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.
| St Helens healthcare firm sentenced over fatal fall | |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£170,000 |
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Company: |
TRU Ltd - now trades as TRU (Transitional Rehabilitation Unit) Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£82,145 |
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Source: |
HSE, 22 November 2013 |
| Engineering firm sentenced following Preston worker’s death | |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£160,000 |
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Company: |
Assystem 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: |
£52,500 |
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Source: |
HSE, 26 November 2013 |
| Workers’ acid burns lead to court for chemical firm | |
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Injury: |
Acid burns to faces of three workers |
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Fine: |
£120,000 |
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Company: |
Polimeri Europa UK Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£18,023 |
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Source: |
HSE, 29 November 2013 |
| Demolition company sentenced after worker severely injured on first day | |
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Injury: |
Loss of left eye and part of scalp; broken eye socket, cheekbone, jaw, nose, left collarbone, several ribs and left leg. Also suffered a punctured lung and severed nerves on bottom lip. |
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Fine: |
£40,000 |
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Company: |
Bloom Plant Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£27,500 |
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Source: |
HSE, 22 November 2013 |
| Surrey firm in court after worker seriously injured | |
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Injury: |
Both legs broken |
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Fine: |
£35,000 |
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Company: |
Cemex UK Materials Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£10,043 |
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Source: |
HSE, 13 November 2013 |
| Care home owner fined for putting residents at risk at Dagenham home | |
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Injury: |
None – exposing residents to risk of scalding |
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Fine: |
£30,000 |
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Company: |
MNS Care PLC |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Regulations 8(1) of the Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment 1998 |
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Costs: |
£880 |
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Source: |
HSE, 28 November 2013 |
| Sawmill sentenced after worker suffers horrific injury | |
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Injury: |
Severe injuries to arm |
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Fine: |
£30,000 |
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Company: |
Tennants (Elgin) Limited |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
HSE, 15 November 2013 |
| Joinery company and director fined for safety failings | |
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Injury: |
None – fine for putting employees at risk |
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Fines: |
£24,000 (company) £8,000 (director) |
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Company: |
Sunbeam Wood Works Ltd |
| Director: |
Stephen Morrison |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) and Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (company) Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (director) |
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Costs: |
£1,460 (company) |
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Source: |
HSE, 29 November 2013 |
| Firm fined for guarding failings after worker struck by flying splinters | |
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Injury: |
Injuries to leg from splinters of wood |
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Fine: |
£24,000 |
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Company: |
Timbmet Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
HSE, 27 November 2013 |
| National Grid Gas fined after worker seriously injured | |
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Injury: |
Fractured right leg |
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Fine: |
£20,000 |
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Company: |
National Grid Gas Plc |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. |
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Costs: |
£9,846 |
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Source: |
HSE, 15 November 2013 |
| School and glass contractor fined for asbestos failings | |
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Injury: |
None – fined due to failings relating to asbestos |
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Fines: |
£5,000 (Birmingham Glass) £7,500 (Equitas) |
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Companies: |
Birmingham Glass Services Ltd Equitas Academies Trust |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Birmingham Glass) Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Equitas) |
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Costs: |
£1,969 (Birmingham Glass) £3,000 (Equitas) |
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Source: |
HSE, 14 November 2013 |
| Firm fined after electrician suffers burns | |
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Injury: |
Burns to face, hands and arms |
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Fine: |
£2,000 |
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Company: |
McGill Electrical Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
HSE, 22 November 2013 |