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Health and Safety News

Occupational health and safety news and guidance

Blog posts May 2013

Four metre fall lands company in court

Photo shows badly-protected skylight where a roofing worker plunged four metres through a roof opening

A construction company based in South East London has been prosecuted for a serious safety breach after a roofing worker plunged four metres through a badly-protected skylight.

The 45 year-old worker, Paul Shaw, of Maidstone, suffered multiple fracture injuries, including a broken right arm, when…

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BAE Systems sentenced for death of worker

Photo shows the press frame resting on the rails between which Gary Whiting was found

Global defence company BAE Systems has been ordered to pay almost £350,000 in fines and costs after a worker died when he was crushed by the 145-tonnes weight of a metal press at its East Yorkshire plant.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), prosecuting, described the death of maintenance engi…

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Recycling firm fined after worker crushed

Photo shows the conveyor support beam Linas Mataitis was crushed against

A worker at one of the world’s largest metal recycling firms was killed because of a failing to properly segregate people and moving vehicles, a court has heard.

European Metal Recycling Limited, which operates across Europe, Asia and the Americas, was (on 20 May) ordered to pay more than £370,…

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Improving fire prevention in the home

Photo shows firefighters tackling a house fireFire prevention is very important to all homeowners both inside and outside of the home. More than 3,500 people are killed in house fires every year in America and over 18,000 are injured due to lack of preparation or improper maintenance of fire-preventing materials and tools (Source: USFA).

Insta…

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Worker fell through pig shed roof after firm ignored safety warnings

Photo shows the fragile part of the pig shed roof that collapsed

A York firm that fits solar panels has been prosecuted after an employee fell four metres through the fragile roof of a pig shed at an East Yorkshire farm.

The worker had been employed for just two weeks by Solar Fit PV Ltd. and had no experience in solar panel installation. He was on all fours c…

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Five ways to beat the workplace summer blues

picture of  jet leaving with holiday makersThe summer season is fast approaching. The nation's sun-seeking employees are already eager to wrap up their tasks and handover over to colleagues for anything up to three weeks. 

For those left behind, these departures signal additional workloads. Staff who remain in the office or on site will be…

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Paper company fined for forklift crush accident

Photo shows the aisle at Swan Mill Paper Company Ltd where the worker was injured by a reversing forklift truck

A Swanley firm has been prosecuted after a worker at its warehouse was injured after being crushed between a forklift truck and a pallet of paper goods.

The Swan Mill Paper Company Ltd. appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court (7 May) and admitted safety failings that led to its employee, a l…

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Bradford man may lose lower leg after work injury

Photo shows the incident scene; the metal plates and pallets having fallen in a waterfall effect from the plate turner

A Bradford man may need to have his foot and lower leg amputated as a result of a crush injury caused by the safety failures of his employers more than a year ago.

The city’s magistrates were told (on 1 May) that 51-year-old David Wain, from Holmewood, suffered serious injuries when a 1.5 ton…

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Wirral chemical firm fined £120,000 after fireball engulfs employee

Waste deactivation area where an employee was engulfed by a fireball

A chemical firm has been fined £120,000 after an employee sustained severe burns when he was engulfed by a fireball at a factory in Wirral.

The 45-year-old from Kirkby was kept in an induced coma for seven weeks following a chemical explosion at SAFC Hitech Limited’s plant in Bromborough on 28 F…

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9 Blog Posts