Company fined after admitting safety failures

An Inverurie company has been fined after a teenage worker was seriously injured.

Aberdeen Sherriff Court heard that 17-year-old Michael Paul Mark Mclean was found seriously injured at the premises of Denholm MacNamee Limited on 14 August 2015.

The Inverurie company, which provides support services to the oil, gas and utilities industries, admitted safety failings.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified failings by Denholm MacNamee Limited in relation to the risks to the health and safety of Michael in his special capacity as a young person at work and in relation to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all the employees who were engaged in the task of ultra-high pressure blasting and painting of a cable spooler machine.

Denholm MacNamee Limited of Souterford Avenue, Inverurie Business Park, Inverurie pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £120,000 on 4 December 2017.

Speaking after the hearing HSE principal inspector, Niall Miller said:

“The failures of Denholm MacNamee Limited put Michael McLean and other employees at a greater risk of injury.

“This conviction highlights the need for effective risk management particularly when those involved in the work activity are young or otherwise vulnerable. Employers must ensure that they consider the capacity of their workforce and provide appropriate levels of control to prevent risk occurring”

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. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk
4. The above case was heard on 4 December 2017. At that time a Contempt Order was put in place which prohibited report or comment on the above case until proceedings in a culpable homicide case were complete. This reporting restriction has now been lifted.