Recycling company fined after workers exposed to wood dust
The long-term health of workers at a wood waste recycling centre was put in danger due to excessive exposure to the dust their work created, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution has found. Esken Renewables Limited, a waste and recycling company that specialises in generating biofuel from renewable waste, ran a wood waste recycling […]
Farmer given suspended jail sentence after man killed by cattle
A West Yorkshire farmer has avoided an immediate spell behind bars after his cattle trampled a man to death and left his wife paralysed. Martin Howard Mitchell was given a six-month custodial sentence, which was suspended for 12 months following the incident on a farm in Netherton, Wakefield. Michael Holmes, 57, had been walking on […]
Waste company director sentenced over failure to comply with HSE notices
A director of a Kent waste company has been disqualified from being a director for five years for his role in its failure to comply with two Improvement Notices served by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). David Richard Barker, director of BSP (Knockholt) Limited, was also sentenced to two 12-month community sentences, to run […]
Trailer company fined after employee suffers life-changing injuries
A trailer company has been fined £30,000 after an employee fell from height, suffering a fractured pelvis and head injury. Adrian Baker, from Peterborough, had been cleaning rubbish at N B Sanders (Trailers) Limited’s site in Peterborough when he fell approximately eight feet on 15 October 2021. The rubbish had spilled out of a lorry […]
Farming partnership sentenced as dad crushed by hay bales
A farming partnership in Surrey has been fined £36,000 after a young father was seriously injured. Christopher Rolfe from Horsham in West Sussex, sustained four rib fractures when five hay bales, each weighing 600kg, toppled and fell on top of him at Polesden Lacey Farm on 28 April 2022. Just 26 at the time, Christopher […]
Waste management company fined after worker suffers burns to body and face
A worker suffered burns to his face and body after the crowbar he was using came into contact with a live electrical conductor. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted a waste management company following the incident on 14 July 2021. The man was moving heavy duty electrical cables with a metal crowbar on a […]
Companies fined as worker injured at Pirelli factory
Three companies have been fined after a lift truck engineer was seriously injured while working at Pirelli Tyres’ factory in Carlisle. Ivan Weightman sustained fractures to his back and leg when two heavy metal skips fell on top of him, trapping the 47-year-old against the ground on 14 November 2019. Pirelli, International Rubber and Tyre […]
Company fined as worker falls through roof and fractures back
A company in Manchester has been fined £20,000 after an employee fell through a roof and suffered serious injuries. The 24-year-old, employed by Hightech Roofing N/W Limited, was repairing a roof on a building in Blackburn when they fell approximately 4.8 metres through a roof light on 3 August 2022. The employee suffered a broken […]
Double glazing company boss avoids jail after worker dies
The director of a Croydon-based double glazing company has avoided an immediate spell behind bars following the death a man described as “an anchor” by his devastated wife. Ayman Noor was given a suspended prison sentence and his company – My Best Group Limited – was fined, following the death of 40-year-old Kashif Rehman on […]
HSE issues MoD (Army) with Crown Censure following death of soldier
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today (Wednesday 8 May) issued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a Crown Censure following the death of a soldier. Conor McPherson, a private in the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, lost his life during a training exercise at the Heely Dod firing range […]
Individuals and company sentenced after mother catapulted from fairground ride
Three individuals and a company have been sentenced after a mother-of-eight was catapulted from a fairground ride in Hillingdon, London. Mrs Khadra Ali spent four months in hospital after she was ejected from the Xcelerator ride at the Funderpark funfair in Yiewsley on 10 April 2018. Her family continue to provide her with the support […]
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 […]
Roofing firm and company business partner sentenced following HSE investigations
Company fined for failings in two separate incidents. Two workers seriously injured after falling through roofs in separate incidents. Business partner at scaffolding firm sentenced following incident in Swansea. A roofing company has been fined a total of £881,000 after two workers were seriously injured during two separate incidents. Billy Hewitt, a worker at Mitie […]