• Trainee scaffolder died after falling five metres from a partially erected scaffold while working on a housing development in North Yorkshire.
• HSE found the company had failed to ensure scaffolding work was carried out safely and in accordance with industry guidance.
• The investigation found that safe zones had not been established and workers were not using harnesses or lanyards.

A scaffolding company has been fined after a trainee scaffolder died in a five-metre fall from a partially erected scaffold.

On 5 July 2023, Michael Swales was working for Ask Scaffolding Ltd, which had been contracted to provide scaffolding services for a residential housing development near Ripon in North Yorkshire.

Mr Swales and a colleague were erecting scaffolding at the front of a two-storey house under construction when he fell five metres after standing on an unsecured scaffolding board. There were inadequate measures in place to prevent or mitigate the risk of a fall. Emergency services attended, but Mr Swales died at the scene.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Ask Scaffolding Ltd had failed to ensure work at height was carried out in a safe manner, so far as was reasonably practicable.

The investigation found that the scaffolding work being carried out on the day of the accident was unsafe and did not follow industry guidance. Safe zones had not been established, and neither Mr Swales nor his colleague was using a harness or lanyard while working.

The investigation also found that previous scaffolding work had not been carried out in accordance with the guidance. A post-accident inspection identified that guardrails had not been installed where they should have been. Several witnesses also indicated that scaffolding work was regularly carried out by company operatives without following the guidance.

The guidance identifies the use of collective protection measures to create a ‘Scaffolder’s Safe Zone’ as the primary means of preventing falls. Personal protection, such as a harness and lanyard, should be used when a scaffolder is working without a safe zone.

All scaffolding must be erected, dismantled and altered safely. Guidance on the measures employers and scaffolding contractors should take to ensure scaffolding work is carried out safely can be found here: Scaffolds – HSE.

Ask Scaffolding Ltd, of Thornton Road Industrial Estate, Pickering, YO18 7JB, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 4 November 2026.

HSE Inspector David Beaton said:

“This tragic accident underlines the importance of those in control of scaffolding work making sure that it is being done safely and in accordance with industry guidance, and the potential consequences where this is not done.

“Our thoughts remain with Michael’s family and friends.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Iain Jordan and paralegal officer Zara Salman.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases are available.
4. Guidance on scaffolding can be found on the HSE website.
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences in England can be found here.

• Niall Fawcett died when he was struck by a truck while he was working beneath it on the M56 slip road in Cheshire.

• HSE found the company failed to properly assess risks of replacing a blown-out tyre on a low-profile truck.
• Victim was not adequately supervised or monitored despite only holding roadside licence for less than four months.

A commercial tyre service provider in Worcestershire has been fined following the death of 21-year-old employee Niall Fawcett, who was killed while carrying out a roadside repair.

On 2 August 2024, Mr Fawcett was called out to replace a blown-out tyre on a low-profile truck on the slip road at junction 7 of the M56 motorway near Bowdon. While he was positioned beneath the truck, it is understood to have slipped from the bottle jack (a compact hydraulic lifting tool designed for vehicle support) being used to raise the vehicle and landed on him, causing fatal head injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Halford Commercial Fleet Services Limited, formerly known as Lodge Tyre Company Limited (The), had not properly assessed the risks associated with replacing a blown-out tyre on a low-profile vehicle. The company had also failed to give employees suitable work instructions, including information on when a truck should be recovered rather than repaired at the roadside.

The investigation also found that Mr Fawcett had only obtained his licence to work on commercial tyres at the roadside when he joined the company less than four months before his death. Despite this, he had not been subject to any monitoring or supervision to ensure that he was working safely.

The HSE publication Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries sets out the importance of providing safe systems of work and ensuring workers are competent to carry out their tasks.

The impact on Niall’s family

Niall’s mother, Sharon, said in her victim personal statement:

“Niall was only 21 years old when he died. He had his whole life ahead of him. He was planning to marry the following year and he and Megan were saving for a deposit on their first home together and talking about starting a family. Niall was building for a life he was excited for and this was taken from him in an instant.

“Niall went to work that day and should have been safe, supported and protected. Instead, my son never came home.”

Halford Commercial Fleet Services Limited, of Icknield Street Drive, Washford West, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 0DE, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £200 and £24,203 in costs at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 3 November 2026.

HSE Principal Inspector Laura Royales said:

“This case should serve to highlight to employers the importance of properly assessing the risks to which their workers are exposed and providing the right information and instructions, supplemented by adequate monitoring and supervision arrangements, to ensure that they can and do work safely.

Our thoughts remain with Niall’s family as they continue to come to terms with their tragic loss.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Matthew Reynolds and paralegal officer Benjamin Stobbart. The investigation was supported by Visiting Officer Natty Heath.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industries
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

• Simon Pedder was crushed under a reversing recovery truck and now needs crutches, a frame and a wheelchair.
• More than 10 months on, he has been unable to return to work and says, “life will never be the same”.
• HSE found the company had no suitable traffic management system and no adequate precautions for reversing vehicles – which remain a leading cause of workplace injury.

A Swindon-based vehicle recovery business has been fined after a worker was struck by a reversing vehicle and suffered life-changing injuries.

On 13 June 2025, Simon Pedder was undertaking yard duties at Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited in Highworth when he was suddenly hit and crushed under a company-owned recovery truck.

Mr Pedder suffered fractures to both legs and an arm, a punctured lung and a fractured rib. He was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he spent five weeks and underwent several operations to rebuild his legs, including skin grafts.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited had failed to implement a suitable traffic management system to make sure vehicles and pedestrians could circulate safely and had not implemented proper precautions to assist reversing drivers.

(Photographs showing before and after HSE intervention)

More than 10 months later, Mr Pedder’s recovery has not progressed as he had hoped. The extent of his injuries means that in addition to using crutches, a Zimmer frame and wheelchair, Simon now needs regular care visits and cannot carry out basic tasks like getting into the shower without help. He has been told he will most likely need walking aids for the rest of his life.

Describing the impact of the incident on his life, Mr Pedder said:

“I used to be a very sociable person, the life of the party, both in work and with friends; this has been taken away from me as now I spend my days sitting at home by myself. My mood is very low, and this is affecting not only myself but also my family, who say my personality appears to have changed completely.”

He added, “there are many basic things I can’t do, for example, I can’t cut the grass, I can’t fold the washing, I can’t go for a walk, and I am not allowed to drive. This accident took away my freedom.”

He also described the impact on his family, with his wife cutting short her working hours to support his care, and the family rearranging the living room to accommodate a hospital bed. Mr Pedder said: “I feel so bad because I am affecting those who are close to me. My life will never be the same and I feel like this accident should never have happened as I was only doing my job.”

Failure to manage reversing vehicle risks

HSE inspectors found failures by Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited to properly control the risk of reversing vehicles – despite this being one of the leading causes of workplace fatal injury. To manage workplace transport effectively, employers should consider the risks associated with their site and vehicles. Where workers are required to operate on foot in areas where there are moving vehicles, employers must ensure traffic routes are organised in a way that prevents collisions between pedestrians and vehicles.

HSE guidance advises implementing a one-way system for vehicle circulation to eliminate the need for reversing. Where this isn’t possible, the site should be organised to include safety measures such as protective barriers, clear markings and pedestrian crossing points. To aid a driver’s field of vision and alert pedestrians to reversing vehicles, precautionary measures such as rear-view cameras and warning alarms should also be fitted to vehicles.

Guidance on workplace transport safety is freely available on the HSE website: Workplace transport – HSE.

Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited, based at Blackworth Industrial Estate, Highworth, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £28,000 and ordered to pay £7,276 in costs at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 29 October 2026.

HSE Inspector Laura Artosi said:

“Almost 25 per cent of fatal workplace transport accidents in Great Britain occur while a vehicle is reversing – a stark reminder to employers to properly assess and manage this fundamental risk.

“Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited lacked a suitable traffic management system, including adequate arrangements to ensure vehicles could reverse without risks to those on foot. These failings led to an incident that has robbed Simon Pedder of much of his freedom and will likely have a lasting impact on his life.

“Had Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited implemented robust measures to allow pedestrians and vehicles to move safely across its site, this incident would not have occurred.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Karen Park and paralegal officer Michael Millman.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here: A guide to workplace transport safety – HSE and Safe manoeuvring – HSE.
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here: Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences

• Worker suffered a partial finger amputation when he reached into an inadequately guarded saw.
• HSE investigation found the company had failed to take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous moving parts.
• Company fined after pleading guilty to breaching PUWER 1998.

An engineering company has been fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 in compensation after a worker suffered a partial finger amputation when he reached into an inadequately guarded automatic saw.

Thomas Davies, 21, was working for Dlinexsign Ltd when the incident occurred. Having reached into the machine to retrieve a cut piece of material, his hand came into contact with the moving saw blade, resulting in him losing part of his finger.

The incident occurred at the company’s premises at Buckingham Road Industrial Estate, Brackley. The machine was used to cut lengths of material, and Mr Davies was able to reach into the machine and access the dangerous moving parts while it was operating.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Dlinexsign Ltd had failed to take effective measures to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machinery.

HSE guidance states that employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery. This will normally be achieved using fixed guarding, but where access is required, other protective measures such as interlocked guards may be necessary to ensure dangerous movement has stopped before a person can reach the danger zone.

Further guidance can be found on HSE’s website on the safe use of work equipment: Introduction to machinery safety – HSE.

Dlinexsign Ltd, of Shires Road, Brackley, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 in compensation to Mr Davies, and £9,064.34 in prosecution costs at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on 23 October 2026.

HSE Inspector Dulanjala Kandana-Arachchige said:
“This incident demonstrates the serious consequences that can result when access to dangerous parts of machinery is not effectively prevented.

“Employers must ensure that machinery is properly guarded and that effective measures are in place to prevent workers from reaching dangerous moving parts.

“This was a preventable incident. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that work equipment can be used safely and that workers are protected from dangerous machinery.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Tom Ledden-Rocks and paralegal officer Natalie Ellis.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Guidance on machinery safety can be found here: Introduction to machinery safety – HSE
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences in England can be found here and those for Scotland here.

New campaign highlights how employers can prevent permanent hearing loss, tinnitus and hand-arm vibration syndrome through effective workplace action 

• Around 15,000 workers develop hearing problems caused or made worse by work every year, with an estimated one in five exposed to harmful noise levels. 

• HSE launches a new campaign during Bone and Joint Health Week, building on its work to reduce HAVS, including the Prevention Programme’s HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge. 

• Campaign promotes a simple three-step approach – Assess. Control. Protect. – to help employers prevent permanent, life-changing ill health. 

Around 15,000 workers develop hearing problems caused or made worse by work every year, while an estimated one in five workers is exposed to harmful levels of noise at work. 

The effects can be permanent, with workers often unaware they are being harmed until symptoms begin to appear, by which time some damage may already be irreversible. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is today launching a new campaign urging employers to assess workplace noise and vibration risks, reduce exposure and protect workers from preventable ill health. 

Launched during Bone and Joint Health Week, and building on HSE’s wider work to reduce Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), including the Prevention Programme’s HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge, the campaign highlights the importance of taking action before workers’ health is affected. 

Noise and vibration are common workplace hazards across sectors including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, utilities, waste management, engineering, maintenance and entertainment and events. Exposure often comes from tools, machinery and equipment used every day. 

Prolonged or excessive exposure to noise can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Hand-arm vibration can lead to HAVS and carpal tunnel syndrome, causing numbness, tingling, pain and reduced grip strength. These conditions can affect workers’ ability to do their jobs and carry out everyday activities, sometimes for the rest of their lives. 

Hearing loss can make it difficult to follow conversations with family and friends, while tinnitus can cause persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears, affecting concentration and sleep. For those living with HAVS, everyday tasks such as fastening buttons, holding a cup or using tools can become difficult. 

Chris Steel, Principal Specialist Inspector (Noise and Vibration), said: 

“Noise and vibration-related ill health is preventable, but the consequences can last a lifetime. 

“Workers may not realise they’re being harmed until their hearing is affected, or they begin to experience pain, numbness or tingling in their hands and arms. 

“Employers shouldn’t wait for symptoms to appear. They need to identify where workers are at risk, reduce exposure and make sure the right controls are in place. 

“We’ve already seen organisations demonstrate their commitment to tackling vibration risks through the HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge. This campaign helps employers turn that commitment into practical action. 

“Taking action early can protect workers’ health and prevent conditions that can affect their lives for years to come.” 

Employers have legal duties to assess and control workplace noise and vibration risks under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. 

HSE’s campaign encourages employers to follow three simple steps: 

Assess 

Identify who may be exposed to noise and vibration, understand the risks and carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments. 

Control 

Reduce exposure at source by choosing quieter or lower-vibration equipment, maintaining tools and machinery, introducing engineering controls and adopting safer ways of working. 

Protect 

Where risks remain, provide suitable hearing protection, arrange health surveillance where required, and give workers the information, instruction and training they need to protect themselves. 

The campaign provides practical tools, guidance and resources to help employers assess workplace risks, put effective controls in place and prevent life-changing occupational ill health. 

The campaign complements HSE’s Prevention Programme to reduce vibration-related ill health, including the HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge. The pledge encourages organisations to commit to reducing vibration-related ill health through effective risk management, worker involvement and long-term prevention. Employers can find out more and sign the pledge at https://www.councilforworkandhealth.org.uk/news/havs-risk-reduction-pledge-get-involved-and-sign-the-pledge/ 

For advice and practical resources, visit HSE’s Noise and Vibration campaign website.

Further information:

1. Around 15,000 workers experience hearing problems caused or made worse by work each year. 
2. HSE estimates that around one in five workers is exposed to harmful levels of noise at work. 
3. Exposure to excessive workplace noise can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. 
4. Hand-arm vibration can cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome. 
5. Workers may be exposed to noise and vibration in sectors including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, utilities, waste management, engineering, maintenance and entertainment and events. 
6. Employers have legal duties under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 to assess and control risks. 
7. HSE’s campaign promotes a simple approach: Assess. Control. Protect. 
8. The campaign supports HSE’s Prevention Programme to reduce vibration-related ill health, including the HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge. 
9. Campaign resources are available through HSE’s Work Right campaign: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/noise-and-vibration/  
10. For interview requests, case studies or further information, contact the HSE Press Office at [email protected].  

World Mental Health Day: Listen, identify and act on work-related stress 

• HSE urges employers to listen to workers, identify stress risks and take action this World Mental Health Day. 

• An estimated 964,000 workers are suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in 22.1 million working days lost. 

• HSE’s Working Minds campaign offers free tools, including the Stress Talking Toolkit, to help employers turn conversations into practical action. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging employers to listen to workers, identify stress risks and take action this World Mental Health Day. 

An estimated 964,000 workers in Great Britain are suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in 22.1 million working days lost. These conditions account for 52% of all work-related ill health and 62% of all working days lost due to work-related ill health. 

This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” highlights the importance of listening to people’s experiences. In the workplace, talking to workers about the pressures they face can help employers identify potential causes of work-related stress and where changes may be needed. 

But listening is only the first step. Employers have a legal duty to assess the risk of stress-related ill health arising from work activities and take measures to control that risk. 

Work-related stress can arise when the demands of work, and the way it is organised and managed, place excessive or difficult-to-manage pressures on people. 

Kayleigh Roberts, Work-Related Stress Policy Lead at HSE, said: 

“This World Mental Health Day, we’re encouraging employers to listen to their workers and take action on what they hear. 

“Having an open conversation can help employers understand the pressures people are experiencing at work and identify where stress risks may exist. Our Stress Talking Toolkit provides structured questions and prompts to help employers start those conversations.  

“But listening is only the first step. Preventing work-related stress means acting on what you hear, whether that’s reviewing workloads, improving communication, giving people more control over their work or providing better support. Employers should identify the risks, take action and review whether those actions are working.” 

HSE’s Working Minds campaign sets out five simple steps employers can take: 

• Reach out – start conversations with your team using the Stress Talking Toolkit for helpful conversation starters. 

• Recognise – identify the causes of stress, including workloads, working patterns and how work is organised. 

• Respond – use HSE’s risk assessment tools to record the actions you’ll take to address the risks you’ve identified. 

• Reflect – review what you already have in place, consider whether it’s working and refresh your knowledge with HSE’s quick quiz. 

• Make it Routine – regularly check in with workers and keep work-related stress risks under review.

HSE’s Working Minds campaign helps employers prevent work-related stress by taking a risk-management approach, using free tools, guidance and online learning built around HSE’s Management Standards for work design and management. 

Visit the Working Minds website to find out more, access free online learning and use HSE’s stress risk assessment tools. 

Listening matters. But preventing work-related stress means turning what you hear into action.  

Further information: 

1. Figures are from HSE’s Labour Force Survey estimates, 2024/25. An estimated 964,000 workers in Great Britain are suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in 22.1 million working days lost. These conditions account for 52% of all work-related ill health and 62% of all working days lost due to work-related ill health. 

1. World Mental Health Day takes place on 10 October each year. The 2026 theme is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.” 

1. HSE’s Working Minds campaign helps employers prevent work-related stress by taking a risk-management approach, using free tools, guidance and online learning. Visit https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/working-minds/ for more information. 

1. Employers have legal duties to assess and manage risks to their employees’ health arising from work activities, including the risk of stress-related ill health. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess risks to employees’ health and safety arising from their work activities and put appropriate arrangements in place to control those risks. 

1. HSE’s Stress Talking Toolkit provides structured questions and prompts to help managers talk with workers as part of their overall approach to preventing and managing work-related stress. The toolkit should not be used in isolation. Risks identified through conversations should still be managed. 

1. For interview requests, case studies or further information, contact the HSE Press Office at [email protected].  

• Employee lost part of his right thumb and suffered a crush injury to his hand during a manual handling task, just days after a near-identical incident
• HSE investigation found employee had not been given clear instructions on how to carry out task safely
• Worker was amateur boxer before hand injury – describing hobby as his ‘whole life’
• A had occurred in the days before this one.

Fitzpatrick Fabrications Ltd, a sheet metal fabrication company in Lancashire, has been fined £48,000 after an employee lost part of his right thumb and suffered a crush injury to his hand during a manual handling task.

On 24 October 2024, at around 11.30am, Mr Todd Marshall, a welder/fabricator, was working at the Fitzpatrick Fabrications factory at Malvern Mill, Nelson. The job involved welding and fabricating large pieces of stainless steel to form a finished hopper.

The hopper consisted of five component parts, which needed to be welded together. When each side of the hopper was welded, it needed to be lifted and repositioned so the next side could be welded.

Mr Marshall was carrying out this task on his own, holding the larger side of the 133kg hopper in the air while the smaller side rested on a desk. The hopper slipped on the smooth desk and came down onto his hand, causing a crush injury and partial loss of his right thumb.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had not conducted a risk assessment for the task and no safe system of work was in place. As a result, workers had not been given clear instructions on how to perform the task safely.

Upon further investigation, HSE found that a near-identical incident had occurred in the days leading up to this one.

HSE guidance states that employers must assess the risks associated with manual handling and take appropriate steps to avoid hazardous manual handling operations where reasonably practicable, or reduce the risk of injury where they cannot be avoided. The Manual Handling Assessment Charts (MAC Tool) can also help employers assess the most common risk factors associated with lifting and carrying activities.

In a statement, Mr Marshall said:

“Things I used to do without thinking are now hard for me. I need two hands to do something as simple as pick up small things. I struggle fastening buttons or zips. I was an amateur boxer before my injury. Boxing was my whole life. It wasn’t just a pastime or hobby. I think I could have gone further with it, but now I’ll never know.”

Fitzpatrick Fabrications Ltd, of Malvern Mill, Waterford Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. The company was fined £48,000 and ordered to pay £10,089 in costs at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 6 October 2026.

HSE Inspector Derek McLauchlan said:

“This was a wholly preventable incident which has had a profound and long-lasting impact on Todd Marshall’s life, made more shocking by the fact a near-identical incident had taken place just days before.

“Businesses should always give thought to the safest way to undertake manual handling operations; this means carrying out a robust assessment of the risks, and considering tools such as the Manual Handling Assessment Chart (MAC Tool) to help plan the task.

“The company failed in its duty to properly plan this task, and the fine imposed should serve as a clear reminder to everyone that HSE will hold to account those who fail to keep their workers safe.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Tom Ledden-Rocks and paralegal officer Stephen Grabe.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.

1. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
2. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
3. Relevant guidance can be found here: Manual handling at work – HSE, Manual handling – HSE and Manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) – HSE
4. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

• Worker died from crush injuries after being drawn into machinery through a gap in fixed guarding.
• Company fined and ordered to pay contribution to costs after pleading guilty to breaching PUWER 1998.

Gill Aggregates Limited, which operates a site in Dagenham, East London, has been fined £24,000 after one of its workers was drawn into machinery and suffered fatal crush injuries.

Manjit Kumar, 34, was working as a production operative for Gill Aggregates Limited at its East London Aggregate Depot in Halyard Street, Dagenham, on 24 June 2020, when the incident occurred. He was operating a bag flattening conveyor system forming part of a larger piece of machinery.

Mr Kumar was drawn into the compression conveyor through an opening in the guarding. His colleagues raised the alarm and stopped the machine, and the guarding had to be dismantled so that he could be retrieved. The crush injuries were so significant that he died in hospital a few days later.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company, which provides pre-packed and loose aggregates and haulage services to builders’ merchants and the construction industry, had failed to prevent access to dangerous parts of the machinery. Although a fixed guard was fitted around the compression conveyors, it contained an opening measuring approximately 600mm wide by 335mm high, which allowed access to the dangerous moving parts. Following the incident, further guarding was installed to prevent access to the compression conveyors.

The law requires that employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, or stop their movement before any part of a person enters a danger zone. The measures include fixed enclosing guards and, where these are not practicable, other guards or protection devices. Hazards from machinery should be identified as part of the risk assessment, which should identify measures to reduce the risks those hazards present.

Gill Aggregates Ltd, of Botany Marsh, Lower Road, Northfleet, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The company was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of £43,000 at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 28 September 2026.

HSE Inspector Adepeju Sogadgi said:

“This was a tragic incident that resulted in Manjit losing his life.

“The risks associated with dangerous moving machinery are well known. Employers must ensure that effective measures are in place to prevent workers from gaining access to dangerous parts.

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Edward Parton, supported by paralegal Anushka Lulith.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found at: PUWER
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

• Father-of-one Joseph Tuck sustained serious spinal injuries that prevented him returning to a physical job.

• Simple measures to prevent a fall, including securing the stairwell cover or installing edge protection, were not in place.

• HSE identified multiple failures in the management of work at height.

A domestic house builder in Sowerby Bridge was fined after a labourer sustained serious spinal injuries when he fell one storey onto concrete through a stairwell opening.

It was only his second week on the job when Mr Joseph Tuck, 24, a father of one, stepped backwards and fell through an opening intended for a staircase that had not yet been installed. He was working as a temporary labourer for a scaffolding company in January 2024 at a site of four new domestic dwellings being constructed by Hillbeck Homes (Sowerby Bridge) Ltd.

The stairwell opening had not been securely covered (previous loose scaffold boards had been removed) and the open edges were not protected. There were no alternative means of accessing the sub-floor and West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and the HART team had to rescue Mr. Tuck who had fallen unconscious. He sustained serious spinal injuries which prevented him from working for months after the incident and has not returned to a physical job since.

An HSE investigation found that Hillbeck Homes (Sowerby Bridge) Ltd had failed to put adequate measures in place to prevent falls from height, resulting in Mr Tuck falling through an unprotected stairwell opening and suffering life-changing injuries.

HSE guidance states that employers must take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent and mitigate falls when working at height. This includes properly planning the work, carrying out task-specific risk assessments, and putting in place physical safeguards such as scaffolding, guardrails or coverings to prevent falls, including where there is a risk of falling through openings in floors, roofs or other work platforms. Further guidance can be found here: Work at Height – HSE.

HSE Inspector Louise Redgrove said:

“Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of death in the construction industry, accounting for around a quarter of all fatal injuries to workers each year.

“This was a wholly avoidable incident caused by basic failures in planning and supervision. The stairwell opening was not adequately protected, and simple measures such as securing the scaffold boards or installing edge protection would have prevented Mr Tuck from falling and sustaining serious spinal injuries.

“This fine should serve as a clear reminder to the construction industry that both the courts and HSE take breaches of health and safety law extremely seriously.

“HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action where employers fail to take the necessary steps to protect workers from harm.”

Hillbeck Homes (Sowerby Bridge) Ltd formerly of 1 Bretton Place, Otley Road, Guiseley, Leeds LS20 8FL was found guilty on three charges.  They failed to properly plan and appropriately supervise work at height and to take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent a fall.  The company was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £9,284.05 in costs at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 16 September 2026.

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Matthew Reynolds and paralegal officer Henrietta Ruthven.

Further Information

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases are available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here Introduction to working at height safely – HSE; The Work at Height Regulations 2005
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.

• Samworth Brothers Ltd, which owns Ginsters, Soreen and West Cornwall Pasty Co. brands, handed six-figure fine over failings.
• An employee and a contractor suffered scald injuries after being splashed with hot water while carrying out maintenance of steam pipework at the manufacturer’s Kettleby Foods factory in Melton Mowbray.
• HSE investigation found the company failed to assess risks of the maintenance task and that isolation and lock-off procedures were not followed.

A major food manufacturing company has been fined £594,000 following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), after an employee and their colleague suffered scald injuries when they were carrying out maintenance work on steam pipework in the company’s factory in Melton Mowbray.

The two men were working at the Kettleby Foods factory, operated by Samworth Brothers Ltd, which owns popular food brands including Ginsters, West Cornwall Pasty Co. and Soreen, when they were scalded by hot water from the pipework.

The men were working to replace a leaking gasket in an isolation valve on steam pipework in the boiler room of the factory. They were undertaking the work from a gantry above the boiler. The gantry didn’t provide access to the specific part of the pipework they were working on, and so both men had to step off the gantry and work on top of the boiler. When they removed the gasket, they were both splashed with hot water from the pipework, suffering scald injuries. One of the men suffered 4-5% subdermal burns, and the other suffered 9% subdermal, second-degree burns.

The investigation by HSE found that Samworth Brothers Limited had failed to risk assess the task and failed to document a safe system of work for the work being undertaken. The investigation found that suitable isolation and lock-off procedures were not used at the time of the incident, and that the work was undertaken at height without sufficient measures in place to prevent a fall from height. There was a lack of adequate supervision and monitoring procedures in place to ensure that expected processes were followed.

HSE guidance states that adequate planning of tasks requiring isolation means there should be preparation and coordination of job documentation such as risk assessments, method statements, permits and isolation certificates. The integrity of isolations should be proved before proceeding with intrusive work. When working at height, employers should make sure work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people, including using the right type of equipment for working at height.

HSE Inspector Stacey Gamwell said:

“A company this size should have known better.

“This was a wholly avoidable incident which could have resulted in even more serious consequences.

“If Samworth Brothers Ltd had properly risk-assessed the task, they would have identified the need for proper controls for working at height, as well as robust isolation and lock-off procedures, including supervision and monitoring to make sure those procedures and controls were properly enforced.

“Their failure led to severe and painful scalding injuries which should never have happened.

“The result handed down should serve as a warning to employers; when it comes to keeping people safe, HSE won’t hesitate to take action against firms which fall short.”

Samworth Brothers Limited, of Chetwode House, 1 Samworth Way, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £594,000 and ordered to pay £5,834 in prosecution costs, in full, and a £2,000 victim surcharge, at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 4 September 2026. The company was also ordered to pay £6,000 in compensation to the injured employee. All sums are to be paid by 4 January 2027.

This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Andrew Siddall and paralegal officer Thomas Smith.

Further information:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here: The safe isolation of plant and equipment – HSE
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.  The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.