Infiniti Roofing and Construction Ltd has been sentenced for breaches of safety regulations after an employee fell through a gap in scaffolding and sustained multiple injuries whilst working on a building at Havers Hill, Eastfield, Scarborough.

York Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 15 November 2017, a 20-year-old labourer who was working on the roof, fell three metres through a gap in the scaffolding onto an office roof below causing injuries to his left wrist and hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that when the labourer was moving insulation panels on the roof, he stumbled and fell through the gap. Although Infiniti Roofing and Construction Ltd had taken measures to reduce the risk of a fall the scaffolding did not fully extend along the roof in the area where the insulation panels were stacked and stored. The fall caused the labourer to sustain a dislocation to his left wrist and a broken bone in his hand which  has required him to undergo several operations.

Infiniti Roofing and Construction Ltd of Cayton Low Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company has been fined £22,667 and ordered to pay £7,228 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Jayne Towey commented: “The accident could have been prevented if edge protection, constructed and installed to industry standards, was in place where there was a risk of a fall from height.”

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^[1]
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/ ^[2]
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk^[3]
4. Please see the link below to the page on HSE’s website that is the best guide to doing it the right way:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/work-equipment-mavhinery/puwer.htm

A construction company has been fined for failure to maintain the braking system of an articulated dumper truck.

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court heard how Nelson Plant Hire failed to ensure the dumper truck was subject to a regular maintenance regime resulting in a worker being seriously injured.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident on  11 May 2018 at Whitehouse Field, Andover, found that during construction operations, the operator of a large Volvo articulated dumper truck was working on a site at the top of a steep slope adjacent to a public road. The operator was reversing the truck to carry out a tipping operation, but the brakes did not function. Consequently, he lost control of the vehicle which careered backwards across a busy A-road and tipped on to its side. The operator’s injuries included multiple fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The HSE investigation determined that the dumper truck had not been subject to a maintenance regime in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the brakes did not function correctly.

Nelson Plant Hire Ltd of Homestead Farm, Weyhill Road, Penton Corner, Andover, Hants, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER98) for failing to maintain the plant and was fined £10,000- and ordered to pay costs of £8,826.70

After the hearing, HSE inspector Dominic Goacher commented: “It is essential that construction plant is correctly maintained and all plant operators need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in respect of maintenance. 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. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A construction company has been fined for failure to maintain the braking system of an articulated dumper truck.

Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court heard how Nelson Plant Hire failed to ensure the dumper truck was subject to a regular maintenance regime resulting in a worker being seriously injured.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident on  11 May 2018 at Whitehouse Field, Andover, found that during construction operations, the operator of a large Volvo articulated dumper truck was working on a site at the top of a steep slope adjacent to a public road. The operator was reversing the truck to carry out a tipping operation, but the brakes did not function. Consequently, he lost control of the vehicle which careered backwards across a busy A-road and tipped on to its side. The operator’s injuries included multiple fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

The HSE investigation determined that the dumper truck had not been subject to a maintenance regime in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and the brakes did not function correctly.

Nelson Plant Hire Ltd of Homestead Farm, Weyhill Road, Penton Corner, Andover, Hants, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER98) for failing to maintain the plant and was fined £10,000- and ordered to pay costs of £8,826.70

After the hearing, HSE inspector Dominic Goacher commented: “It is essential that construction plant is correctly maintained and all plant operators need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in respect of maintenance. 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. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

Dr Delphine Bard is a Principal Scientist in HSE’s Science and Research Centre in Buxton. To mark International Women’s Day 2022, Delphine talks about her work in standardisation and why women should get involved. 

“I am an aerosol scientist working for the health and safety executive and have been actively involved in standardisation on a national and international level for more than 15 years. I am a committee member of BSI (British Standard Institute), CEN (European Standardisation committee) and ISO (International Standard Organisation) including BSI NTI/1, CEN TC 352 and ISO TC 229 (Nanotechnologies) and BSI EH2/2 and CEN TC 137 (Assessment of workplace exposure – Particulate Matter).

“I have contributed to and lead the development of standards and in doing so I have participated in numerous national and international meetings. At times it has been challenging, but rewarding. I have learnt soft skills including active listening, influencing, assertiveness and diplomacy, which have helped me in discussions and debates when different viewpoints are expressed, but a consensus has to be reached. These soft skills have also helped me to progress in my career within my organisation.

“Most of all, I believe I have made a positive impact on the development of standards, with my aim to make workplaces safer and healthier and at the same time encouraging innovation and industry growth. I have gained from and shared scientific knowledge with a wide range of professionals and experts of diverse background and culture. I have networked and this has led to the development of scientific collaborations with industry, academia and other scientific organisations.

“My involvement in standardisation has made me a better scientist. The recent development of online meeting is making it easier for women like me, who have childcare responsibilities, to participate. Standards are important and diversity including a good representation from women makes better standards. So, let’s get involved.”

Jennifer French has been as HSE inspector for over seven years. She works in the Field Operations Division, the largest operational inspectorate in HSE, which covers many employment sectors including agriculture, general manufacturing, engineering, food and drink, entertainment, education, health services, local and central government and domestic gas safety. To mark International Women’s Day 2022, Jen shares some of her experiences of encountering gender bias when she’s been out on site visits and what she loves about her job.

“I graduated with a degree in German, but didn’t know what I wanted to be. Then I came across this job as an HSE inspector which looked interesting and it’s been the best thing I ever did.

“Being a health and safety inspector at HSE means having a lot of regular contact with people in all different types of industries, but the vast majority, such as engineering or construction, are male-dominated.   As a woman it can be quite intimidating at first to approach a business full of men unannounced and make yourself heard.   It is quite striking how often I am talked over or referred to as ‘love’ or ‘dear’ or, at times, just simply ignored.

“At one point I was acting as a coach to a new (male) trainee inspector. During inspections I was often leading and he would be quietly observing. Frequently I’d ask a duty holder a question and they would turn to my trainee and answer him instead. It sounds like such a cliché, it’s almost laughable, but sadly it highlights that gender bias and assumptions still exist.

“I have been called a ‘piece of skirt’ to my face on site visits and been referred to in email correspondence as ‘Jen, the health and safety bird’.  A quick riposte and a roll of the eyes, all done with a smile, is usually enough to make it quite clear that I won’t stand for it and it usually get easier from there. Nonetheless, it’s disappointing that women can still face such comments in the workplace. One of my favourite things about being an inspector is having the chance to challenge gender stereotypes on a daily basis.

“As well as being an Inspector, I am also the co-chair of HSE’s Gender Equality Network and am proud of the fact that 55% of inspectors in Field Operations Division are women. We work every day to make workplaces safe and reduce ill health, injury and death.”