NEWS THE INCOURTS
COMPANY FINED AFTER SEVERAL WORKERS CONTRACTED OCCUPATIONAL
Construction company Peter Duffy Ltd has been sentenced for safety breaches after multiple employees were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard that the company reported seven cases of HAVS between November 2016 and August 2018. All of the workers involved had been carrying out ground works involving vibrating tools. Many of them had been working in the industry for over 20 years.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that in 2016 the company contracted a new occupational health provider to replace their
SHIP BUILDING FIRM PROSECUTED FOLLOWING EMPLOYEE DEATH
A Merseyside shipbuilding and repair company has been fined after an employee was fatally injured when struck by a 31-foot steel post.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard how on 30 March 2017, the 23-year-old employee and four other workers of Carmet Marine Limited had been adapting or ‘regulating’ the bogie, which is used to land and launch vessels on and off the company’s slipway by the River Mersey. One of the bogie’s steel side-posts weighing approximately 1800kg fell and fatally struck the employee on the back of the head.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the steel side-post had only been
existing one. The diagnosis of the workers’ conditions resulted from these changes. Prior to the new company taking over the contract, there was no suitable health surveillance in place to identify HAVS.
Peter Duffy Ltd of Park View, Lofthouse, Wakefield pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company has been fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £3,919 in costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Chris Tilley said: “The company should have undertaken a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to identify the level of vibration employees were exposed to throughout their working day and then put in place appropriate control measures.
“Furthermore, the company should have put in place suitable health surveillance to identify HAVS in their workforce.”
secured to the crossbeam on the bogie by two slackened bolts and was not supported by a crane or other means at the time of the incident. Carmet Marine Limited failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and implement a safe system of work. In addition, the company did not provide the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of its employees during the task of regulating the slipway.
Carmet Marine Limited of Riverbank Road, Bromborough, Wirral, pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “This incident was entirely preventable if the risk had been identified and suitable control measures put in place. Adequate training and supervision should also have been in place to ensure the regulating of the slipway was carried out safely by employees.”
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