Locations
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.
| International manufacturer fined after worker is impaled | |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£173,332 |
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Company: |
Mapei UK Limited |
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Legislation: |
Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act |
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Costs: |
Amount of costs to be paid will be agreed at a later date. |
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Source: |
HSE, 5 December 2013 |
| Estate fined £140,000 after forestry worker killed whilst tree felling | |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£140,000 |
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Company: |
The Buccleuch Estates Limited |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
|
Source: |
HSE, 19 December 2013 |
| Sheffield Forgemasters fined over worker’s cellar death | |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£120,000 |
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Company: |
Sheffield Forgemasters Steel Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£125,000 |
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Source: |
HSE, 19 December 2013 |
| Construction firm fined after five roofers injured in school steelwork collapse | |
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Injury: |
5 workers seriously injured |
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Fine: |
£100,000 |
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Company: |
Adstone Construction Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£106,098 |
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Source: |
HSE, 13 December 2013 |
| Pharmaceuticals firms fined for chemical incidents at Welsh plant | |
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Injury: |
Workers exposed to toxic substances |
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Fines: |
£80,000 (Archimica) £20,000 (Euticals – for health and safety breaches plus £20,000 for breach of environmental regulations) |
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Companies: |
Archimica Chemicals Limited – now in liquidation Euticals Ltd – now in liquidation |
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Legislation: |
Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 Section 31(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
HSE, 13 December 2013 |
| West Yorkshire firm neglected safety for staff | |
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Injury: |
Company failed to act to protect staff from hard arm vibration syndrome |
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Fine: |
£52,500 |
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Company: |
Onesubsea UK Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£92,000 |
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Source: |
HSE, 16 December 2013 |
| Dorset firm fined after Christmas crane collapse | |
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Injury: |
No injuries |
|
Fine: |
£35,000 |
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Company: |
McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Sections 2 and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£47,681 |
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Source: |
HSE, 6 December 2013 |
| Council fined after worker suffered severe life changing injuries | |
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Injury: |
Severe abdominal crush injuries |
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Fine: |
£50,000 |
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Company: |
South Lanarkshire Council |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1), 2(2)(a) and 2(2)(e) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
HSE, 18 December 2013 |
| Leisure centre operator fined after child suffered burns | |
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Injury: |
Severe burns |
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Fine: |
£45,000 |
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Company: |
Leisure Connection Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. |
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Costs: |
£20,746 |
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Source: |
HSE, 20 December 2013 |
| Firm sentenced after worker loses leg in fish tank fall | |
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Injury: |
Broken both legs – one amputated as result of injuries |
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Fine: |
£30,000 |
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Company: |
Alloy Bodies Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£56,621 |
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Source: |
HSE, 9 December 2013 |
| Timber firm fined after worker’s fingers severed | |
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Injury: |
Severed parts of middle, ring and little finger |
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Fine: |
£18,000 |
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Company: |
Sewstern Timber Services Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 |
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Costs: |
£10,000 |
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Source: |
HSE, 3 December 2013 |
| Safety breaches land Sheffield company in court | |
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Injury: |
12 stitches to right leg |
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Fine: |
£8,000 |
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Company: |
Ecclesall Developments Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£8,985 |
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Source: |
HSE, 20 December 2013 |
| Kent building firm fined for worker fall | |
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Injury: |
Brain injuries and left partially deaf; also fractured shoulder and lost peripheral vision |
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Fine: |
£8,000 |
|
Company: |
Platinum Property Maintenance Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£6,000 |
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Source: |
HSE, 19 December 2013 |
| Business owner sentenced for customer death failings | |
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Injury: |
Death |
|
Fine: |
£7,500 |
|
Company: |
Mark Walker |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) and Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£75,000 |
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Source: |
HSE, 18 December 2013 |
| Cornish tractor sales firm fined for worker’s injuries | |
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Injury: |
Multiple skull fractures |
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Fine: |
£7,000 |
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Company: |
B&B Agricultural Sales Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£8,142 |
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Source: |
HSE, 6 December 2013 |
| Farming company fined after worker seriously injured in roof fall | |
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Injury: |
Fractures to right collarbone and several ribs, and a punctured right lung. |
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Fine: |
£6,670 |
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Company: |
Craigley Farms |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
|
Source: |
HSE, 20 December 2013 |
| Firm in court after teenager’s arm crushed in dangerous machinery | |
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Injury: |
Fractured upper arm |
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Fine: |
£5,000 |
|
Company: |
Reuse Collections Ltd, trading as Berryman |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£3,638 |
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Source: |
HSE, 18 December 2013
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