Health and Safety News
We scour the Internet for Health and Safety related news items on an almost daily basis.
The news articles and clippings, curated by MD Safety, highlight the requirements for compliance with UK Health and Safety Legislation and best practice across all industry sectors.
The majority of the information and cases will apply to a greater or lesser degree to our broad range of Clients and lessons to be learned will be able to be gained.
STIHL TS 410 & TS 420 product recall
STIHL has learnt that a limited number of TS 410 and TS 420 cut-off machines in the below noted serial number range were assembled with the flywheel-to-crankshaft connection over-tightened. Overtightening of this connection may damage the flywheel, which could cause the flywheel to fail and break apart while the engine is running. A failure during the operation of the machine would pose a projectile hazard to the user or a bystander. A damaged flywheel is not apparent from a visual inspection.
Read MoreHigh school fined after child is fatally injured
A high school in Chelmsford has been fined after a young child died after a locker in a changing room fell on top of him. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard that on the 23 May 2019, nine-year-old Leo Latifi was fatally injured when he attended an after-school swimming lesson at the sports centre of Great Baddow High School.
Read MoreBritish Airways fined £1.8m after worker was crushed by baggage trolley
Airline giant British Airways has been fined £1.8 million for ‘significant failings’ in the general management of supervision and monitoring, risk assessment and training. On 16 March 2018, an employee was pulling a train of dollies, which are vehicles used to transport baggage around the airport. She was using the centre of the roadway between the two lanes, pictured above, as a walking route.
Read MoreCovid: Employers can put self-isolating staff on furlough
Employers can claim from the furlough scheme for staff who are self-isolating. The entitlement exists despite government guidance stating it is not what the scheme is intended for. The little-known entitlement was first reported by Politico magazine after emails from civil servants complaining about government guidance were leaked.
Read MoreSchool fined after worker injured in fall from ladder
Southend High School for Boys Academy Trust has been sentenced after a worker fell from a ladder. The injured person was using an unsecured ladder at the school to dismantle a canopy roof. The ladder slipped, causing the worker to fall and sustain fractures to his face, a fractured femur and other injuries. The incident happened on 19 February 2019.
Read MoreFirst international guide on psychological health, safety and well-being at work
BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, publishes international guidance on psychological health and safety and managing psychosocial risks at work. The new standard, named ISO 45003: Occupational health and safety management — Psychological health and safety at work — Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks, provides recommendations to organizations on how to prevent work-related psychological ill health in their workers and other relevant interested parties.
Read MoreBuilding contractor fined following the death of worker on house building site
Nickell and Richmond Limited has been prosecuted following a case brought by HSENI, and fined £40,000. The Bangor based company pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to a total of four health and safety offences which resulted in the death of a worker at a house building site in Jordanstown.
Read MoreBeauty business fined £50,000 after customer fell down open trapdoor
A cosmetics firm has pleaded guilty to serious health and safety offences after a member of the public fell down an open trapdoor. On Sunday 28 October 2018 the customer was shopping at City Queen Cosmetics in Luton when she fell through the unguarded trapdoor and down a staircase. She sustained multiple bruises and lacerations all over her body.
Read MoreConstruction company fined after an employee dies after being run over by a dumper truck
BAM Nuttall Limited has been fined after an employee was run over by a dumper vehicle. Inverness Sheriff Court heard that on 28 October 2016, at Blackhillock Substation, Keith, then under construction, Mr John Cameron was changing over a blade on a piece of work equipment at the side of a roadway when he was run over by a six-tonne dumper truck. Mr Cameron sustained serious pelvic injuries and died as a result.
Read MoreCompany and director sentenced after two workers injured in falls from height
A facilities and construction management company, along with the director, have been fined after unsuitable scaffolding partially collapsed, injuring two workers. An HSE investigation found that the tower scaffolding was not suitable for the type of work being undertaken. It was not erected by a person trained and competent to do so, had been erected to a height above recommendation and was loaded with a weight greater than the safe working load stated by the manufacturer.
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