A car dealership has been fined after two apprentices suffered chemical burns.

Leicestershire Magistrates’ Court heard how on 15 March 2018 two apprentices were working at Mercedes-Benz of Northampton in Riverside Business Park, cleaning the vehicle ramps in the workshop using a chemical from an unlabeled barrel. The chemical caused burns to their hands and arms, which resulted in both of them being taken to hospital for treatment.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company failed to ensure that the exposure of this hazardous substance was either prevented or adequately controlled.

Cruickshank Motors Limited (trading as Mercedes-Benz of Northampton) of Penman Way, Grove Park, Leicester was found guilty of breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.

The company was fined £360,000 and ordered to pay costs of £12,622.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Aaron Butel said: “When working with hazardous substances, there is a legal requirement of every employer to ensure that exposure is either prevented, or where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply implementing suitable 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.”

Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk
4. http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm

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A private security company has been fined after an employee suffered life-changing injuries when he was assaulted by four individuals at a young offender’s training facility in Milton Keynes.

Milton Keynes Magistrate’s Court heard how on 15 March 2017, the secure care officer (SCO) was working alone with a group of six trainees, who were taking part in a scheduled activity on the outdoor fenced football pitch at the Oakhill Secure Training Centre in Milton Keynes. The SCO had only worked for the company for around three or four months.

During the activity one of the individuals attempted to climb the fence. The incident escalated and the SCO attempted to deal with it alone, the situation became hostile and he was attacked by four of the individuals.

The SCO sustained multiple injuries to his head and body and was taken to hospital by ambulance where he was put in an induced coma for three weeks. He suffered brain damage and had a plate fitted in his skull. He spent a further two months in a specialist brain injury rehabilitation centre.

He said: “When I came round from the coma I could not walk without assistance and I would sleep for around 17 hours a day. I was on medication for about a year, this was mainly to prevent epilepsy which is common following a brain injury.”

He added: “I have a scar and an indentation on my head, this means people always ask me about what happened. I do not like talking about this to people. Even now I struggle to form relationships with people as I find it difficult to trust people.

“I struggle to read and understand things, I have been referred to a neuropsychologist.”

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd failed to ensure robust procedures were put in place, to ensure that inexperienced staff were not working alone with groups of young people who presented a high risk of violence.

G4S Care and Justice Services (UK) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They were fined £250,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,787.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephen Faulkner said: “If proper procedures and supervision had been in place to prevent inexperienced officers from working alone in high risk situations, the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”

Thames Valley Police carried out separate criminal investigations against the four individuals involved in the assault.

Notes to Editors:
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk

2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/

3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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British Airways Plc has been fined following a vehicle collision at Terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport.

Southwark Crown Court heard that on 16 March 2018, an employee was struck by a tug pulling a train of dollies (vehicles used to transport baggage around the airport). She was knocked under another passing tug with dollies loaded with luggage, sustaining serious crush injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the injured worker was using the centre of the roadway between the two lanes as a walking route and this unsafe practice had been commonplace in the baggage hall for at least ten years. The investigation also identified significant failings in the general management of health and safety and workplace transport risks, including issues relating to supervision and monitoring, risk assessment and training.

British Airways PLC of Waterside, Harmondsworth, Greater London pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1.8 million and ordered to pay costs of £35,724.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Megan Carr said: “The situation in the baggage hall at Heathrow Terminal 5 was an incident waiting to happen.

“British Airways failed to appreciate the serious nature of the risks to which its employees were exposed and as a result failed to take appropriate action to ensure they were properly protected.”

Note to editors
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at: http://press.hse.gov.uk
4. For more information about working safely at work with vehicles please visit our website here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/

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British textile manufacturer Herbert Parkinson has received an award for an innovative tool that helps protect workers from developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The Risk Reduction Through Design Award 2020/21, sponsored by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), recognises design innovation to reduce the risk of MSDs.

MSDs include injuries and conditions that can affect the back, joints and limbs. The parts of the body most likely to be affected are the lower back, shoulders, forearms, wrists and hands, as well as the neck the hips, legs, knees, ankles and feet.

Winning company, Herbert Parkinson, worked with designer David Atherton to develop a 3D printed handheld tool, which can be used to insert a large number of curtain hooks into curtain headers. Workers in the packaging and inspection team had previously been inserting up to 200 metal pin hooks into curtain headers by hand every day, but the new ergonomically designed tool enables workers to slide the hooks in easier, preventing pain in their fingers and hands.

Head of HSE’s Health and Work Branch and chair of this year’s judging panel Ali Wellens said: “The Risk Reduction Through Design Award is intended to highlight the important contribution that design changes can make in reducing risks of musculoskeletal disorders.

“We would like to congratulate Herbert Parkinson for their efforts to reduce the risks of MSDs in the workplace and improve the lives of their employees.

“We also want to encourage other businesses, large and small, to consider how they could make design changes to eliminate or reduce the risks of MSDs in their workplaces.”

Herbert Parkinson, the John Lewis Textiles Factory, was proud to receive the Risk Reduction Through Design Award in recognition of their work.

Partner and branch safety advisor at John Lewis & Partners Rachael Murray said: “Our partners are what make our business, so it’s critical that we listen and act on what they tell us – particularly where health, safety and wellbeing are concerned.

“Managing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders not only keep our partners safe, but it’s made business sense, reducing absenteeism and improving productivity. Our partners in Herbert Parkinson are thrilled by this award, which helps put risk reduction at the heart of business.”

The award was presented at the CIEHF’s annual (virtual) awards ceremony on the 18 June 2021.

Chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors Dr Noorzaman Rashid said: “We are delighted to collaborate with HSE on these awards to recognise innovation that can make a significant contribution to life, wellbeing and performance.
“Congratulations to our winner and thank you to everyone who entered.”

Commendations were also given to Tilda Limited who in collaboration with designer Russell Finex designed a new workstation layout incorporating a vibratory sieve used to break down heavy frozen rice blocks into small rice grains for use in food products; and BOC Crawley who designed height adjustable gas cylinder filling rigs enabling workers to adopt more comfortable postures when filling gas cylinder bottles.

Submissions for the 2021/22 Risk Reduction in Design Award are now open.

Notes to Editors:

For more information about the Risk Reduction Through Design Award visit: https://bit.ly/35rMEF6
For more information on musculoskeletal disorders and how to mitigate the risks visit: https://bit.ly/3dJRT82
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.
HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

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The UK Government has delayed the full lifting of COVID restrictions in England by four weeks, at Step 3 of the roadmap. This comes amid rising infection rates as the new Delta COVID variant spreads.

After two weeks, the government will review the data to see if the risks have reduced. It is expected that England will move to Step 4 on 19 July.

The Scottish and Welsh Governments are reviewing their planning for the lifting of restrictions, which may also be delayed.

Businesses need to continue to have COVID-secure measures in place that are in line with the latest Government guidance. The latest GOV.UK guidance includes guidance on going to work. You should continue to work from home if you can. There is also information if you are in an area where a new COVID-19 variant is spreading

It’s vital at this stage that businesses don’t become complacent and continue to have measures in place to manage the risk from Coronavirus and ensure workers are following them.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is working with local authorities to carry out spot checks and inspections on businesses. These are taking place in all areas, to check that businesses have COVID-secure measures in place to keep workers, visitors and customers safe.

What happens during spot checks and inspections?

HSE calls and visits businesses to check the COVID-secure measures they have in place and provides guidance and advice if required. Where businesses aren’t managing the risk, action will be taken. This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices and stopping certain work practices until they are made safe. Where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution.

Angela Storey, Director of Transformation and Operational Services at HSE, said: “The UK government has confirmed a four-week delay to the lifting of restrictions, as the Delta strain of Covid-19 becomes the dominant variant in England, with infection numbers rising across Britain.

“Whilst we recognise that this news will come as a disappointment to a number of businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector, businesses must continue to have measures in place to manage the risks, to help protect the health of local communities as well as to support the local and national UK economy.

“We will also continue to work with local authorities, checking that businesses have COVID-secure measures in place, and providing guidance and advice where needed.

“As we continue to carry out spot checks and inspections our support of cross-government work remains. We are committed to helping employers and employees as they work through the pandemic.

“All workplaces are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced call or visit to check they are COVID-secure.”

Please ensure your workplace is safe by following the guidance on being COVID-secure. Further information on spot checks and inspections is available on our website.

/Ends

Notes to editor

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. https://www.hse.gov.uk
2. HSE news releases are available at https://press.hse.gov.uk
3. For HSE’s working safely guidance see https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm

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