In recent inspections by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 95% of employers failed to verify whether workers wearing hearing protection could still detect vital warning signals, such as fire alarms and vehicle reversing alerts.  Although one in four workplaces had noise levels requiring mandatory hearing protection, the HSE inspections revealed “concerning gaps” in implementation.

An Ipswich manufacturer has been issued with an immediate prohibition notice by the national health and safety regulator.    Orwell Pine Limited, in 497-499 Wherstead Road, has been issued with the notice after they failed to provide adequate guarding on dangerous machinery.

A worker who died after falling about 30ft (9m) into an empty silo at a factory will be 'deeply missed' by his colleagues, the company he worked for has said.  The 43-year-old died at the scene of the 'industrial incident' at Dugdale Nutrition on Woodend Avenue in the Speke area of Liverpool on Monday, Merseyside Police said.

The investigation into the death of George Gilbey is now being led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  George, 40, was working in Shoeburyness, Essex on 27 March 2024, when he fell to his death.  The involvement of Essex Police has now concluded. HSE will now lead the criminal investigation.

A chemical company has been fined £100,000 after one of its workers was permanently scarred from burns from a steam hose at a site in Motherwell.  A 23-year-old was burnt across his back and other areas of his body as he attempted to clean a process water tank on 23 October 2019. At the time he had been working for Dundas Chemical Company (Mosspark) Limited at its site at Omoa Works in Newarthill for around two years.

David Bottomley, 53, and his son, Clayton, were working at the 21st floor at the Unity Building when the tragedy happened  Fraudulent safety certificates had been provided for a building site platform that collapsed and caused a father and son to fall to their deaths, a court has heard.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been fined £144,050 after an experienced ground handling operative died when a corroded guardrail on a pallet loader failed.  On 11 January 2023, Joseph Dempsey, 59, was preparing to unload cargo from an aircraft using a pallet loader. As he repositioned a guardrail, it gave way, causing him to fall approximately 10 feet to the tarmac. Colleagues and paramedics attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

HSE has published a safety notice aimed at excavator operators, slingers and anyone working near them.  There is a risk that people can be struck by the excavator or a load if the excavator operator does not use the safety control lever or isolation device correctly.

Tata Steel (UK) Ltd has been fined £1.5 million and ordered to pay £26,318 in costs after a contractor was fatally injured at its Port Talbot steelworks in South Wales.   The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company for what it described as “basic” health and safety failings, including inadequate isolation and guarding of dangerous machinery.

A County Durham waste management company has been fined after a young employee was run over by an excavator.  Farm XS (Northern) Limited, based in Barnard Castle, was sentenced after an incident on 29 January 2024 that left the 24-year-old with serious injuries.