Sarah Albon, the new chief executive of Britain’s workplace health and safety regulator takes up her post today (Monday 02 Sept). 

Ms Albon has vacated her post as inspector general and CEO of the Insolvency Service, where she has been since 2015 to take charge of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  

She replaces acting chief executive David Snowball who has held the post since June 2018 and will be retiring from HSE at the end of the year. 

Ms Albon’s past roles includes roles as director of Strategy and Change at Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, director of Civil Family and Legal Aid Policy and deputy director of Criminal Legal Aid Strategy at the Ministry of Justice. She has also served as principal private secretary to two Lord Chancellors. 

Martin Temple, HSE’s Chair has welcomed the appointment: “I am looking forward enormously to working with our new chief executive. 

“Sarah’s CV speaks for itself and her valuable experience in leading organisations through change and planning for the future will stand her in good stead leading this world-class regulator of workplace health and safety.” 

Sarah said: “I’ve been looking forward to getting started in my new role and meeting colleagues and partners who all are committed to advancing HSE’s mission to save lives by reducing risk, protecting people and the environment. 

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead this important and hugely respected regulator. Working together with my new colleagues across HSE, my focus will be on continuing to deliver improvements in health and safety performance as our workplaces move into a future with new challenges, new technologies and new opportunities.” 

You’ll be able to follow Sarah on Twitter at @CEO_HSE. 

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.            The Commissioner for Public Appointments regulates all appointments made by the Secretary of State to SSAC. All such appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the commissioner. The code is based on three core principles – merit, openness and fairness.

3.            More information about HSE and its Board can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/people.htm

4.            HSE is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

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An engineering company has been fined following the death of an employee who was struck on the head by a wooden bearer in the yard of a fabrication workshop.

Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how, on 7 September 2017, James Longair, 62 was helping a colleague who was operating a side loader at IODS Pipe Clad Limited in East Kilbride, moving pipes from one part of the yard to another by lifting the pipes on the forks. The men decided that the pipe should be lifted at one end using a side loader. Once the pipe had been lifted at one end it rolled off the forks and struck the deceased on the leg before falling onto a wooden bearer.  This sent the bearer into the air, striking the deceased on the head.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified that the work method used to lift and move the pipes was unsafe.  There was no method to secure the pipe on the forks when lifted, which meant when the pipe began to roll along the forks the operator had no control over it.  The pipe subsequently fell off the end of the forks, ultimately leading to Mr Longair’s fatal injury.

IODS Pipe Cad Limited of Singer Road, East Kilbride pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £60,000.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Martin McMahon said: “This tragic incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct 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

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A self-employed gas fitter has been fined after he and his son received serious burns following an explosion at a motor vehicle showroom in Glasgow.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that on 3 August 2016 Kenneth Ewen had been asked to install a heater in the wash area at Arnold Clark Limited on Kilmarnock Road. While carrying out the work Ewen asked his son to hold onto the end of a one inch gas pipe that had been connected to a redundant heater. There was an explosion and Kenneth Ewen and his son both sustained serious burn injuries. Several other men working in the immediate area were also put at risk of serious injury.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Ewen climbed up a ladder and held onto an adjustable wrench that was attached to the pipe his son was holding. Mr Ewen had previously used a mechanical angle grinder to cut through the gas pipe at the other side of the wash bay. He then used the angle grinder to cut through a mounting bracket that was still attached to the wall. There were insufficient and ineffective controls in place to address the risk from escaping gas causing harm during the gas work. The gas way in the premises had not been made safe to allow work to be carried out on the gas fittings.

For its failings, Thermatic Scotland Limited of Blairtummock Place, Glasgow pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 2(2)(a)+(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £1,600.

Kenneth Ewen of Woodbank Crofts, Westfield, Bathgate pleaded guilty to Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £1,200.

Speaking following the hearing, HSE inspector Gerard Muir said: “The injuries sustained by father and son could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”

“Employers, and others, 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

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Volvo Group UK Limited has been fined after an employee at the Cardonald Depot was crushed by a truck, leading to serious injury.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that on 7 June 2016 an employee of Volvo Group UK Limited was testing the brakes of a low-loader truck unit and trailer at the Cardonald depot, Glasgow. He had raised the trailer off the ground using a pit jack. He did not apply the truck handbrake or use any wheel chocks to prevent the vehicle rolling. Whilst adjusting the brakes at the first axle, the truck unit rolled forward causing the jack to slip off the axle of the trailer, roll towards him and strike him on the body, crushing him against a set of steps in the pit and fracturing his spine.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Volvo Group UK Limited had failed to provide a sufficient number of wheel chocks for use by its employees and failed to provide information, instruction, supervision and training of its employees in their use. Volvo Group also failed to provide a suitable induction of the employee in safe working practices.

Volvo Group UK Limited, of Wedgnock Lane, Warwick pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £13,333,33.

Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Jennie Stafford said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.”

“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life changing injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”

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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A construction company has been fined for failing to comply with work at height regulations, placing employees at greater risk of injury.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that during an inspection on 23 May 2018 at Dudley House, The Grove, Hounslow, a number of issues in relation to working at height were identified. These included several unprotected edges, where a person could fall a significant distance and also a floor that was being removed by a handheld breaker whilst workers were standing on it. No measures were in place to prevent them falling if the floor collapsed.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the risk assessment identified measures that needed to be implemented. These measures were not implemented and therefore created a significant risk of people falling, and causing serious or fatal injury.

STS Constructions Limited of North London Business Park, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005and was fined £26,666 and ordered to pay costs of £1135.10 plus a victim surcharge of £120.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Matthew Whitaker said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known. Work at height is dangerous and should be planned correctly and the required measures implemented”.

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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