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Health and Safety News as it Happened !

Written By Helen Shields | Jun 25th, 2008 | | | Category: Health And Safety News Roundup

The past few weeks have seen a few more fines imposed against companies guilty of keeping unsafe workplaces resulting in accidents involving employees. While there was a substantial fine on London Central Bus company of £60,000 by the Old Bailey after a worker injured himself, a minimal fine of £2 was imposed on a Liverpool firm after an explosion. A local city council has also been found in breach of health and safety regulations. Scotland has geared up for educating employers on health and safety regulations and the importance of maintaining workplace safety..

Firms ‘taking driver safety more seriously’ -23/06/08

An industry figure has claimed the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter Act has forced more companies into improving the health and safety measures concerning employees who drive as part of their jobs.

Explosion leaves employee disabled -18/06/08

A 44-year-old employee of Authentic World Cuisine suffered multiple injuries when the door of an autoclave exploded under pressure during a cooking cycle, hitting the man and throwing him eight metres across the room.

Weetabix fined after man loses fingertips -13/06/08

Weetabix was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,490.40 costs by Kettering magistrates court after a 58-year-old member of staff was attempting to clear a rotary valve blockage while operating machinery.

HSE again issues working at height warning -09/06/08

Company bosses are again being urged by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) about implementing safe systems for employees working at height.

£2 Fine for an Aerosol companies Explosion in Liverpool- 05/06/08

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning aerosol companies to ensure safe working conditions after an explosion at a factory in Liverpool. The fine was minimal due to the company going into voluntary liquidation since the incident.

IOSH Bids to Improve Health and Safety of Male Workers – 05/06/08

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is calling on employers to improve the health of their male staff by supporting the National Men’s Health Week.

The Scottish Government’s minister for transport, infrastructure and climate change Stewart Stevenson has praised the four free seminars being run to provide employers with information on how to reduce the number of injuries suffered by workers who drive as part of their job. Work-Related Road Safety workshops, hosted by the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, will help bosses manage the occupational risks their staff face.

Harris Transport Lost Its Appeal Against £28k Fine For a Fork-Lift Accident Involving An Employee - 04/06/08

A Southampton company has lost its appeal against a fine and conviction imposed after one of its employees was left permanently disabled following an incident in the workplace. The city’s crown court handed Harris Transport a fine of £28,000 in January after a member of staff was run over by a forklift truck, suffering severe injuries to both legs.

Working at Height Risk Assessment Important, Says HSE - 04/06/08

The Health and Safety Executive is warning companies to check potential dangers employees are exposed to while working at height. It follows the prosecution of Oldham metropolitan borough council after an employee fell from a bowls pavilion and broke his arm while he was applying anti-vandal paint to the roof of the building.

A Steel Company Prosecuted After Youth Loses a Finger - 03/06/08

A steel company has been fined after a young employee had his finger amputated using unguarded cutting equipment. Sharward Steel Fabrications was ordered to pay a total of £2,345.10 at Bury St Edmonds magistrates’ court after pleading guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Scottish Seminar Aims to Reduce Construction-Site death toll -03/06/08

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Scottish Housebuilders Health and Safety Forum and Homes for Scotland have joined forces to host a seminar aimed at reducing the number of workplace injuries and deaths on construction sites.

A Local Council Found Guilty of Breaching Three Health and Safety Regulations - 03/06/08

Employers have been warned carrying out risk assessments and providing staff with sufficient training for their jobs are essential to creating a safe working environment.
It follows the news that a local council has been found guilty of breaching three health and safety regulations at Maidstone crown court.

Employers Warned Over Equipment Maintenance - 02/06/08

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has is warning bosses to make sure equipment is maintained to the highest possible standard after a company was prosecuted for failing to do so. Martyn Simm, a 45-year-old lorry driver for Berser International Cargo Services, was crushed to death after a sliding metal gate weighing 0.4 tonnes fell onto him as he was closing it on the firm’s site in Chesterton.

Employee Fall Costs Bus Company GBP 60,000 - 02/06/08

Garage owners are being told to ensure the safety of their employees working in or near vehicle inspection pits, after a company was prosecuted for failing to do so.
London Central Bus Company was fined £60,000 by the Old Bailey after a worker fell into a pit and received spinal injuries as a result.

Man Loses Arm In Workplace Accident - 02/06/08

A Cheshire company has been fined £30,000 by Chester crown court after a temporary worker lost his arm when it became trapped in a piece of machinery he was using. Oliver Britton was changing the roll of fabric on a machine when a colleague started the apparatus, resulting in Mr Britton’s arm becoming trapped.