A self-employed gas fitter has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after he carried out unsafe gas work while falsely pretending to be Gas Safe Registered.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Richard Trezise was prosecuted following investigations by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors at seven different locations where the Gas Safe Register had been alerted to unsafe work.

Mr Trezise had produced Landlord’s Gas Safety Certificates and falsely claimed to be Gas Safe Registered by using the registration number of another business who had never heard of him. He left customers with faulty installations that presented risks of gas leaks and dangerous accumulations of the products of combustion.

A HSE investigation found that, between May 2015 and July 2016, Richard Trezise had carried out work whilst unregistered and whilst falsely pretending to be Gas Safe Registered at seven different locations in Nottinghamshire, Mid Glamorgan, Gwent and Yorkshire. This was contrary to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and in breach of a prohibition notice previously served on Mr Trezise.

Richard Trezise had previously pleaded guilty to 21 offences under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 in Nottingham Magistrates Court. He was today sentenced to a 16 months prison and a concurrent 28 day sentence for not attending the court hearing.

HHJ Burgess stated of Mr Trezise: “You intentionally breached the law. You used false certificates of registration. You defied an existing prohibition notice. And all of this was for financial gain.”

“It almost goes without saying that faulty gas installations can lead to gas leaks, explosion and death. This is the reason that the regulations exist and why a breach of them is likely to be regarded as extremely serious.”

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Emma Madeley said:

“Richard Trezise undertook gas work which he knew he was not registered to do. Some of the work was unsafe and it was fortunate that no one was harmed.

“All gas work must be done by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life.

“The public should always ask to see the gas engineer’s identification and check the registration number at www.gassaferegister.co.uk or ringing gas safe register customer helpline 0800 408 5500.”

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

A Worcestershire-based haulage firm has been sentenced following a fatal incident in which a driver was crushed by a reversing vehicle.

Worcester Crown Court heard how, on 11 December 2013, a Tooles Transport Limited employee, 60-year-old Kevin Scott, was assisting a colleague to reverse a vehicle when he became trapped between the reversing vehicle and his own causing fatal injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found drivers were routinely labelling up their loads in the yard whilst other lorries were returning to the yard and reversing in close proximity. The investigation found there was no segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, lighting was inadequate and there was deep shadow between parked lorries.

Tooles Transport Limited of Rushock Trading Estate, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974 and have been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £253,728.07.

 Speaking after the case, HSE principal inspector Elizabeth Hornsby said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working.

“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, this tragic loss of life could have been prevented.”

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 Norwich manufacturing firm has been fined after two employees working with flammable substances in a spray booth were killed by an explosion.

Norwich Crown Court heard how, on 13 July 2015, two workers had already sprayed several welded steel buckets that morning and were preparing for their next batch. The flammable vapour generated whilst cleaning or flushing a paint spray gun was ignited by one of the various sources of ignition which were present at the scene. An explosion occurred, killing both workers.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the immediate cause of the explosion to be the inconsistent and incomplete approach to health and safety by the company and its employees. This resulted in the lack of suitable control measures; specifically, a suitable and sufficient safe system of work for the activities in the spray booth.

Harford Attachments Limited of Spar Road, Norwich pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and breaching Regulation 6(4)(f)(i) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 and has been fined £145,000 and ordered to pay costs of £65,900.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Keith Waller said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to implement safe systems of work, and failure to ensure that health and safety documentation was communicated and followed.

“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

Two companies have been sentenced after an employee fell from scaffolding whilst at work.

Poole Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 28 September 2016, 32-year old self-employed builder, Jamie Butler, was working on a refurbishment project at a block of flats when he fell over 2 metres from unsecured scaffold boards onto concrete flooring below. Mr Butler, who was contracted by Brewsters, suffered a broken wrist, collarbone and head injuries as a result of the fall. He also sustained lower back injuries that required an operation.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the work was not properly planned, nor appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner when the incident occurred. Mr Payne, as the principal contractor, had a duty to control how the work was carried out and to ensure that the scaffolding would be correctly erected and maintained. The work was done under the control of Brewsters (Poole) Ltd who failed to plan the work properly and in a safe manner.

Jeff Payne of Milton Road, Bournemouth pleaded guilty to breaching Section 13 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regs 2015, and has been issued with a 60 hour community service order and ordered to pay costs of £1,000 with a victim surcharge of £125.

Brewsters (Poole) Ltd of Playfields Drive, Poole pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regs 2005, and has been fined £2700 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000 with a victim surcharge of £125.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Nicole Buchanan said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.

“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work related fatalities/injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.”

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

Food flavourings company Frutarom (UK) Ltd has been fined after two separate health and safety breaches.

Colchester Magistrates Court heard how the company was prosecuted following two separate Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigations into incidents at Frutarom’s premises.

In October 2016 a worker at the company’s Hartlepool factory was emptying a part-finished product from a drum into two smaller containers when the toxic gas hydrogen sulphide was released from the liquid being decanted.

In June 2017 an agency worker lost four of his fingers when his hand came into contact with mixing blades inside a mixing machine.

HSE’s investigation into the 2016 incident found that Frutarom had used hydrogen sulphide gas as part of the manufacturing process for several years. They had danger warnings about the gas on their work instructions but did not instruct workers to carry out industry standard practices to safely remove the gas.

A HSE investigation following the 2017 incident found that the company failed to prevent access into the discharge chute of the machine after failing to identify this as a risk. The company was not aware of the significance of a grille cover on the discharge chute which, had it been fixed to the machine or interlocked, would have prevented the incident from occurring.

Relating to the incident in October 2016, Frutarom (UK) Ltd of Riverside Avenue West, Lawford, Manningtree, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,603.90.

Relating to the incident in July 2017, the company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,992.51.

HSE inspector Edward Crick said: “The injuries sustained by the employee after the incident in July 2017 would have been prevented had a suitable and sufficient risk assessment been undertaken.

“Sadly, the company missed probably the most significant hazard associated with the use of the machine and therefore failed to take any appropriate action to eliminate the risk.”

HSE inspector Julian Nettleton said: “It was fortunate that no one was harmed following the release of hydrogen sulphide in October 2016.

“Frutarom knew about the hazards of handling this chemical but had not sufficiently considered the specific risks from the task which workers were routinely carrying out.

“Companies should ensure all tasks which expose employees to risk are suitably risk assessed. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall significantly 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
4. These cases were sentenced on the same day in the same hearing at Colchester Magistrates Court.
5. HSE’s website has statistics and further information on food machinery incidents (http://www.hse.gov.uk/food/machinery.htm)
6. Hydrogen sulphide exposure has been linked to fatal accidents, particularly in the offshore oil & gas, waste & recycling and farming industries. Further information and guidance on handing hazardous substances in the workplace is available on the HSE website. (http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/basics/whatdo.htm)
7. Hydrogen sulphide is a toxic gas that can kill. It is often associated with rotting waste and farm slurry but is commonly used in the chemical industry. The ‘rotten eggs’ smell of the gas is often noticed well below levels that cause harm, if the air contains enough of the gas the nose becomes overloaded and you cannot smell it.