Equipment supplier fined after worker’s hand severed
A worker from County Durham had his hand severed while carrying out maintenance on glass cutting machinery a court heard. The 34-year-old maintenance technician was investigating a fault on a new tilt table with a colleague. He was on his hands and knees while trying to ascertain the cause of the fault and had activated […]
Roads fit for a Queen
In the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has taken a look back over how roads and road safety have changed since the Queen came to the throne sixty years ago. Key developments include: IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Road safety gets better by the year, and […]
Waste company prosecuted after worker loses arm
A waste management and recycling company has been fined for safety failings after a worker lost most of his arm on an unguarded conveyor system at a Kent quarry. Dartford Magistrates heard that a conveyor belt used to transfer waste into a sorting shed was juddering and virbrating, making sorting difficult, after a driving roller […]
Charities launch fight-back against 80mph limits
A coalition of road safety and environmental organisations have launched a campaign protesting the government’s plans to increase speed limits on motorways to 80mph. The No to 80 coalition is highlighting the huge costs to society of the proposal, which it predicts will exceed £1 billion annually in economic terms, mean more families needlessly suffering […]
Towards better detection of dangerous medicines
Proposed new changes to existing EU legislation, backed by the European Parliament’s Public Health Committee, would trigger an automatic EU safety evaluation in the event of a safety alert about a medicinal product in any EU Member State. These changes would ensure that the adverse effects of medicinal products will be better monitored, to prevent […]
Recycling firm fined for subjecting workers to lead poisoning
An Edmonton-based recycling company has been fined for failing to protect employees working with lead. The company had bought and was stripping some lead-sheathed copper cabling from British Telecom after the network began to be changed from copper to fibre optic cable. An investigation carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that […]
Consultation launched on criminal liability of partnerships
A consultation has recently been launched by the UK Government on tightening the law on the criminal liability of partnerships. The consultation is also seeking views on reforming the law on unincorporated associations. The need for reform to the Scots law on criminal liability of partnerships was highlighted after 14 elderly residents lost their lives […]
Changes to health and safety reporting
With effect from 6th April, employers no longer have to report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) injuries which keep workers off normal duties for seven or fewer days. Previously, injuries had to be reported if they kept workers off normal duties for more than three days. The change to the Reporting of Injuries, […]
Fines after workers exposed to asbestos
An Ammanford-based knitwear company and a cladding firm site foreman have been fined for putting workers and visitors at risk of exposure to asbestos. Corgi Hosiery Ltd contracted Dragon Cladding Ltd to remove an asbestos cement sheet roof at their New Road branch in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire Having received a complaint about the work, the Health […]
Firm fined after technician’s death at factory
An experienced technician at a plastic products factory in Cornwall was killed after he was crushed between the plates on a machine used to make plastic lids. The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Curver UK Ltd (formerly Contico Europe Ltd) for failing to provide adequate safety measures. Truro Crown Court heard that in preparing the […]