School trust fined after member of public hit by falling tree branch
A school academy trust has been fined and a man given a suspended prison sentence after a member of the public was hit by a falling tree branch. Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust and gardening services provider Nicolas Thépot (trading as ‘The Green Yem’) both pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches following the incident, […]
Firm fined more than £500,000 after shift worker fell to his death
HSE guidance on working at height and safe use of machinery is available A North Yorkshire company has been fined more than half a million pounds after a night shift worker fell to his death. Mark Pinder, 51, was working for East Riding Sacks Ltd, a manufacturer of paper sacks, at its site in Stamford […]
April 2025 – A roundup of HSE’s top stories
April saw a number of significant stories from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with multiple major prosecutions, including the workplace regulator bringing one of its most complex and lengthy investigations to a conclusion resulting in a £6million fine. We also prosecuted a health board in Wales, a large chemical manufacturing company, as well as […]
Company fined after worker suffers serious injuries
A haulage distribution company has been fined after a worker suffered serious injuries to his shoulder when a wrought iron gate fell on him. Kevin Simcox, 60-years-old, was working for Stan Robinson Distribution Ltd in Stafford when the incident occurred on 28 February 2020. He arrived at the site for his morning shift and was […]
Fine for company and director after employee dies from fall through roof
HSE guidance says all work at height must be properly planned A cladding company and its director have been fined following the death of a worker who fell through a fragile roof whilst replacing cladding panels. The 61-year-old was working for Camclad Contractors Limited, replacing cladding panels on a former abattoir that had been damaged […]
Company fined after death of man whose life was ‘unjustly cut short’
A construction company has been fined after a kitchen fitter was crushed to death by a pack of concrete blocks at a site in the Cotswolds. Martin Dunford, who was 33, was ‘very much loved’ by his family who say they miss him ‘every day’ since the incident on 23 January 2020. Martin, from Pocklington […]
Farmer fined following death of worker
A Gloucestershire farmer has been fined after the shepherdess he employed was killed in a quad bike crash. Laura Simmons, was working alone on 2nd June 2023, spraying weed killer along fence lines, using the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at a farm in Charlton Abbots near Cheltenham. The overloaded quad bike overturned. The 22-year-old was found by […]
Window manufacturing company fined after worker seriously injures hand
A window manufacturer has been fined £100,000 after a teenage worker had two fingers severed by a cross-cutting saw. The 19-year-old was working for Ford Windows Limited at the company’s site in Sheffield when the incident occurred. He had loaded a cross-cut saw with a length of windowsill, which had been stored outside in the […]
Paddleboard tour leader jailed over deaths of four people
A paddleboard business owner has been jailed for 10 years and six months for gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people in 2021. Nerys Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, who was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, was charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, […]
Council fined for multiple failures on Guided Busway
• Major transport system operated for almost a decade without basic safety measures • Council “chose to appeal enforcement action instead of acting on concerns”, says regulator • Families pay tribute to loved ones Cambridgeshire County Council has been fined £6 million after pleading guilty to serious safety failings on its Guided Busway that led […]
Social housing provider fined after men exposed to risks from vibrating tools
Two employees diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) in July 2023, following repeated exposure to vibration. One estimated he used vibrating equipment for 90% of his working day. A social housing provider has been fined £140,000 following a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Stonewater Limited employed two men as estate assistants […]
Truffles Bakery fined after employee loses part of finger
A Sussex bakery firm has been fined £12,000, for failing to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, after an employee lost part of his left index finger. Kevin Norman was working at the company’s production site in Henfield, West Sussex, on 20 December 2023, when he reached into the dough divider to remove a […]
Builder sentenced for unlicensed asbestos removal
A builder has been fined after carrying out unlicensed asbestos removal work at a house in Cheadle, Manchester. Gavin Mutch, trading as G Mutch Developments, had been contracted to carry out renovations at the property including roofing work. Despite being warned by the customer that asbestos was potentially present in the fascia boards, Mr Mutch […]
Engineering firm fined after worker suffers multiple injuries
A engineering firm in Greater Manchester has been fined £100,000 after an employee’s arms, legs and feet were crushed when he became trapped under a large metal frame. Richard Jones was welding a large ‘A frame’ for Oldham Engineering Limited at its factory in Oldham when the incident occurred on 27 September 2023. The A […]
Defence company fined £800,000 after man shot on MoD range
A defence technology company has been fined £800,000 after an employee was shot during testing of ammunition at a Ministry of Defence (MoD) range in South Wales. The father-of-two was left paralysed below the shoulders after being shot by a 5.56mm bullet fired from a gun, 570 metres away. The incident happened on 25 March […]
Company fined £2.5m following uncontrolled acid releases
Schools were closed following hydrochloric acid release Joint investigation and prosecution by HSE and the Environment Agency Guidance is available on maintaining equipment in large chemical plants A chemical manufacturing company has been fined £2.5m following two incidents of uncontrolled releases of highly corrosive acids at its site in West Thurrock, Essex. Industrial Chemicals Ltd […]
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 […]
Fine for waste firm after man run over on his first day of work
Worker “lucky to be alive” after being hit from behind by moving shovel loader HSE guidance says pedestrians and moving vehicles must be segregated A waste and recycling company in Oldham has been fined £250,000 after a man was run over on his first day on the job. The then 40-year-old was hand […]
Health Board fined for failing to manage patients risk of falling
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been fined £250,000 following failures relating to patient falls in its hospitals. Three elderly patients sustained falls in 2022 and 2023 and they all sadly died. The cause of death of two of them was identified as being as a direct result of falling. Richard Hughes, 84 and Gwilym […]
Community order for builder after man fell through barn roof
Thirteen foot fall caused brain haemorrhage and multiple fractures Barn roof also contained asbestos HSE guidance is available for working at height A self-employed builder has been told to complete 200 hours unpaid work after a man fell more than 13 feet through a barn roof in Lancashire. James Dargan-Cole, 25, of Todmorden, had failed […]