Health and Safety News

Plastics manufacturer TS(UK) Ltd has been slapped with a fine of £140,000 following an accident where one of its employees was crushed to death after a wooden pallet weighing more than one tonne fell on him.
The incident took place at Middleton’s Stakehill Industrial Estate on July 15’ 05. The company was prosecuted by [...]

A freight company in Leeds was recently prosecuted by the HSE, when a man working at the site of the company got killed while getting cargo off a container.
With up to £100,000 costs and £250,000 in fines to pay, Roadways Container Logistics Limited has surely landed itself in trouble. The court at Leeds found that [...]

The hearing in a fatal accident case, which claimed the life of an employee in 2004 drew to a close recently, turning the spotlight on the importance of proper equipment maintenance at workplaces. Following the judgement, the HSE has reiterated the need for regular and comprehensive equipment maintenance by employers.
The accident occurred when an 1100 [...]

Extending the debate on making directors more directly responsible for the welfare of their employees, a labour MP has mooted a new bill which aims to give precise guidelines on what these responsibilities are. This new bill is hoped to make a visible difference where the previous ones failed.
Aberdeen North MP, Frank Doran, has [...]

The HSE board has decided to introduce a statutory tower crane register after a comprehensive public consultation, in which the opinions of trades unions, construction contractors and other stakeholders were taken into account. The consultation went on for three months, and the register is now awaiting ministerial approval. About 100 responses were received by HSE [...]

Following the example of railways and manufacturing industries which banned entry of inebriated workers to workplaces under the Health and Safety at Work Act, a number of companies are now seeking help to formulate their own alcohol policies. The aim is to prevent safety and health hazards posed by consumption of alcohol, avoid discrimination claims [...]

When Alexander Wright, employed as a geologist in Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings, died due to the collapse of a trench in which he was collecting soil samples, the director of the company, Mr. Peter Eaton was held liable for gross negligence manslaughter. This is the first case under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, 2007.
Other [...]

John Claxton, HSE inspector has warned that it is necessary for all companies to comply with the safety guidelines laid down by the HSE with respect to work in confined spaces. Strict actions will be taken against those who breach law and put the workers’ lives in danger.
The statement comes after the judgment on a [...]

In a recent accident where an employee was burnt on striking a live electrical cable, claiming his life, the company has been fined £3,000 by the HSE who said that this could have been easily avoided if proper measures had been put in place by the company.
 
Trains Ltd, the company in question, was asked to [...]