A car and commercial vehicle component manufacturer has been fined after two employees suffered burns whilst cleaning a distillation tank.

Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court heard how on 11 July 2017 two employees of Delphi Diesel Systems Limited were burnt when the vapour of a flammable chemical, which was being used to clean the distillation tank part of a component washer, ignited and caused an explosion. Both employees suffered significant burn injuries, with one employee’s injuries being so serious they could not return to work for over two months.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident at the company’s site in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire found that no risk assessment had been undertaken for the procedure of cleaning the distillation tank and that no safe system of work had been put in place. The investigation also found that planning had been undertaken for the use of the flammable chemical during the cleaning activity.

Delphi Diesel Systems Limited of Brunel Way, Stroudwater Business Park, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire has pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company has been fined £1,000,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,374.

Speaking after the case HSE principal inspector Paul Thompson said “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe systems of work, and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in those systems, as well as the substances they use.

“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the injuries suffered by the employees 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. 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]

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EGP Building Services Limited (EGP) has been fined for unsafe gas work which resulted in gas escapes.

Subsequent fires were reported at two occupied properties at a new housing development In Warwickshire.

Coventry Magistrates’ Court heard how EGP was contracted to undertake gas work at the Bellway Homes development at Heathcote Park, between August 2016 and May 2018. During this time, gas hob installations were undertaken by EGP fitters who were either not gas safe registered or operatives who were gas safe registered but were working outside the scope of their registration and not competent to undertake such work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that more than 60 properties were identified as being immediately dangerous and posed a serious fire and explosion risk to the occupants. The investigation revealed the company had failed to ensure that a system was in place to adequately and effectively plan, supervise and monitor the installation of gas hobs to ensure it was being carried out in accordance with industry requirements.

EGP Building Services Ltd of Craftsmans Way, Leicester, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety etc. Act 1974.  The company has been sentenced to a fine of £280,000 and ordered to pay costs of £918.00.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Helen Chesworth said: “The law is clear that companies must conduct their business without putting members of the public at risk. EGP Building Services Limited exposed members of the public to the risk of serious injury or death through unsafe gas work carried out at over 60 properties and it was fortunate that no one was harmed.”

“HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against companies who disregard the law and place lives at risk. Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous, so it is vital that this is only undertaken by trained and competent engineers who are registered with Gas Safe Register.”

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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Construction company Trumax Building Ltd was sentenced today for safety breaches after an employee under the age of 18 fell 2.62 metres through a stairway opening at a site in West Butterwick, Scunthorpe.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 18 May 2018, the operative was working on the first floor of a house being built at a development property on North Street. He was using a trowel to remove excess mortar from the back of breeze blocks, when he stepped backwards and fell through an unprotected stairway opening onto the concrete ground floor. He suffered two fractured ribs and contusions.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Trumax Building Ltd had failed to install a proprietary guardrail system or traditional scaffold guardrails around the perimeter of the opening.

Trumax Building Ltd pleaded guilty to contravening Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £803 in costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Stuart Whitesmith commented: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices, particularly to protect inexperienced workers.

“In this case someone suffered serious injuries which could been easily avoided by installing guardrails around the opening, to prevent workers falling 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 to the page on HSE’s website that is the best guide to doing it the right way: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

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A Birmingham manufacturer of calcium carbonate products has today been sentenced after a worker suffered fatal injuries when struck by a forklift truck.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 24 July 2017, Christine Workman, an employee of Minteq UK Ltd (trading as Specialty Minerals) was struck by a forklift truck whilst walking in the designated pedestrian area of the site’s roadway. She suffered severe crush injuries and tragically died on 8 August 2017.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the measures in place to separate and segregate pedestrians from vehicles were inadequate, with the designated pedestrian walkway running, unprotected, down the centre of the roadway used by vehicles.

 Minteq UK Ltd of Lifford Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and has been fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £23,217.87.

 Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Kay Brookes commented:

“Far too many people are killed and seriously injured by vehicles in the workplace every year. Provisional data for 2018-19 shows that of the 147 workers fatally injured, 30 of them were as a result of being struck by a moving vehicle. Many hundreds are left with life-changing injuries.

“The requirement to ensure adequate separation and segregation between pedestrians and vehicles is paramount. This tragic and wholly avoidable incident highlights the need for companies to comply with their legal duty to identify what can kill and seriously hurt people in their workplace and take steps to stop that happening.”

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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A garden shed manufacturer has been fined after an accident at its site in Gateshead resulted in an employee losing the tip of his right thumb and damaging tendons in his right hand.

North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that on 26 July 2017 the employee of David Bell, who trades as Leam Lane Garden Sheds, was using a rip saw to cut the apex of a shed. The riving knife of the rip saw was missing and during this process the employee’s hand came into contact with the blade of the saw resulting in him losing the tip of his right thumb and damaging tendons in his index and middle finger on his right hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the employer had not isolated the saw to prevent it from being used until it had been repaired. It also failed to ensure the employee had received suitable and sufficient training in the use of woodworking machinery.

David Bell, trading as Leam Lane Garden Sheds, of Salt Meadows Road, Gateshead pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £925.90.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Victoria Crofton said: “Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise risk from woodworking machinery, and provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers. They must also ensure any defective equipment cannot be used.

“Had this been done this worker would not have suffered these serious injuries.”

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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