Welcome to HSE prosecutions in brief. An overview of this weeks prosecutions by the HSE.
Essex school fined over caretaker injury
A Shenfield school has been prosecuted after one of its staff fell from height while at work.
Caretaker David Springett was recladding the outside of the kitchen at Shenfield High School near Brentwood in Essex on 28 July 2010.
The 54-year-old was working with a colleague on an unguarded work platform when he lost his footing and fell 1.9 metres to the ground. He broke two ribs and needed a three-inch metal plate and multiple metal screws inserted into a broken arm.
Shenfield High School Alexander Lane, Shenfield, Brentwood, Essex, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,243.85.
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Cleaning products firm fined after truck falls on worker
A Nottingham cleaning products manufacturer has been fined after an employee was seriously injured when a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials toppled and fell on him.
The worker, who has asked not to be named, suffered a fractured cheekbone, multiple skull injuries and long term impaired vision after the incident, which happened when he was helping load a lorry using a semi-electric stacker truck. The truck was pulled over a kerb and fell onto the employee.
His employer, Revelholme Marketing Ltd (trading as Unic International), was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation.
The company, of Colwick Road, Nottingham, which makes solvent degreasers and cleaning products, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 at a three day trial which completed yesterday. They were fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £18,000.
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Wiltshire firm failed to prevent fall risk
A Wiltshire firm has been prosecuted for compromising worker safety after using a homemade harness system during a barn renovation project.
Agricultural contractor Ashton Farms Limited, of Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge, exposed employees to a fall from height risk at Manor Farm Grittleton, on Alderton Road, in Chippenham.
Ashton Farms Limited of Spiers Piece Farm, Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £4,000 for each charge (£8,000 in total) and ordered to pay costs of £3,986.
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Croydon roofing company fined for asbestos and scaffolding failures
A well established Croydon roofing company has been fined for unlicensed asbestos removal – at a property where employees also worked on unsafe scaffolding.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Brunwin Professional Roofing Services Ltd after uncovering serious safety failings during a routine inspection at a detached house in Croydon on 28 April 2009.
Brunwin Professional Roofing Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching safety regulations at City of London Magistrates Court today (15 July 2011). The company – which is registered at Suite L8, Airport House, Purley Way in Croydon – was fined £4,000 for breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and £2,000 for breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height 2005 Regulations. Full costs of £2,406 were also awarded against the company, which has been trading for 23 years.
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