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Health and Safety News

Occupational health and safety news and guidance

Blog posts : "injury"

Common hazards in the workplace

Despite the ongoing hard work of all of us involved with improving awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace, serious accidents and injuries are still very common.

To help raise awareness of this, Cute Injury have put together a great infographic detailing the most common hazards in th…

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Three injured in floor collapse at Trafford mansion

Photo shows the collapsed floor at the mansion

Two building firms have been ordered to pay a total of £72,000 in fines and costs after a floor collapsed during the construction of a six-bedroom mansion in Trafford, injuring three workers.

One of the men sustained major injuries when he was struck by a falling concrete beam, was in hospital f…

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The league table of construction accidents

Photo shows workers on a construction siteAny documentation from the HSE always makes for interesting reading, particularly when it relates to the construction industry. This is a field which makes up just 5% of the British workforce, yet still contributes to 27% of fatal injuries to the whole country. In short, it’s dangerous – although th…

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Chester dairy factory fined after workers badly scalded

Photo shows the 600 litre tank involved in the incident

A Chester-based dairy firm has been fined £54,000 after two employees were badly scalded when hot water escaped from the top of a 600 litre tank.

One worker suffered burns all over her body and spent a week in the specialist burns unit at Whiston Hospital following the incident at Meadow Foods L…

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Didcot manufacturer fined for acetone burn failings

Photo shows the open bowl used to hold the acetone that ignited

A specialist manufacturer of vessels and pipework designed to carry liquid nitrogen and liquid oxygen has been fined after a welder was seriously burned during unsafe hotwork.

The 38 year-old employee, from Oxford, who does not want to be named, was in hospital for a week and needed skin grafts a…

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Stalybridge firm fined after half tonne car drops on mechanic

Photo shows the car which fell on a young mechanic at North End Salvage Services in Stalybridge

A vehicle salvage firm in Stalybridge has been fined over multiple safety failings after a car weighing more than half a tonne fell from a forklift truck, crushing a young mechanic underneath.

The 22-year-old from Ashton-under-Lyne, who has asked not to be named, suffered severe injuries incl…

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Leisure centre operator fined for child's chemical burns

Photo shows the drain cover where the injuries were sustained

The operator of an Essex leisure centre has been fined after a two and a half year-old boy suffered severe burns in the changing area of the centre’s swimming pool.

The toddler’s father, who does not wish to be named, was walking him to the pool after getting him ready for his weekly swimming l…

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Gas fitter to carry out unpaid community work after explosion injures pensioner

Photo shows the damaged gas pipe

A gas fitter has received a suspended prison sentence and curfew, and been ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid community work, after a pensioner suffered severe burns in a gas explosion at his home in Manchester.

Peter Smith, 66, was in a coma for three months following the blast, which happ…

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Neath Port Talbot demolition firm fined after workers injured by collapsing floor

Photo shows a section of collapsed mezzanine floor

A Neath Port Talbot based demolition firm has been fined £30,000 after two of its workers were injured when a mezzanine floor collapsed on them.

On 18 October, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Wrexham Demolition and Dismantling Ltd. following the incident which took place on 9 Se…

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Barking firm fined for saw guard failings

Photo shows the horizontal band saw that severed a workers tendons

A Barking firm has been prosecuted for safety failings after an employee severed the tendons in his hand on an unguarded saw blade.

The worker needed a five-hour operation to repair the damage following the incident at Kierbeck Thames Ltd., on River Road, on 23 February 2012. He has been left wit…

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Glossop metals firm in court over employee's crane injuries

Photo shows the open-sided metal container which struck the worker

A Glossop-based metal manufacturer has appeared in court after an employee was injured when he was struck by a container as it swung from an overhead crane.

Firth Rixson Metals Ltd., which produces specialised metals for the aerospace, medical, oil and nuclear industries, was prosecuted on 1 Octo…

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Dorset yacht company prosecuted for ship fire

Photo shows the aftermath of the devastating fire on board the Malcolm Miller

A Dorset yacht company has been sentenced for safety failings relating to a fire that ravaged a famous tall ship and almost killed a worker.

Rolf Kitching, 45, from Portsmouth, sustained 40 percent burns to his upper torso and head and was hospitalised for four months as a result of the incident …

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Leicestershire firm fined after two workers fell four metres

Photo shows the work platform which fell from a telehandler injuring two workers

A Leicestershire building company has been fined after two workers fell four metres from an insecure platform balanced on the raised forks of a telehandler.

On 26 September, Leicester Magistrates' Court heard that Caplin Homes Ltd. was building a new house on land in Stretton Road, Great Glen, wh…

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Cumbrian window firm fined over severed fingers

Photo shows the saw which severed a workers fingers

A Cumbrian manufacturer of wooden doors and window frames has been fined for safety failings after an employee's fingers were severed by a rotating saw.

The New West Port Corporation Limited, which trades as West Port, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident…

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Roofing firm in court over Chorley school roof fall

Photo shows St Marys Primary School in Chorley where a worker fell through the roof

A roofing firm has been fined for safety failings after a worker sustained severe injuries when he fell through a primary school roof in Chorley.

The 51-year-old from Kirkby, who has asked not to be named, suffered fractures to his spine, breastbone and ribs in the incident at St Marys Primary Sc…

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Pirelli in court over injuries at Carlisle tyre factory

Photo shows the machine which caused the workers injuries

Tyre manufacturer Pirelli has appeared in court after an employee sustained major injuries to his left arm when it became trapped in a tyre-testing machine.

The 57-year-old from Carlisle, who has asked not to be named, broke his arm in three places, was off work for four months and still has diff…

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Is your wood workshop safe?

image of a man working with woodAccording to a report published in December 2012 by the HSE, the major accident rate for wood-workers is 17% above the national average for all kinds of machine workers. Such incidents could cost your business huge amounts of compensation, and further problems whilst you wait for a valued member of …

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Faulty rope led to amputation for outdoors instructor

Photo shows the site at Carroty Wood where outdoor instructor Josh Senior fell

A Southampton firm has been prosecuted after an outdoors activity instructor was left permanently disabled when he used a defective rope for a simulated parachute landing.

Joshua Senior, 25, plunged some nine metres to the ground at the Rock (UK) adventure centre in Carroty Wood, near Tonbridge, …

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Three firms sentenced after man killed by rocketing gas cylinder

Photo shows cylinder with missing valve

Three South East firms have been ordered to pay a total of £685,787.31 in fines and costs for serious safety breaches after a plumber died and six other workers were seriously injured by a barrage of flying gas cylinders.

Adam Johnston, 38, from Sutton, Surrey, was struck by one of 66 heavy cyli…

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Bolton recycling firm sentenced after worker crushed

Photo shows the recycling site in Bolton where a 61-year-old man suffered serious injuries

A Bolton company has been ordered to pay almost £130,000 in fines and costs after a worker suffered serious injuries when he was crushed between two trucks at a recycling plant.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted DS Smith Paper Ltd. after the firm failed to observe correct safety p…

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20 Blog Posts