RECENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY

A round up of some recent HSE prosecutions and enforcement action in the construction sector and links to relevant advice.

Asbestos

Utility company fined after exposing employees to asbestos

Further information

Asbestos health and safety

Electricity

Construction firm fined after employee suffered serious burns

Further information

Electricity

Construction Safety Topicunderground cables

Roofwork/ Working at height

Builder fined after worker fell from height

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT TEST REDEVELOPMENT

CITB is reviewing the Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test to ensure that it continues to contribute towards a qualified workforce with the right knowledge, skills and training.

New question styles

From January 2018 the test will include two new question styles:

•           Multiple-choice with images

•           Drag and drop with text

The content of the questions will not change, but some questions will be presented using the two new styles.

Digital revision materials

All digital revision materials have been updated (DVD’s, downloads and apps) and can be purchased at shop.citb.co.uk.  The hard copy revision materials will not be updated, but can still be used to revise for the test as the question content has not been changed.

For further details of the changes, and to try the new question styles go to citb.co.uk/hsetestdev.

 

Updated 15.08.2017

Tata Steel UK Limited fined after uncontrolled release of toxic substances

A steel company has today been fined after the release of toxic and flammable substances from its site in Scunthorpe.

Company fined after scaffold collapse

A Dorset based company has been fined after a scaffold collapsed at an industrial unit in Wallisdown, Poole.

Worker suffers flash burns

A manufacturing firm has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker suffered flash burns to her face, neck, chest and both arms.

Ilfracombe landlord endangered tenants with illegal gaswork

The landlord of a property in Ilfracombe has been given a suspended sentence for risking the lives of his tenants by undertaking dangerous gas work.

Company fined £250,000 after crushing leaves worker with brain damage

A passenger air transport firm has been fined after an employee suffered brain damage after being crushed by hangar doors in Bedfordshire.

HSE Fines and Prosecutions

National furniture company fined for safety failings

A national furniture company has been fined £1M and ordered to pay costs of £15,099 after safety failings which led to serious neck and head injuries of a worker who was unloading wooden furniture frames, when he was struck by an unsecured furniture arm which fell from an unstable load. The impact knocked him unconscious and he suffered serious neck and head injuries. More information on the accident and fine can be found on HSE’s Press Release.

Fencing business owners receive suspended sentences

The two owners of Kidderminster based fencing firm have been given suspended sentences of 18 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and fined £10,000 each after a worker was hit by timber posts and frames which fell from a fork lift truck. More information on the accident and fine can be found on HSE’s Press Release.

Wood shavings company fined

A company that produces and supplies wood shavings for use as horse bedding has been fined £17,293.60 and ordered to pay costs of £623.60 after a worker suffered a serious foot injury at its site while operating a log deck. More information on the accident and fine can be found on HSE’s Press Release.