Farmer handed suspended prison sentence after worker dies from fall
A farmer from Hampshire has received a suspended prison sentence after a worker fell to his death. Phillip France lost his life after falling from the roof of a cow shed at Tickner Bros in Hampshire. The self-employer labourer had been dismantling the cow shed with two other workers when he fell through a rooflight, […]
Cheshire farm owner fined after roofer dies in fall
A Cheshire farm owner has been fined after a man fell to his death from a forklift truck while attempting to repair the roof of a packing shed at his premises in Tarporley. Denis Thornhill and his company D.S. Thornhill (Rushton) Limited were fined a combined £16,000 after 64-year-old Mark Young was killed at Moss […]
Company fined following crane collapse
A company has been fined after a crane collapsed at its site on Falmouth Docks, putting more than 250 people at risk. Emergency services declared a major incident following the collapse at A&P Falmouth on 10 May 2017 with the surrounding area being evacuated and cordoned off. The crane had been operating above Royal Fleet […]
Cosmetics firm fined after HSE inspection found serious failings
A cosmetics company in Yorkshire has been fined more than £50,000 after an inspection by Britain’s workplace regulator uncovered serious electrical failings. Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) conducted an unannounced inspection at the premises of Sabel Cosmetics Limited on Pellon Lane in Halifax on 5 July 2022. During the visit, the inspectors […]
World Mental Health Day: “Employers risk losing valued employees if stress is not managed”
Bosses across the whole of Great Britain have been warned that they risk losing valued team members if they fail to manage their workers’ stress levels in the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding British employers of their legal duties on World Mental Health Day (10 October). HSE’s Working Minds campaign provides […]
Crown Censure issued following death of soldier
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has on, Thursday 3 October, issued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a Crown Censure following the death of a reservist soldier in Yorkshire. Staff Sergeant John McKelvie of Drongan in Ayr, was killed after the Jackal vehicle he was driving rolled multiple times down a steep hill at […]
Leading sandwich bread baker fined after worker loses finger
A nationwide bakery has been fined more than £360,000 after one of its employees lost a finger in machinery at a site in Northamptonshire. Jacksons Bakery, a leading supplier of bread used in the commercial making of sandwiches, was given the fine after an engineer had a finger on his right hand caught in a […]
Chemicals firm fined following explosion
A solvents manufacturer has been fined following an explosion at its factory in the Scottish Borders. The blast at Rathburn Chemicals in Walkerburn on 10 January 2020 resulted in a laboratory, which was part of the factory, being demolished. It was likely caused by excessive pentane vapour, generated by the company’s distillation process, overheating and […]
Manufacturing company fined as worker suffers six bone fractures
A manufacturing company has been fined after an employee broke his arm while operating machinery at its site in Warwickshire. Andrew Elson, from Rugby, suffered multiple fractures to the ulna and radius bones in his right arm while working at Screening Consultancy and Supplies Ltd on 25 November 2022. The 54-year-old had been clearing debris […]
Company fined after ‘loving’ grandad dies from fall
A grandfather died after falling through a hole in his own bathroom that had been left by workers. Kenneth Armitage landed on the kitchen floor below, in an incident his daughter Suzy said “should never have happened.” The bathroom in Mr Armitage’s house on Whitestone Drive in Huntington, York had been getting converted into a […]
Construction firm fined as worker loses life and another injured
A company has been sentenced after a 62-year-old worker fell 10 metres to the ground and died during the construction of a new university facility. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the fall and subsequently prosecuted Balfour Beatty, with the firm fined £285,000 on Monday 16 September. Igor Malka and a second contractor, Edmund […]
HSE to prosecute Snowdome Limited
Twelve-year-old Louis Watkiss died after an accident at the Snowdome at Tamworth on 24 September 2021. After an initial joint investigation with Staffordshire Police, HSE can now confirm Snowdome Limited has been charged with breaching section 3 of Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. A guilty plea has been indicated by Snowdome Limited and the case will […]
National Grid fined £3.2million after pylon worker suffers serious burns
The National Grid has been fined more than £3million after its failures left a father-of-two with life-changing injuries from working on a pylon in South Wales. Justin Hollins was working replacing step bolts on the pylon at Treforest Industrial Estate in Pontypridd, when he received an electric shock of 33 thousand volts. The 50-year-old sustained […]
Routine HSE inspection results in £150,000 fine for food manufacturer
A North London food manufacturer has been fined £150,000 for failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. The failings came to light following a routine inspection by Britain’s workplace regulator – the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in October 2023. During the visit to Wembley-based Oriental Delight (UK) Limited, the HSE inspector identified […]
Tyre firm fined after worker dragged into machine
An Essex-based tyre refurbishment company has been fined £54,000 following a worker sustaining significant injuries after being drawn into a machine. Neal Hetherington was working for D&D Commercial Services Limited at its premises on Lamson Road in Rainham, when the incident happened on 19 August 2021. The company, which specialises in commercial tyre re-treading, was […]
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 […]