prosecutions

15th August 2016

Manchester aluminium diecaster fined £140,000

A Manchester aluminium diecasting producer has been fined £140,000 after a worker suffered life threatening injuries when he became trapped in a machine. The worker had entered the middle of the aluminium diecasting machine to clear a build-up of metal. Whilst carrying out this routine procedure a robot arm started to move and trapped him. He suffered a cardiac arrest and fourth degree burns.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the machine had only been partially guarded. This was despite there being a risk assessment in place at the time of the incident identifying the hazard of contact or entrapment with the ladle

8th August 2016

South Wales construction company fined £100,000

A South Wales company has been fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4633.76 for running an unsafe timber-frame construction site. HSE found that measures to prevent a fire starting and getting out of control on the fifty-four house site had not been properly taken. There was a lack of site management control, insufficient means to detect a fire and raise the alarm, poor control of ignition sources and a general lack of emergency planning. Workers were also at risk of being struck or crushed by construction vehicles on site

5th August 2016

Bradford skip hire firm prosecuted

A Bradford-based skip firm has been ordered to pay £27,420 after repeatedly breaking environmental laws. The Environment Agency brought the prosecution because the firm repeatedly stored too much waste on its Becks Road site, and was also found to be running an illegal waste site on Rosse Street in Bradford.