An engineering company was sentenced today after two employees were seriously injured during work to dispose of old gas cylinders at the company’s site in Hull.

Beverley Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 6 January 2017, a worker at Redhall Engineering Services Ltd was asked to decommission approximately eight or nine gas cylinders believed to contain oxygen. The employee laid the cylinders outside in the yard with the pressure release valves open to try and empty out any gas that remained inside. Later, the employee began to remove the pressure release valves from the tops of the cylinders.

On the last cylinder it became apparent that the valve was stuck and could not be removed. Another employee of the company came to help and they attempted to dislodge and remove the valve using a hammer. During this attempt the cylinder and valve separated violently as gas which remained in the cylinder was released. The cylinder fired into the workshop and struck two employees who were standing inside.

Both employees suffered serious injuries to their lower limbs, one sustaining a broken tibia and fibular to both legs, and the other a broken tibia and fibular to his left leg and extensive nerve and tissue damage. Both men required multiple surgeries and spent several weeks in hospital. One of them has still not been able to return to work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that, at the time of the incident, there was no safe system of work in place for the decommissioning and disposal of old gas cylinders, and the company had not carried out a suitable risk assessment to identify the associated risks.

Redhall Engineering Services Ltd of Winestead Lane, Hull pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £14,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,687.00.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector James Harvey said: “This case highlights the serious risks posed by gas cylinders and how the correct disposal as well as cylinder handling and storage is fundamental to ensuring safety.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A care home was sentenced after an employee suffered significant injuries after falling around 1.5 metres down a lift shaft.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard how on 25 September 2016 the employee was using the platform lift to transport the residents’ breakfasts from the kitchen to the dining room on a different floor. An interlock system which meant that the lift door could only be opened when the platform was at the right floor was broken. The employee fell down the shaft because the platform was at a lower level.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the door locking mechanism had been broken for about a month prior to this incident and management failed to deal with the known issue of employees overriding the door safety locking mechanism with a screwdriver. The lift had also not been thoroughly examined.

Sutton in the Elms Care Limited of Sutton Lane, Leicester pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 9(3)(a)(i) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations and has been fined £14,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £2535.90

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Michelle Morrison said “This incident could so easily have been avoided, had the management at the care home ensured that employees were not manually over-riding safety features on this platform lift. Safety features on all work equipment are designed to keep people safe and prevent accidents, such as this one.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

An East Lothian-based sole trader was today fined after a self-employed furniture maker was injured on their premises.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard how, on 25 February 2016, a self-employed furniture maker was working on the premises owned by Peter Anselm Fraser, trading as A and A Fraser Property. Whilst the furniture maker was moving wood over the planer blade, the machine skidded on the table causing her left hand to slip off the top edge and come into contact with the exposed part of the blade. As a result, the furniture maker suffered hand injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the planer machine was fitted with a fence guard but lacked a bridge guard at the area she was working. The absence of a bridge guard on the planer created an increased risk where the operator might inadvertently come into contact with the exposed portion of the blade.

Peter Anselm Fraser trading as A and A Fraser Property of Gifford, East Lothian, pleaded guilty to breaching of Regulation 11(1) and (2) of the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £6,700. 

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Kim Munro said: “This injury was easily preventable and the risk should have been identified.

“Employers/sole traders should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk

A timber yard has been fined after two workers were seriously injured when they were struck by a side loader lift truck.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how, on 23 February 2015, two employees of Palmer Timber Ltd were walking across the yard at the site in Cradley Heath when they were hit by a side loader lift truck. One worker suffered a fractured ankle while his co-worker suffered multiple serious injuries including a fractured eye socket and collar bone, a severed thumb, damage to his tongue, broken bones in his forearm, a broken rib and further injuries which required skin grafts.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the company did not have effective precautions in place for vehicles and pedestrians to move around safely.

Palmer Timber Ltd of Station Road, Cradley Heath pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4, by virtue of Regulation 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The company was fined £730,000 and ordered to pay costs of £ £13,844.87 and a victim surcharge of £120.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Richard Littlefair commented: “This incident could have been much worse with the potential for fatal injuries. “There were reasonably practicable measures which should have been in place in order to allow vehicles and pedestrians to circulate in a safe manner.”

Notes to Editors:

1.           The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions that range from influencing behaviours across whole industry sectors through to targeted interventions on individual businesses. These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise. www.hse.gov.uk

2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/

3. HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk