Recent Enforcement Activity by the HSE
A summary of recent enforcement activity by the HSE
Work at height
2 July 2010 - An East Riding farm company, R.J Baker & Co Ltd, was fined £3,000 for misusing a telehandler and allowing a worker to plunge three metres from an unsafe grain bucket.
The 57 year old employee was clearing guttering on a farm building when the incident occurred, switching from a ladder to a telehandler to access a hard to reach section. A colleague operated the machine and attached a grain bucket for him to stand in. However, as the bucket was raised the operator inadvertently tilted it downwards and tipped the worker out.
6 July 2010 - A Carmarthenshire roofing company has been prosecuted after a teenage worker fell three metres through a fragile roof, breaking his arm.
Apprentice Shaun Jacob, 18, was removing the ridge from a metal sheet roof when a sheet he was standing on buckled, causing him to fall to the ground below. The HSE investigation found that Mr Jacob had no training in using roof ladders, and his supervisor also had no health and safety training.
Randell and Janes Roofing Specialists Ltd, of Cwmann, near Lampeter, pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs.
15 July 2010 - A Grantham firm has been fined £6,600 after one of its workers fell more than six metres to the ground - suffering five cracked vertebra, a broken pelvis and serious internal injuries.
The worker was employed by The Cedars Steeplejack (Midlands) Ltd, to remove bird debris and clean the bell chamber at The Church of St Peter, Lenton in Lincolnshire. The HSE investigation showed that two workers had gained access to the spire of the church via the staircase and set out scaffolding planks to stand on to carry out the work. The planks had been laid on rotten floor boards, which gave way.
The Cedars Steeplejack (Midlands) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 4 (1)(a) and 4 (1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. As well as the fine, the company was ordered to pay £4,774 costs.
Further information
Working at height -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/workingatheight.htm?ebul=cons/jul10&cr=7Fragile surfaces -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/fragile.htm?ebul=cons/jul10&cr=8Roof repair work - What you need to know as a busy builder
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/site3.pdf?ebul=cons/jul10&cr=9Scaffold collapse
16 July 2010 - Self-employed contractor Stephen Martin fell from the roofline of a domestic two-storey property when the scaffold beneath him swung open like a trapdoor. He fractured ribs, small bones at the base of his back and also sustained head injuries in the fall.
The scaffolding was erected by Advanced Scaffolding (GB) Ltd. The installation was signed off by the company but HSE found it was not of suitable strength or rigidity for its intended purpose.
Advanced Scaffolding Ltd was found guilty of a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. In addition to the £3,500 fine, the company was also ordered to pay £3,000 in costs.
21 July 2010 - A scaffolding contractor William Bedford, trading as B & J Scaffolding, from Teesside has been fined after a scaffold collapsed into a public street.
On the evening of 18 January 2008, 85 metres of the scaffold overturned in the wind and collapsed into the street. The HSE investigation showed that the scaffold was not adequately secured to the houses and was missing elements used to stabilise the structure.
Mr Bedford pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £4,000 and was ordered to pay costs of £2,500.
Further information
Scaffold checklist -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm?ebul=cons/jul10&cr=12Roofwork -
http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm?ebul=cons/jul10&cr=13
