Tag: fall from height

Man Seriously Injured in Accident at Work

Image of men working on high scaffolding relating to accident at work incident

A construction company in Northumberland has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an accident at work incident, in which a joiner sustained serious injuries in a four meter fall.

Incident

At the time of the incident, the joiner was working for principle contractor, Oakland Homes (North East) Limited at a new development in Whalton, Northumberland. The joiner fell backwards over the edge of the scaffolding as he was carrying out unplanned work to fit a weather vane to a roof. He suffered a large cut to the back of his head and a fractured vertebra after falling onto the uneven ground below.

HSE Investigation

An investigation by the HSE found that on the day of the incident, 4 August 2015, the construction company had failed to ‘plan, manage and monitor the installation of the weather vane’.

Northumberland Magistrates’ Court heard that untrained workers had altered scaffolding on the site, resulting in inadequate edge protection.

Sentencing

After pleading guilty to breaching Regulations 13(1) the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Oakland Homes (North East) Limited of Hillside West, Rothbury, Northumberland was fined £50,000. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £800.

Accident at Work – Expert Advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Construction Firm Fined by the Health & Safety Executive

A construction company has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive after a worker sustained crush injuries when he was struck by an excavator.

Incident

Complete Demolition Ltd had been contracted to demolish a school in Ellesmere Port when the incident occurred. During the clearing of the site at Stanney Lane, an employee of Complete Demolition Ltd was operating a skip wagon – attempting to reverse the vehicle into a spot to park. However, the excavator that was moving out of the way in order to let the wagon park up struck another worker who was standing close by. The impact knocked the employee to the ground and the excavator’s tracks ran over his foot.

The 45 year old worker suffered crush injuries to his left foot, leaving him in constant pain. Liverpool Crown Court heard how numerous surgeries were required to rebuild the foot and that he has been unable to work since the incident occurred in November 2013.

HSE Investigation

An investigation into the incident by the HSE found that there was ‘insufficient control of workers on the site’. The investigation also found that the measures taken to ensure vehicles and pedestrians were separated were poor.
After pleading guilty to breaches of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 13(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Deborah Walker said:

“This was an entirely foreseeable incident which could have been avoided. The company failed to properly plan for the duration of the works putting pedestrians at risk.”

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Cargo Handling Company Fined by HSE

Image of Aberdeen harbour at dusk

A cargo handling company has been fined by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) following an incident in which a worker was seriously injured.

Incident

Cargo handling company North East Stevedoring Company Limited (NESC), based in Aberdeen, was working at Clipper Quay, Aberdeen Harbour at the time of the incident.

On 13 June 2013, an NESC employee was transporting loose pipes from the quay to a crane on the quayside. The employee was operating a forklift truck in order to transport the pipes.

Christopher Smith, an employee of Euroline Shipping Company Limited, was responsible for overseeing loading operations at the quay. Mr Smith was making his way to the ship that the cargo was to be loaded onto, when he was struck on the lower back by the pipes as they were in transit.

Mr Smith suffered several fractured vertebrae, as well as a fracture to his left elbow. He has not returned to work since the incident occurred.

HSE Investigation

Following an investigation by the HSE, it was found that there was no safe system of work in place at Clipper Quay. NSEC was found to have failed to ensure a safe distance was in place between pedestrians and vehicles.

HSE told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that NESC was responsible for organising their work site and therefor responsible for the safety of those using it.

Sentencing

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 17(1) of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, North East Stevedoring Company Limited, of Streamline Terminal, Blaikies Quay, Aberdeen was fined £12,000.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Sarah Liversidge said:

“The law states duty holders must ensure the workplace is organised in such a way that pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner.

“NESC failed in that undertaking, there was insufficient separation between vehicles and pedestrians within the loading area at the Quay that resulted in Mr Smith sustaining serious injury that has prevented him from returning to work.”

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Plymouth Firm Fined after Death of Worker

Image of stacked wooden pellets

A Plymouth fish processing firm has been fined half a million pounds by the HSE after a young employee died when a stack of boxes struck him.

Incident

Twenty two year old Tomas Suchy was helping to stack pallets of frozen fish when another lot of boxes fell on top of him. Tomas, an employee of Interfish Limited, suffered multiple severe injuries which he later died from.

Investigation

The Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident and found that staff had been given no instruction on how to safely store the pallets and that there was no safe system of work in place. Furthermore, it was found that there was no written procedure for how to appropriately deal with falls of stock when this occurred.

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974., Interfish Limited, of Wallsend Industrial Estate, Cattedown Wharves, Plymouth, was fined £500,000. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £24,800.

Emma O’Hara, HSE inspector, said:

“Safe stacking of stock is a cross-industry necessity and can often be overlooked when considering safe systems of work. Duty holders need to ensure that they are stacking safely and that they have a plan for dealing with any unforeseen circumstances such as a fall of stock.”

Accident at work – expert advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Cheshire Firm Fined after Worker Severs Hand

A home brewing kit manufacturer based in Ellesmere Port has been fined following an incident in which an employee’s right hand was severed at work.

Incident

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard how on 21 October 2014, an employee of SPL International Ltd was asked to clean a horizontal cantilever mixer. The worker had undertaken this task previously and after turning the mixer off at the mains, he cleaned and dried the blender as was asked.

However, after he had turned the power back on, the employee noticed that water was dripping from the rim of the outlet hole. The worker placed his right hand into the access hole whilst he was attempting to dry the rim, and his hand came into contact the blades of the mixer.

HSE Investigation & Sentencing

An investigation into the incident at Pool Hall Industrial estate by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that no risk assessment had been carried out for the process of cleaning the blender.

After pleading guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, SPL International Ltd, of Poole Hall Industrial Estate, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £7,004.

HSE Inspector Jane Carroll said after the hearing:

“This case is a stark reminder of the consequences of a failure to adequately guard machinery and implement safe systems of work for cleaning and maintenance activities.”

Accident at work – expert advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Two Firms Fined after Worker Falls through Roof

Two Northamptonshire based firms have been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an incident in which a worker died after falling through a roof.

Incident

In 2014, Premier Roofing Systems Limited hired the services of A-Lift Crane Hire Limited in order to lift roofing sheets onto a factory roof in Wellingborough. An employee of the crane hire company was helping to lift the sheets onto the roof on 9 August, when he fell through an unprotected skylight. The individual later died as a result of his injuries.

HSE investigators found that no preventative measures, allowing employees to work safety at height, had been put in place.

Sentencing

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, A-Lift Crane Hire Limited, of Main Road, Wilby Northamptonshire was fined £83,300. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £21,500.

Premier Roofing Systems Limited, of Unit G, The Grove, Corby Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined a total of £140,250 and ordered to pay costs of £41,428.

Accident at work – expert advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Firms Fined after Worker is Crushed by Refuse Collection Vehicle

Two companies have been fined a total of £815,000 following an incident in which a worker was crushed to death by a refuse collection vehicle (RCV).

Incident

On 17th May 2014, workers were carrying out a refurbishment task at John Fowler and Son (Blacksmiths and Welders) Limited (JFS). A worker operating the controls of the RCV from the vehicle’s cab closed the tailgate on father-to-be Rick Calsen, fatally crushing him.

HSE Investigation

An investigation into the incident found there had been multiple safety breaches.

The in-cab controls for adjusting the RCV’s tailgate are supposed to have a safety feature in place that leaves a minimum gap of 1m between the bottom edges of the body and the tailgate. However the safety switch in this particular vehicle was faulty, meaning it was possible to completely close the tailgate using the in-cab controls.

HSE investigators found that a poor system of work at JFS and a lack of a suitable risk assessment lead to the death of Mr Calsen.

Furthermore, HSE found that waste management firm Veolia ES Sheffield Limited (Veolia) had failed in its inspection process as the company had not reviewed the ‘functionality of the 1m safety limit switch’ on particular RCVs.

Investigators found that the poor system of work at JSF would not have resulted in the fatality had the safety switch fault been rectified at Veolia.

HSE inspector Rohan Lye said after the hearing:

“This tragic incident was entirely preventable.

“It is important for organisations to maintain safety critical devices so they function correctly. Additionally, if a company utilises a system of work which does not rely on the effectiveness of that safety device, but then employs a contractor to work on the machine, there should be an effectively communicated handover so both are aware of any limitations and how the machine could function.

“Veolia’s failure to include the functionality of a manufacturer-stated safety critical device on its RCVs in its maintenance regimes resulted in an inability to relay information to any third party about its presence and condition. Therefore it exposed non-employees to unnecessary risk and ultimately contributed to this appalling loss of life.

“Similarly, JFS’s failure to implement a safe system of work for the maintenance of the RCV meant that any of its employees were exposed to the same risk. The lack of an adequate assessment of the risks of working around RCVs enabled the hazard of the non-functioning switch to materialize in the worst possible manner.

“As a result of the failings on behalf of both duty-holders, Rick Calsen, a young man and father-to-be lost his life whilst going about his work.”

Sentencing

John Fowler and Son (Blacksmiths and Welders) Limited, of Bexley Square, Salford, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined a total of £65,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,443.

After pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 6(2) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc., Veolia ES Sheffield Limited of Pentonville Road, London was fined £750,000. The waste management firm was also ordered to pay £11,981 costs.

Accident at work – expert advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Apprentice Suffers Severe Burns in Accident at Work

Image of power lines against a blue sky background relating to accident at work incident

A Perth based stone-masonry firm has been fined following an accident at work incident in which an apprentice stonemason suffered severe injuries from an overhead power line.

Accident at work incident

Rodd McFarlane, an apprentice for T&M Stonemasonry, was carrying out repairs at Waulkmill Cottage, Perth, at the time of the incident. Re-pointing work was required and so the 20 year old erected a tower scaffold.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that whilst Mr McFarlane was stood on the scaffold, he came into contact with the overhead power lines that supplied 240 volts, each, to the cottage.

The court heard how a gust of wind blew one power line towards Mr McFarlane, and when this brushed his back his instinctive reaction was to turn and grab another of the live wires. Due to the flow of current, the apprentice was unable to let go of the power line for a few seconds and he received an electric shock.

Mr McFarlane suffered serious burns to both hands. He required graft surgery and he may need amputation of his little finger in the future.

HSE Investigation & Sentencing

Following an investigation into the incident by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was found that the company had not developed a safe ‘system of work’.

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, T&M Stonemasonry, of Highfield Road, Scone, Perth was fined £16,000.

Accident at work – expert advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident at work claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Construction Company Fined for Corporate Manslaughter

A London based construction company has been fined over half a million pounds after two men fell to their deaths into a building site operated by the company.

The building site, situated in the NW1 area of London, was the responsibility of Monavon Construction and work was almost completed at the time of the incident. Part of the site bordered a public street, Netley Street, and so plywood hoardings had been put in place to block access to the public, covering the pavement.

On 14 October 2013, work began in order to change to the hoardings so that the pavement could be restored. By 18 October, this work had been completed and the hoardings were left attached to a wall. Behind the wall, which measured between 130mm to 280mm in height, was a drop of around 12ft into a basement.

Incident

In the early hours of 19 October 2013, two men, Gavin Brewer and Stuart Meads, were walking along Netley Street when they began to argue with each other. A scuffle ensued and as the men passed the building site, contact was made with the wooden hoardings and they gave way. Both Mr Brewer and Mr Meads fell into the basement area and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigation

Following the incident, an investigation was launched by both the Metropolitan Police and the Health and Safety Executive. It was found that the hoardings at the site had been erected in such a way that only ‘negligible force’ was needed in order for them to give way.

Sentencing

After pleading guilty to the corporate manslaughter of Gavin Brewer, 32, and Stuart Meads, 34, at the Old Bailey on 9 May 2016, Monavon Construction was fined £250,000 for the death of each man.

The company was also fined £50,000 for health and safety breaches and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £23,653.

Source: Metropolitan Police

Firm Fined by HSE over Safety Breaches

A Manchester based soft furnishings firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following two incidents in which workers were injured due to inadequately guarded machinery.

Incident 1: January 2015

The first incident took place in January 2015. Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee was clearing a blockage on a Moden Blow Filing machine with his right hand when his hand came into contact with a rotating fan blade. As a result of this contact, two of the worker’s fingers required amputation.

The court heard that the pipework of the machine was removed easily without the use of tools, leading to the dangerous parts of the machine being left easily accessible.

Incident 2: May 2015

In the second incident, an employee was using a Mattress Roll Packing machine when he trapped his left hand between two easily accessible rollers. The employee required surgery after his fingers were crushed as a result of the incident in May 2015.

The court heard that the machine in question had been purchased directly from China and as a result had not been manufactured in keeping with European safety requirements. The machine had not been CE marked and was unsafe.

Lisa Bailey, HSE Inspector, said:

“Had the company carried out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the machinery and then taken measures to prevent access to dangerous parts, then these two incidents could have been avoided. Mr Boomer should have ensured that the Mattress Roll Packing machine was CE Marked.”

Prosecution & Fines

Paul Boomer, trading as Carousel of Castle Industrial Estate, Beresford Street, Failsworth, Manchester, pleaded guilty to two breaches of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and a breach of Section 7 of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. Boomer was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

We are personal injury claims experts – our specialist accident claims solicitors are here to provide you with on-going valuable support.

If you have been injured in the workplace and you would like expert advice on this type of case, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6 888 or email for a FREE initial consultation.

Source: Health & Safety Executive