New publications this month:

HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE NORTHERN IRELAND (HSENI)

Safe skin - Working in the sun

This two page leaflet provides guidance to employees and employers on risks associated with work in the sun and how these may be controlled.

Safe skin - Working with chemicals

This two page leaflet provides guidance on skin conditions, including dermatitis, and how these may be avoided.

McCain Foods fined £800,000 following health and safety breaches

McCain Foods has been convicted for after an accident lead to an employee nearly losing their arm.

A workers arm became trapped in equipment while he was checking the condition of the head roller on a bypass conveyor that was not guarded correctly. The subsequent HSE investigation identified that the risk assessment of the machine failed to address risks associated with operating the machinery without the correct guards.

Breach

McCain Foods pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

• Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 requires that every employer shall ensure that measures are taken effective to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to any rotating stock-bar; or to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.
• Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.

Penalty

McCain Foods were fined £800,000 with costs of £12,831.51.

Plumbing company fined £100,000 following conviction for tragic accident

H20 Plumbing Services Ltd was contracted to carry out repairs to two motor rooms situated on the roof of a building in Birmingham. Two workers worked outside a protected area on the roof to mix mortar, due to lack of space.

A sheet of tarpaulin the employees were working was later displaced by wind and landed over the edge of the building. As one of the workers attempted to retrieve the sheet he fell 14 metres off the side. The employee died from his injuries.

Breach

H20 Plumbing Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

• Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.

Penalty

The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000.

Vehicle body manufacturing firm fined after workers crushed between vehicles

A manufacturing company based in Stoke on Trent has been fined after two workers were seriously injured when they were crushed between a moving and stationary vehicles.

North Staffordshire Magistrates’ Court heard that a colleague of the two men was attempting to manoeuvre an 18 tonne vehicle in the work shop of Commercial Body Specialists Ltd when two employees were pinned and crushed between the manoeuvring vehicle and two other stationary vehicles. One other employee jumped out of the way.

One worker suffered several fractures to his pelvis and ribs as well as internal bladder and kidney lacerations. The other worker suffered crush injuries to his legs.

An investigation by the HSE found that the company had failed to identify and assess workplace transport risks and had failed to put in place suitable protective measures, safe systems of work and proper instruction and training to ensure employee pedestrian safety.

Breach

Commercial Body Specialists Limited, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

• Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees.

Penalty

The company were fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,461.