Tag: hurt by forklift truck

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

A self-employed furniture maker has been fined after an incident in which a tree he was cutting down struck a farm worker.

Colin Norgate, from Hampshire, is a sole trader and the designer and creator of high gloss furniture. Colin was cutting down a tree on Manor Farm in Hampshire, where he rented a unit, when the tree fell and struck John Bailey, a labourer at the farm.

John suffered serious injuries to his left leg that resulted in above the knee amputation.

The Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident and found that Colin had failed to ensure a safe perimeter was in place to prevent other individuals from entering the area around the tree.

After pleading guilty to beaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Regulation 9(1) of the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Colin Norgate, of Manor Farm, Langrish, Petersfield, Hampshire was fined £830. He was also ordered to pay costs of £2,349.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

Motor vehicle repair firm, Just Mercedes Limited, has been fined after a young man was crushed to death by a vehicle.

Incident

27 year old Muhammed Zohaib Yasin was gaining work experience at the company’s garage in Manchester when the incident occurred.

Mr Yasin was shadowing a mechanic whilst he (the mechanic) carried out repair work on a Vauxhall Corsa and was tasked with adding some anti-freeze to the engine. As Mr Yasin was stood at the front of the vehicle, the mechanic turned the ignition on through the door on the driver’s side of the Corsa. As the mechanic did so, the car lurched forward and crushed Mr Yasin, who later died from his injuries.

HSE Investigation

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, it was found that there were no defects with the vehicle itself, but it had been left in gear without the handbrake on.

HSE investigators found that employees of the vehicle repair company hadn’t been provided with any detailed instructions regarding the selection of gears and handbrake use when parking vehicles in the garage, on or off ramps.

Furthermore, staff had not been provided with specific instructions on operating the ignition from outside the vehicle and there was no process enforced regarding the storage of keys.

Sentencing

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Just Mercedes Ltd, of Shentonfield Road, Sharston Industrial Area, Wythenshawe, Manchester was fined £33,000. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £12,000.

Lisa Bailey, HSE inspector, said after the hearing:

“Had the company ensured employees were trained and instructed on moving vehicles around the garage safely then this tragic incident might not have occurred.”

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

A Lancashire based company, responsible for the manufacture of coated metals, has been fined following an incident in which a worker fell three meters from a ladder, sustaining multiple fractures.

Incident

Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard that an employee of Manchester Galvanizing Ltd was carrying out work when a metal post came loose from the jig of an overhead crane and fell into a drying pit.

In an attempt to retrieve the metal post, the employee used a wooden ladder. However, the ladder broke and the worker fell three meters to the bottom of the drying pit. He suffered a fractured foot and shoulder.

HSE Investigation & Fines

During an investigation into the incident by the Health and Safety Executive, it was found that the firm had ‘failed to ensure that work at height was properly planned, supervised or carried out in a safe manner’.

After pleading guilty to a breach of Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, Manchester Galvanizing Ltd, of Green Lane, Heywood, Lancashire, was fined a total of £6,000. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £1,248.

HSE Inspector Emily Osborne said after the hearing:

“The employee in this case was lucky that he wasn’t more seriously hurt. It is essential that companies ensure work at height is properly planned, organised and supervised in order to avoid this type of incident.”

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

A tyre firm based in Kent has been fined £1 million after a 21 year old worker was killed when a tyre exploded.

Incident

Matthew Hoare, an employee of Watling Tyre Service Limited, was making repairs to the punctured tyre of a ‘dressing loader shovel’ when the tyre exploded.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was found that Matthew was working with ‘inadequate’ equipment that had not been properly maintained. Furthermore it was found that Matthew was working alone, without having undertaken any training for the work he had been instructed to complete.

HSE Principle Inspector, Mike Walters, said:

“Employees need to be provided with properly maintained equipment and the correct equipment to undertake tasks whilst out on site. Employees also need to be trained and competent in the tasks they were asked to undertake.”

After pleading guilty to breaches of Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Watling Tyre Service Limited of Kent was fined a total of £1 million. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £99,485.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

A Derbyshire based waste management and plant hire company has been fined after a worker sustained fatal head injuries.

Incident

On 26th November 2013, Matthew Lambert was filling up the fuel tank of the road sweeper he was operating at Leedale Limited’s yard. As he was refuelling at the rear of the vehicle, a tipper lorry reversed into the Mr Lambert, fatally crushing the 39 year old.

HSE Investigation & Fines

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was found that there were no set rules in place for the reversing of vehicles. Furthermore, investigators found that lighting at the site was below the required standard and that no marked pedestrian or vehicle routes were visible in the yard.

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, Leedale Limited, of Heage Road Industrial Estate, Heage Road, Ripley, Derbyshire was fined a total of £300,000. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £50,737.

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive

A roofing firm has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an incident in which a worker fell from height, fracturing his skull.

Incident

Existing roof lights at Monk Bridge Construction Co Ltd. were being replaced by Mitchell Roofing Ltd, when a worker slipped and fell around seven meters through the sheet of the inner roof. He suffered severe head injuries.

HSE Investigation

An investigation by the HSE found that there no risk assessment had been carried out for the worried in question. Furthermore, the HSE found that no provisions had been put in place to prevent falls from the roof.

York Magistrates Court heard how, previously, the roofing firm had undertaken similar work without incident.

Sentencing & Fines

Mitchell Roofing Ltd of Derwent Road, Malton was found guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,355.

HSE inspector Julian Franklin said after the hearing:

“Basic precautions for roof work and better planning of the job should have been applied. Even short duration work on fragile roofs should be properly assessed and managed.”

Injury at Work – Expert Advice

If you have been injured in the workplace you could be entitled to personal injury compensation. Remember, we offer you a FREE no-obligation consultation – discover today whether you have a claim. Speak to one of our professional and friendly advisers today on 0800 888 6 888 or email

Source: Health & Safety Executive