it was crushed by machinery. Daisy Ning Bai, 43, the director of BW Recycling Limited, was told she must complete 160 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to health and safety […]
Human factors: HSE issues major accident warning to offshore firms
Britain’s offshore oil and gas installations are held to high regulatory standards, but human error can still lead to a major incident. That’s the message from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who are urging offshore companies to take a closer look at what’s widely known in the sector as human factors. HSE inspects human […]
Recycling company fined £3m after one man died and another seriously injured
A recycling company has been fined after a man died and another was seriously injured while decommissioning a North Sea gas rig. Stephen Picken, 62, and Mark Kumar were working for Veolia ES (UK) Limited at an onshore facility in Great Yarmouth. Both men were working as demolition operatives also known as “Top Men”, undertaking […]
£240,000 fine for company after fall left man paralysed
A Cheshire-based electrical transmission company has been fined £240,000 after a man was left paralysed from the chest down after a fall at work. Gavin Pugh, from Bangor in North Wales, was 35 at the time of the incident and employed as a linesman by Wood Transmission and Distribution Limited. He had been demolishing and […]
Engineering firm fined after employee sustains serious injuries at HS2 site
An engineering firm has been fined after an employee suffered a fractured skull, hip, jaw and pelvis, while working at a HS2 construction site in Hertfordshire. The man, employed as a mechanical engineer by EMC Elite Engineering Services Ltd, had been repairing a conveyor at the site on Chalfont Lane, West Hyde when he fell […]
Company and director fined after worker fractures skull
A company and its director have been fined after an employee was struck by an object while manufacturing large steel cable drums for the offshore industry. The man, who is now 54, had been working for Code-A-Weld (Great Yarmouth) Ltd when the incident happened on 19 November 2022. Although the company had manufactured steel drums […]
Council fined as school technician loses finger
A local authority has been sentenced after a worker lost his finger while operating a machine. Adi Soday, a technician at The Forest School in Horsham, lost his right index finger when it was sliced off by a circular bench saw on 13 June 2022. The 29-year-old, who worked in the design and technology (DT) […]
Explosives manufacturer fined £670,000 after worker dies
A manufacturer of military explosives has been fined £670,000 after an employee was killed and another seriously injured in an explosion at its factory near Salisbury. The two men were working on the production of MTV – an explosive substance used in military flares – at the premises of Chemring Countermeasures Limited in High Post […]
Housing company fined after worker killed by concrete blocks
A housing company has been fined more than £300,000 after a driver was crushed to death by falling concrete blocks at a construction site in South Lanarkshire. Conor Joseph Morgan had been delivering materials to Shott Farm in High Blantrye, a construction site being operated by Avant Homes (Scotland) Limited, when the incident happened on […]
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 […]