Ergonomics is a scientific discipline that can be applied to occupational safety and health (OSH) to improve the safety, well-being and comfort of workers. The aim is to enhance the safety of systems at work and therefore, more broadly, of society…
Latest Information from The HSE
Asbestos removal firm fined after poor safety practices
Midlands based firm Enviro-Safe Limited have been fined for failing to meet the standards required when removing asbestos.
Bury demolition contractor fined for failing to prevent exposure to Asbestos
A demolition contractor has been sentenced after admitting illegally removing asbestos from a building he was working on.
Latest Information from The HSE
Post updated 23.02.2017
Agency worker traps hand in machine
A polythene film manufacturer was sentenced for safety breaches after a worker trapped his hand in machinery.
Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court heard how the injured person broke the little finger on his right hand while operating machinery in March 2014 at Total Polyfilm Ltd.’s Brighouse plant.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to adequately manage the risk of workers being injured when operating machinery. Also it was found the workers failed to operate in the correct way of working when using this equipment.
Total Polyfilm Ltd of Walton Summit Estate, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and have been fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £697.
After the hearing HSE inspector Jacqueline Ferguson commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Operator’s finger crushed when the light curtains failed
Please read if you have any equipment using light curtains as a safety control device.
An employee was putting ID labels on packs of concrete blocks as they came out of the factory, the labels had to be hand fastened to the banding around the blocks which were on a stationary conveyor. When applying a label, he used his right hand to try and free some slack on the banding so he could get the label wrapped around it. He heard the conveyor system start up and the pack on his left hand side moved forward, which resulted in his right hand middle finger getting trapped and crushed between the packs.
The light barriers, which are intended to prevent conveyor start up with someone in the area, were not safety rated and were ‘fooled’ by the strip on the high visibility PPE worn by the employee, which reflected the beam back to the receiving sensor.
Fines and Prosecutions
Corrugated Packaging manufacturer fined over workplace injury
A West Bromwich supplier of corrugated packaging has been fined £400,000 with £9886.04 costs after a maintenance employee was injured when he was pulled into machinery. The injured person was repairing a cardboard printing, slotting and forming machine when he put his foot onto an exposed conveyor and was dragged into the machine’s moving parts. More information can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
Kent box manufacturing company fined for safety failings
A Kent-based box manufacturing company has been fined £297,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,180 for health and safety failings which included electricity safety, machinery guarding and storage of materials. More information on the prosecution can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
Worker injures hand in printing press
A seal and label producing company based in Kent has been fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,680.80 after a worker Injured his hand in a printing press when cleaning a blade. HSE’s investigation found that no suitable guard was fitted to the machine and the system of work used was flawed and unsafe. More information on the prosecution can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
More information on Machinery Guarding and Safe Systems of Work can be found on HSE’s Website.
Fine after workers fall into pulping machine
A maintenance contracting company has been fined £120,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,591 after an employee fell 7 metres backwards off an unprotected edge whilst he was carrying out maintenance work to a drive shaft. More information on the prosecution can be found on HSE’s Press Release.
Food packaging firm fined when worker severs thumb
A packaging company has been fined £70,000 with £53,509 costs after a worker’s thumb was severed due to the company’s failure to take adequate measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery enabling the worker to access an unguarded frame. For more information on the accident and fine visit HSE’s Press Release.
Farm Safety – Wurzels Style
Remember The Wurzels? – probably not unless you are of a certain age. Enjoy their reworking of a famous track that was originally released back in 1976 and highlights some of the safety risks faced by people working on farms.
Latest Information from The HSE
Recycling company fined after worker crushed
A recycling firm has been fined after a worker suffered crush injuries from a roller shutter door.
Suspended sentence for unregistered gas worker
A man has been fined and given a suspended prison sentence after working on a number of boilers without being Gas Safe registered.
HSE to make cost recovery dispute process fully independent
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that it is to consult on proposals to make its cost recovery scheme dispute process fully independent.
Building Contractor fined after workers fatal fall
A Manchester building contractor has been jailed following the death of a casual labourer who fell nearly seven metres through a fragile roof.
Butchers fined after worker suffers hand injuries
A butchers has been fined after a worker suffered deep lacerations to one his hands when working.
Construction company director imprisoned after safety failings
The director of a construction company has been imprisoned for eight months after failing to take appropriate action which resulted in a young worker receiving serious burns.
Oxfordshire based company fined for safety failings
An Oxfordshire based, ground engineering company has been fined after a worker contracted severe hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
Fencing business owners receive suspended sentences after worker injury
The two owners of Kidderminster based fencing firm Hoo Farm Fencing have been given suspended sentences after a worker was hit by timber posts and frames which fell from a fork lift truck.
Overhead crane worker suffers life threatening injuries
A Cleckheaton engineering firm was sentenced today for safety breaches after a worker suffered life changing injuries.
Landlord prosecuted for gas safety failings
A Preston Landlord has been given a suspended prison sentence after failing to ensure gas appliances in one of her properties were checked for safety.
Firm fined for failing health and safety standards
A Kent-based box manufacturing company has been fined for health and safety failings.
Bury demolition contractor fined for failing to prevent exposure to Asbestos
A demolition contractor has been sentenced after admitting illegally removing asbestos from a building he was working on.
Packaging manufacturer in court over workplace injury
A West Bromwich supplier of corrugated packaging has been fined after a maintenance employee was injured when he was pulled into machinery.
Worker exposed to high level of carbon monoxide
A Construction firm was sentenced today for safety breaches after workers were exposed to carbon monoxide and other substances hazardous to health.
Woman’s Hair Ripped from her Scalp During Sweet Corn Eating Challenge – How NOT to use a Power Drill!
Woman whose hair was ripped from her scalp during a corn-eating challenge releases video of herself pulling on her remaining locks to prove it WAS real – after sceptics point out she ‘barely reacted’
- A woman from China spectacularly failed at the ‘corn drill challenge’
- A lock of her hair was caught in the rotating drill and is torn from her scalp
- She barely made a sound as the challenge went horribly wrong
- She was attempting to eat a cob of corn in under ten seconds using a drill
- The woman has since released videos to prove the accident was not staged
- In one video the woman appears to be receiving medical treatment
Read more and view video: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3584088/Woman-hair-ripped-scalp-corn-eating-challenge-releases-video-receiving-medical-treatment-prove-accident-real-sceptics-point-barely-reacted.html#ixzz4YYZZWSeH
Latest Information from the HSE
04/01/17: Construction Company fined after contractor receives life changing injuries
A Lincolnshire based construction company, specialising in fitting mezzanine floors was prosecuted after a contractor fell onto a concrete floor.
05/01/17: Rochdale roofing contractor fined over fall from height risk
A roofing contractor has been fined after putting the lives of two employees at risk whilst working at height without protection against falls
13/01/17: Firms fined after worker killed falling from telehandler
Two companies from Carmarthenshire and West Midlands have been fined after a worker was killed when he fell from a telehandler
24/01/17: Three construction companies fined after worker fall
Three companies from Essex have been fined after a worker fell over seven meters through a fragile roof he was replacing.
19/12/16: Asbestos removal supervisor fined for exposing workers to deadly fibres
An asbestos removal supervisor has been sentenced after admitting exposing numerous workers to deadly asbestos fibres during licensed asbestos removal works.
22/12/16: Essex companies fined after workers exposed to asbestos
Two Essex-based companies have been fined after exposing workers to potentially deadly asbestos over a period of years, despite being alerted to the risks at their premises
19/01/17: Asbestos Analyst fined for falsifying documents
An asbestos analyst has been fined after he falsified an asbestos air clearance certificate, following licensed asbestos removal in Manchester
22/12/16: Housing association prosecuted for safety failings
A housing association has been prosecuted after allowing renovations to take place that put residents at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
HSE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR PLAN HIGHLIGHTS RISK OF OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISEASE
HSE has identified reducing incidents of ill health as one of the top three strategic priorities for the next three to five years as set out in the construction sector plan.
Occupational Lung Disease is a particular focus. In 2016 occupational respiratory disease was estimated to result in approximately 12 000 deaths each year.
Tackling Ill Health is also one of the six key themes of the Helping Great Britain Work Well Strategy. HGBWW Commitments outline how HSE is seeking to influence the system.
You can play your part by getting involved in the conversation today and learn how to Tackle Occupational Disease.
Find out more by joining the conversation
Clean Air – Take Care
Clean Air? – Take Care! is a new joint initiative between the British Safety Industry Federation and HSE aimed at reducing occupational respiratory disease. The initiative is centred on a range of national activities and educational seminars designed to raise awareness among RPE users, employers, fit testers and advisors on the correct selection, deployment, use, maintenance and storage of RPE. More information including campaign videos, posters and campaign documents visit British Safety Industry Federation’s Webpages.
Latest Information from The HSE
Posted 13.01.2017
Crisp company fined for safety failings
A Northamptonshire company who manufacture crisps and snacks has been fined after an agency worker lost the tops of three fingers.
Construction Company fined after contractor receives life changing injuries
A Lincoln based Construction Company, specialising in fitting mezzanine floors were prosecuted after a contractor fell onto a concrete floor.
Company prosecuted after workers were severely burned
A North East engineering company was sentenced today for safety breaches after two of its workers were burned when they were sprayed with chemicals during chemical cleaning of a pipework system.