The governing body of Christ the King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre in Southport has been fined after an employee fell from height whilst performing routine maintenance duties.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard how on Thursday 4 October 2018, an assistant site manager was removing footballs from the sixth form centre roof when he lost his footing, falling more than three metres to the ground. He sustained multiple fractures.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that, despite it being a regular practice to go on to the roof to remove balls, the governing body had no protective measures in place to prevent a fall from the edges of the roof. No barriers, any type of edge protection or fall restraint system was in place.

The governing body of Christ the King Catholic High School and Sixth Form Centre, Stamford Road, Southport, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 etc. They were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,851.50.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Roger Clarke 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.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.”

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 commercial maintenance company has been fined after a friend of the director suffered injuries to his torso when he fell through the roof of a warehouse.

Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court heard how on 8 May 2017, Stephen Bowkett was completing unpaid work with his friend Terry Adams, the Director of Atec Maintenance Ltd, to install netting on the roof of Weird Fish Limited in Cheltenham. After removing his harness to go for a break Stephen stepped backwards and fell more than six metres through the roof to the warehouse floor.

He suffered impact injuries to his abdomen and continues to be prescribed medication for severe pain. He is regularly admitted to hospital and struggles to complete everyday tasks.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Atec Maintenance Ltd failed to ensure that work at height was properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

Atec Maintenance Ltd of Tretawn Gardens, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,000.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Stacey Gamwell said: “Falls through fragile roofs are a common cause of serious and fatal injuries, this incident was wholly avoidable. The precautions are well established.

“Workers should avoid standing on roofs where possible by using an elevated work platform. However, if standing on the roof is unavoidable, suitable controls should be put in place such as close-fitting safety nets, guard rails and roof coverings.”

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. Further information about safe techniques for working at height can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg33.htm

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A company has been fined after a worker was fatally injured by steelwork, which fell from a telehandler forklift truck during loading.

Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard how on 4 April 2019, an employee of South East Galvanizers Limited had visited PCR Steel Ltd at their premises in Star Industrial Estate, Essex to collect a load. He was performing an unplanned lifting operation, loading a metal balcony base frame onto a flatbed trailer, when the incident occurred. The load was not secured and the balcony frame weighing approximately 400kg fell and crushed the 47-year-old man, who had been standing on the back of the trailer bed.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to ensure that the lifting operation was properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised, and carried out in a safe manner. There was no lift plan for the manoeuvring of balcony frames that could have considered the load’s security, size and weight. There was no plan for how the load would be set down, nor for how to exclude people from the danger zone.

PCR Steel Ltd of Star Industrial Estate, St Johns Road Grays, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,900.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jill Mead said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the host company to implement safe systems of work. 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.”

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

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A nursing home has been fined after a resident’s leg was repeatedly trapped in a bed rail.

Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court heard how, in November 2018, a resident at Crosfield House Limited in Rhayader was admitted to hospital when her leg, which had repeatedly been trapped between her mattress and the bed rail, became discoloured and cold to the touch. She had to have her leg amputated.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that there was a lack of training and guidance on how to complete a bed rail assessment. Employees at the home had not received any training on the safe use of bed rails and were unaware of the risks from bed rail entrapment. It also found that, despite the resident’s leg becoming repeatedly trapped between September and November 2018, no review on the use of bed rails was carried out.

Crosfield House Limited of Dark Lane, Rhayader, Wales pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and have been fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,747.

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Sarah Baldwin-Jones said: “The incident could so easily have been avoided by simply conducting a detailed bed rail risk assessment.

“Those who manage bedding equipment, should ensure that there are no gaps between the mattress and bed rail, where someone could get trapped.

“Employees involved in the provision and use of bed rails need to be aware of the key risks and know what to do if they suspect someone may be at risk of entrapment. In this case none of the employees recognised the risks and despite repeated entrapments, nothing was done to prevent recurrence.

“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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London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council has been sentenced after a five-year-old girl died when playground equipment collapsed on top of her at Mile End Park.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that on 17 July 2015, Alexia Walenkaki was swinging on a rope attached at one end to a wooden post, when the play equipment gave way. The post snapped at its base causing the wooden structure to collapse on top of her. She sustained fatal head injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council had failed to ensure that an annual playground safety check was carried out. Investigators also found the post was made from wood that was unsuitable and had decayed.

The local authority had previously implemented a system of inspections to ensure that play equipment was safe to use. However, the play equipment at Mile End Park had not been inspected by a playground inspector since September 2013. If the equipment had been inspected and tested for signs of rot, the risk may have been identified and appropriate action taken to remove and replace the equipment.

London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Etc. Act 1974. They were fined £330,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,204.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephron Baker Holmes said: “Those who provide play equipment should ensure it is safe for children. The lack of a suitable playground inspection in the period leading up to this incident has resulted in tragic consequences.”

Further information regarding health and safety guidance for leisure activities can be found here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/leisure/useful-links.htm

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

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