NEWSFLASH IN THE COURTS


UNIVERSITY FINED AFTER BOMBLET EXPLOSION SERIOUSLY


INJURES WORKER Cranfield University has been fined after a worker suffered potentially life-threatening injuries whilst dismantling a bomblet.


In 2011 employees from the Explosives Research Section at the Defence Academy of Cranfield University were working to deactivate former military cluster bomblets, so they could be recovered for use in demonstrations.


As the team were carrying out the deactivation at the Shrivenham Campus, one of the bomblets exploded causing serious injuries to one of the workers.


The injured worker suffered severe abdominal injuries and his right colon which was penetrated by a shard of metal required removal after surgery. He also suffered lacerations to his face and shoulder, as well as nerve damage to his right hand.


An investigation by HSE found no suitable risk assessment had been carried out for this type of activity


COMPANIES SENTENCED OVER DEATH OF


SCAFFOLDER Two companies have been fined a total of £1.3million following the death of a scaffolder who was just weeks away from his wedding day.


The court was told John Altoft, 29, from Scunthorpe was killed when he fell to his death after being struck by falling debris inside an industrial tower.


On 18 January 2012, a team from Cape Industrial Services Ltd were installing an access scaffold to enable the relining of the inside of a steel plated tapered cylindrical structure at the Cemex Cement Works in Rugby.


Warwick Crown Court heard the team was working inside the


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and therefore the system of working was unsafe.


Swindon Crown Court heard the university’s management team were unaware of the process being carried out by their workers to break down explosive ammunition of this nature.


Cranfield University, of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2(1); and Section 4(1) of the Manufacture And Storage of Explosives Regulations 2005 and were fined £80,000 with costs of £75,000.


HSE investigating Inspector Evan Bale speaking after sentencing said: “The worker’s injuries were life threatening and could have been avoided had a thorough assessment of the risks been carried out. As the university admitted, the task should not have been carried out in this manner.


“This case reinforces the fact that employers need to ensure all activities, especially those that are novel or only undertaken infrequently, have been properly assessed as to the associated hazards and risks, and that safe systems of work are in place to effectively control those risks.”


Cyclone 1 tower when concrete debris dropped on to John Altoft causing him to fall seven metres to the bottom of the structure causing fatal head injuries. His colleague Ty Smart was also seriously injured, suffering serious wrist and arm fractures leaving him unable to work since the incident.


Inspectors from HSE told the court that both Cemex UK Operations Ltd and Cape Industrial Services Ltd Scaffolding should have co-ordinated and planned this high risk work to a higher standard.


Cemex UK Operations Limited, Coldharbour Lane, Surrey, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £700,000 and was ordered to pay £90,783.78 in costs.


Cape Industrial Services Limited, Stockley Bridge, Uxbridge, Middlesex


TOTAL E&P UK LTD RECEIVED RECORD FINE FOLLOWING LARGEST EVER NORTH SEA GAS RELEASE


Oil and gas production company Total E&P UK Ltd has been fined a record £1.125 million at the Sheriff Court in Aberdeen after it admitted failures that led to the largest release of gas on record from the Elgin Offshore platform.


On 25th March 2012, as rig workers were attempting a ‘well kill’, there was a sudden and uncontrolled release of gas and condensate, which created a real risk of fire or explosion on the platform. All 238 personnel were safely evacuated.


The neighbouring platforms were shut down and a two mile shipping and aircraft exclusion zone was imposed around the Elgin. It took 51 days for the well to be brought under control, allowing more than 6,000 tonnes and gas condensate to be released, equivalent to more than 300 road tankers.


Total E&P Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1)(a) and (b) of the Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction, etc) Regulations 1996 and Section 33(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.


pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act and was fined £600,000 was ordered to pay £90,783.78 in costs.


Michelle Altoft, John’s mum, said: “John was very loyal and hard working. He turned into the most handsome, caring young man, and I could not be more proud of him. He would help anyone and be there when you needed him.


“I have lost the most precious thing any mother could lose, and will never be replaced – my child.”


Carly Sargent, John’s fiancé, said: “Even now, two years on I still miss John. Mine and John’s life together was taken away from us. We grew up together. He worked hard all his life with the intention of becoming my husband and having a family. This is all he wanted. We both wanted the same things.”


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