Latest News

Electrician carried out deadly gas work

By Sylwia Wolska | October 7, 2019

A self-employed electrician has been prosecuted after carrying out gas work without being Gas Safe registered. Robert Parker had carried out gas work between March and August 2017 and installed a boiler on 24 October 2017 at a domestic property in Rossendale despite not being Gas Safe registered. Following notification of installation defects by the…

Read More

New HSE HAVS calculator to help control risk

By Sylwia Wolska | September 25, 2019

New calculator includes “cautious estimates” for common tools The HSE Hand-Arm Vibration exposure calculator helps estimate and record worker exposure to such vibration and compare the exposures with the actions values in the regulations as part of a hand-arm vibration risk assessment. The calculator has been updated and is available on the HSE website. The updated…

Read More

Employee killed by falling wooden bearer

By Sylwia Wolska | September 23, 2019

An East Kilbride engineering company has been fined after an employee died following an incident in which he was struck on the head by a wooden bearer in the yard of a fabrication workshop. On  7 September 2017, James Longair, 62 was helping a colleague who was operating a side loader at IODS Pipe Clad…

Read More

£53k fine after roofer fell from ladder

By Sylwia Wolska | September 23, 2019

A roofing contractor has been fined after an employee fell to his death from a ladder while exiting a scaffold. Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that on 21 September 2016, Joseph Kane, an employee of Henderson and Aitken Limited, fell from the top rung of a ladder when it slipped sideways on the scaffold. Mr…

Read More

Companies fined after worker fell through roof

By Sylwia Wolska | September 23, 2019

Two companies, P.D.R. Construction Limited and Metcalfe Roofing & Building Services Limited, have been fined after a worker fell through a fragile mesh roof whilst carrying out work at height. On 21 July 2016, the injured person had been in the process of installing a roof on a new KFC Drive Thru in Coulby Newham. Whilst…

Read More

Fatal fall from insecure scaffold ladder

By Sylwia Wolska | September 17, 2019

Scaffold erected by unqualified and incompetent person An Aberdeen based roofing contractor has been fined after an employee fell to his death from a ladder whilst leaving a scaffold in the city on 21 September 2016. Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that employee, Joseph Kane, fell from the top rungs of a ladder which slipped sideways…

Read More

BP fined £400k after Shetland oil leak

By Sylwia Wolska | September 17, 2019

BP Exploration Operating Company Limited has been fined for spilling almost four tonnes of crude oil at the Sullom Voe Terminal, Mossbank, Shetland. Lerwick Sheriff Court was told that on 13 December 2012, work was being carried out by BP Exploration Operating Company employees to drain a surge relief line connected to the Ninian pipeline…

Read More

Council fined £100 over vibration failings

By Sylwia Wolska | September 12, 2019

Excessive use of power tools uncontrolled and without health surveillance A local authority has been fined £100,000 after seven ground maintenance workers were exposed to the risk of harm from vibration caused by “excessive use of power tools”. Luton Magistrates heard how the council reported seven cases of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) between May 2015…

Read More

Worker’s foot trapped for 45 minutes

By Sylwia Wolska | September 12, 2019

An environmental firm and a sub-contractor have been fined after an electrical contractor had his foot trapped in a hydraulic powered compactor known as a Briquetter. Following an incident where a self-employed electrical contractor sustained serious injuries at its premises, Enva Toomebridge Limited (formerly known as Clearcircle Environmental (NI) Ltd) was fined £1,500 after pleading…

Read More