Health and Safety News

Jersey construction firm fined £25,000 for breaking health and safety law

A construction firm in Jersey has been fined £25,000 for breaking a health and safety law after two of its workmen fell from a 'poorly constructed platform'.The Royal Court heard how the firm, JP Mauger, 'failed to protect the health, safety and welfare of its employees' after allowing construction work to take place on a platform that was in an 'unsafe condition'.

Two construction companies fined after working platform failed

Two construction companies have been sentenced following an incident were a working platform failed and a bricklayer using the platform was injured. Durham Crown Court heard how, on 1 July 2019, Dere Street Homes Limited were acting as principal contractor and provided components for a proprietary polypropylene working platform at a new build at Marley Fields, Wheatley Hill, County Durham.

Energy company fined after worker suffers multiple injuries in fall from height

Energy company, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Ltd, has been fined after an agency worker fell 1.8 metres from a blade platform. Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard that, on 11 November 2017, the 30-year-old was working inside one of the turbine blades at the company’s blade factory in Hull. Inside the blade is a midway platform referred to as the “web”.

Covid-19: 48,000 businesses sign up for rapid testing

More than 48,000 businesses in England have signed up for workplace Covid testing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. Mr Hancock said it marked a 'huge step forward' in getting businesses 'back on their feet' and keeping people safe. Businesses of all sizes can register to order lateral flow tests for their workers until 31 March.

No jab, no job? Health and safety versus civil liberties

No jab, no job – easy to say but a minefield to navigate. As the NHS programme rolls impressively on, thoughts turn to how useful vaccine protection might be. The UK does not generally mandate medical treatment. It works on the basis of consent which is largely effective, for example with infant immunisations.

Mattress manufacturer fined after employee dragged into machine

A Nottingham mattress manufacturer has been fined after an employee of the company suffered multiple injuries to his arm, shoulder, ribs and neck after he was drawn into a NG-06 Semi-Automatic Mattress Rolling Machine (MRM). An investigation by The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company did not prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machine and had not implemented a suitable and sufficient safe system of work which would direct employees to not place their hands close to the dangerous parts of the machine.

Construction company fined after worker suffered multiple burns

Walden Builders Ltd has been sentenced after a worker was struck by a heated sheet of tin.Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how on 18 September 2018, the company was demolishing an outbuilding in Littlethorpe, Ripon. During the demolition, the excavator being used struck a wall containing a 415v cable causing it to arc and ignite a fire.

Doosan develops see-through shovel bucket

Doosan uses cameras to relay images into the driver’s cab of whatever is in front of the shovel bucket, eliminating a hazardous blind spot. Doosan Infracore says that it is the first company in the world to develop and apply a front projection function with the transparent bucket for construction machines and has applied for patents in Korea, North America, Europe and China. The system records images in front of a wheeled loader with top and bottom front-loaded cameras. It shows the combined images on the cab monitor in real time using a curved projection method.

Sellafield nuclear site a 'toxic mix of bullying and harassment'

A 'toxic culture' of bullying and harassment at Sellafield could let serious safety concerns go unreported, whistleblowers have told the BBC. In a leaked letter, the nuclear site's group for ethnic minority staff described 'shocking stories' of racial abuse.

Construction company sentenced after worker sustains life-changing injuries

A construction company has been sentenced after a self-employed ground worker sustained life changing injuries in an incident involving a disc cutter.Truro Crown Court heard how on 1 June 2017, self-employed ground worker Morgan Prosser, contracted by MJL Contractors Limited, was working to complete ground works at a new building site near Bodmin, Cornwall.