Health and safety fines bulletin: 29 October 2014

The fines and costs which may flow from a safety related incident can be significant, not to mention the reputational stigma which the company will suffer. We set out below examples of recent prosecutions which give a flavour of the sentences handed down following conviction. For further information on any of these cases please do not hesitate to contact Rhys Griffiths of our Corporate Risk Management Group.

Recycling firm in court after worker loses arm

Injury:

Arm severed at shoulder

Fine:

£118,000

Company:

Lowmac Alloys Ltd

Legislation:

Sections 2(1) and 2(2)(a) and (c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

n/a

Source:

HSE, 6 October 2014

Oldham factory sentenced over worker's death

Injury:

Death

Fine:

£90,000

Company:

Refinery Supplies Ltd

Legislation:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

£35,000

Source:

HSE, 24 October 2014

Somerset firm sentenced following worker's death in explosion

Injury:

Death of one worker; three other workers injured

Fine:

£80,000

Company:

Cantelo Nurseries Ltd

Legislation:

Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

£59,812

Source:

HSE, 24 October 2014

Bedfordshire vets in court after workers exposed to harmful drugs

Injury:

Workers potentially exposed to harmful substances

Fine:

£35,000

Company:

Davies Veterinary Specialists Limited

Legislation:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

£50,378

Source:

HSE, 23 October 2014

Darwen scrap metal firm fined over lead poisoning

Injury:

Workers suffered from lead poisoning

Fine:

£30,000

Company:

Frank Barnes (Darwen) Ltd

Legislation:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

£29,639.65

Source:

HSE, 22 October 2014

Employer sentenced after worker crushed to death

Injury:

Death

Fine:

£24,500

Company:

Basil 'Bill' Pinkney, t/a B D Pinkney & Co

Legislation:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Costs:

n/a

Source:

HSE, 23 October 2014

Burnley College in court over employee's life-long injuries

Injury:

Broken back, fractured breastbone

Fine:

£20,000

Company:

Burnley College

Legislation:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

£7,600

Source:

HSE, 24 October 2014

NHS Trust fined after patient paralysed

Injury:

Broken neck and a bleed on the brain

Fine:

£20,000

Company:

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Legislation:

Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Costs:

...