An agency worker was left with life-changing injuries when his leg had to be amputated after he was crushed by a moving vehicle.
The 32-year-old from Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, was trapped for almost an hour before being freed by emergency services at the premises of Con Mech Engineers Ltd in Stanley, County Durham, on 26 January 2012.
The worker was in hospital for a month. His right leg had to be amputated below the knee, and then later above the knee, while his left leg also suffered a fractured femur and severe crush injuries.
The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which prosecuted Con Mech Engineers Ltd at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court for serious safety failings.
The court heard the agency worker was employed by Con Mech Engineers Ltd and he had been working in the heat treatment process area when he was struck by a vehicle similar to a fork-lift truck and pinned by his legs against a water tank.
HSE found that Con Mech Engineers Ltd had failed to assess and identify the risk posed to workers from contact with the dangerous moving vehicle. As a consequence, it had failed to provide effective measures to prevent any contact.
Con Mech Engineers Ltd, of Harelaw Industrial Estate, Annfield Plain, Stanley, was fined a total of £20,000 (£10,000 for each offence) and ordered to pay £8,045 in costs after pleading guilty to two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Cain Mitchell, said:
“This incident could have been easily prevented if Con Mech Engineers Ltd had identified the risks and then provided suitable measures to make sure workers did not come into contact with the moving machinery. “By failing to introduce simple precautions, a worker has suffered serious, life-changing injuries.”
Health & Safety Law Poster – reminder to display the new 2009 version as from 1st April 2014
Employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations (HSIER) to display the approved poster in a prominent position in each workplace or to provide each worker with a copy of the approved leaflet that outlines British health and safety law.
The 2009 poster replaces the version that was published in April 1999. As well as a download, the 2009 leaflet is available in a more convenient format as a pocket card and replaces the leaflet published in April 1999.
There are various versions of the poster, so that you can select the most appropriate for your business, depending on where in the UK your business is based. Download your poster & leaflets from HSE's Website.
Pneumonia vaccination for employees exposed to welding fumes
Guidance to employers who are considering offering the pneumonia vaccine (PPV) for employees exposed to welding or metal fume who may be at risk of pneumococcal lobar pneumonia has been launched. This information sheet has been developed jointly between the manufacturers’ organisation EEF, HSE and the Cast Metals Federation (CMF) – and in consultation with Unite – to help those involved with welding or other processes where exposure to welding or metal fume may occur. Download your free copy from HSE's Website.
Labour Market Statistics - April 2014
Office for National Statistics have published their latest data on employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, claimant count, average earnings, labour productivity, vacancies and labour disputes statistics. With the NJC agreement no longer available this data on earnings should assist businesses to assess current levels of pay for employees.
