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 […]
Fine for rogue landlord who put tenants lives at risk
A landlord has been given a suspended sentence of 26 weeks and electronically tagged for 4 months after putting the lives of her tenants at risk by not maintaining gas appliances at a property in Kent. Dawn Holliday, 62, refused to undertake gas safety checks even after the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) took enforcement […]
Fire at Spectrum House, Dagenham
HSE is continuing to make enquiries into the fire at Spectrum House in Dagenham on Monday 26 August. We remain in contact with first responders and we are working closely with colleagues in the London Fire Brigade on the way forward with our respective investigations, this engagement will be ongoing. Inspectors from HSE’s Investigations and […]
Company fined after worker died in excavation
A company has been fined after a man died while working inside an excavation at a construction site in Glasgow. Derek Caddie lost his life when part of the excavation wall collapsed on 25 November 2019. This led to the 44-year-old being trapped in soil from the neck down before being rescued by the emergency […]
Farmer gives grandchildren rides in tractor: footage released
Video footage taken by a neighbour captured the moment a farmer allowed one of his grandchildren to illegally ride in his tractor and ultimately led to his conviction. William Howard Walters, 78, was given a 12 month community order after he was spotted with the child in the tractor cab as he fed cattle on […]
Woodworking company fined following collision death
A wood recycling company has been fined after an employee was killed when he was struck by a wheel loader. On 29 April 2019, Thomas Brooke was walking across the yard at John Brooke (Timber Treatments) Limited in Nottingham. A wheel loader, with its bucket raised, was operating in the yard along with other vehicles, […]
East Sussex body fined as dog walkers struck by tree
A body that manages a major forest in East Sussex has been fined after a husband and wife were struck by a tree, with the latter suffering a traumatic brain injury. Caroline Leafe, 70, was walking along a deer track in Ashdown Forest with her husband, Kenneth, and their dog, Monty, when the pair were […]
Grampian Health Board prosecuted after death of patient
Grampian Health Board has been prosecuted after the death of a patient in Aberdeen. Grampian Health Board, also referred to as NHS Grampian, pleaded guilty following the death of 40-year-old Vincent Mulsant at the Royal Cornhill Hospital on 28 March 2020. The Board is responsible for commissioning health and care services for the residents in […]
Multi-national food company fined after worker loses fingers
A multi-national food company has been fined more than £300,000 after one of its workers lost four fingers on his right hand while unblocking a machine at a site in Glasgow. Kerry Ingredients (UK) Limited received the fine following an incident at its factory in Hillington on 4 August 2021. The 39-year-old man was working […]
Builder avoids immediate prison sentence after failing to protect workers
A builder has been given a suspended prison sentence after he put the lives of workers at risk on a construction site in London. David Beadle, trading as Beadle the Builders, failed to comply with a prohibition notice issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in relation to unsafe working at height at the […]