Changes for April 2019 - Health and Safety |
Pertinent Legislation Amended in April 2019 | |
EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED | |
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Recent Publications |
HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND (HSENI) Tips for Purchasing Occupational Health Services This document provides advice on occupational health services in Northern Ireland.
EUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY (ECHA) Registered substances mapped for regulatory action ECHA has published the first report of the Integrated Regulatory Strategy, which creates a map of registered substances. It is intended this document helps to identify, plan and monitor progress on identifying and regulating substances of concern. |
Offences |
Construction companies fined after employee receives electrical burns Two companies have been fined after a worker received serious electrical burns during demolition work at a former manufacturing site in Essex. On the 12 April 2017, two demolition workers employed by the sub-contractor R B Haigh & Sons were removing electrical distribution equipment from a switchgear room. One worker was informed by the principal contractor that the electrical equipment had been isolated. To reassure his colleague that it was safe he threw a crowbar at the 400V ac equipment. This contacted live exposed wires, causing a flashover and temperatures of several thousand degrees. The incident led to a fire. The worker suffered serious burn injuries and was hospitalised. An HSE investigation found that the task had not been properly planned and suitable control measures were not in place to ensure isolation of the power supply. The principal contractor (A J Wadhams & Co Ltd) failed to follow the clear procedures in their risk assessments and method statements. These documents identified that all equipment must be treated as live unless written authorisation proved otherwise. Breaches Russell Haigh and Stuart Haigh (Partners of R B Haighs & Sons) pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
AJ Wadhams & Co Limited trading as Wadham Homes pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Penalties Russell Haigh and Stuart Haigh (Partners of R B Haighs & Sons) were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3882.65. AJ Wadhams & Co Limited were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3816.60.
Tadcaster company fined after worker struck by telehandler load A potato processing company has today been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker was struck by a telehandler load. The worker was walking across the middle yard to the maintenance workshop when he was struck by three potato boxes loaded on the tines of a telehandler being operated by another employee. The impact knocked him to the ground and caused a fracture to his left leg. An HSE investigation found the company had insufficient measures in place to prevent people being struck by a vehicle. A protected walkway was provided to only two sides of the yard, but not to the right side, although this was a well-used pedestrian route. A large number of boxes were stored in the yard requiring pedestrians having to take a longer route than was necessary. The company also failed to ensure forklift truck and telehandler operators were clear what the site rules were around the transportation of potato boxes and to effectively enforce these. Breach Braegate Produce Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Workplace (Health and Safety Welfare) Regulations 1991.
Penalty Braegate Produce Ltd was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £962 in costs.
Boat owner sentenced after death of diver A boat owner has been sentenced after he failed to suitably plan, manage and conduct diving projects. On 15 March 2012, Roderick MacLean, who had been diving for scallops from a fishing boat, the MV Hildona, did not surface at London Bay, Orkney. An HSE investigation found various safety issues, including:
Breach Shaun Geddes pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and was sentenced to 200 hours community service.
Penalty Shaun Geddes pleaded was sentenced to 200 hours community service. |