A British retail marketing company has been ordered to pay £118,500(188,000 USD) in fines and costs for serious safety failings after a worker at its Wakefield printing site was crushed to death, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Bezier Ltd., which employs some 700 people across nine UK sites, failed to heed warnings that could have saved the life of 49-year-old William Aveyard. [WCx] The platen press involved in the incident is being modified by Bezier to improve the safety features of the machine
William Aveyard, of Shipley, Bradford, was trapped in a hand-fed press at the print site in Balne Lane, Wakefield, and pronounced dead at the scene. Leeds Crown Court heard this month that Aveyard was using the press to cut out signs printed on corrugated card. It is thought he had climbed onto a moveable platen to remove waste following a misfeed. Aveyard received fatal injuries when the platen activated and crushed him against the fixed press.
An investigation by HSE found that Bezier failed to act on the knowledge they had of a fatal incident at a separate company a year earlier when a worker died after being crushed between the fixed and moveable parts of a similar hand-fed platen press.
Although Aveyard was experienced in the print industry, Bezier had failed to ensure he was adequately trained to use the machine. In addition there was no written safe system of work for the machine operators to access the press and deal with misfeeds. HSE Inspector Andy Denison noted, “The sudden – and avoidable – death of Mr. Aveyard was a devastating blow for his family.
“Bezier did not act on the knowledge they had of a similar incident. The need for a safe system of work was identified at a Bezier meeting in May 2007. In February 2008, an external health and safety consultant prepared a risk assessment and an action plan but again, the company failed to act. “Accessing the machine to retrieve misfeeds created a serious and foreseeable risk of death or serious injury. Bezier were fully aware of those risks before this incident and failed to implement the required controls.” [WCx]
Bezier Ltd, a specialist in point-of-sale marketing, of Silkwood Park, Wakefield, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £80,000(127,000 USD with £38,501.83 (80,000 USD) in costs.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Great Britain’s shop workers Union Usdaw (Union of Shop Workers, Distributive and Allied Workers) reports it is extremely worried by the increase in reported incidents of abuse and threats against shop staff recorded by the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC’s) annual survey of retail crime which was published recently.
The BRC says that, excluding recent riots, the total number of reported incidents of verbal abuse, threats, and violence against shop workers rose by 83% in 2011, driven by a more than three-fold increase in threats and a five-fold increase in incidents of verbal abuse. [WCx]
On a more positive note, the total number of physical assaults against shop workers reduced by 62.8% in 2011 and the total number of incidents remains on a downward trend. Despite this year's increase, the BRC says the total number of incidents against shop workers has reduced by a compound annual rate of 30% in the past 7 years.
The BRC attributes part of the this year's overall increase to staff being encouraged to report all threats and incidents of verbal abuse, although the report also highlights the fact that retailers themselves still continue to report less than half of all incidents of shoplifting (46.9%) to the police.
The BRC's survey also details the human cost of the riots and the appalling levels of violence and fear of violence faced by shop workers in August. In total over more than 5,000 crimes were committed, including 1,860 incidents of arson and criminal damage, 1,649 burglaries, 141 incidents of disorder, 366 incidents of violence against the person and 5 fatalities. The vast majority of employers (81.5%) said their staff was fearful of violence with around a third reporting incidents of physical and verbal violence against staff.
John Hannett, Usdaw general secretary noted, "The huge leap in reported incidents of verbal abuse and threats against shop workers is extremely worrying and shows why we need to continue to work closely with the BRC, employers, police and other agencies to reduce all incidents of shop crime, create safer workplaces and ensure offenders are brought to justice. [WCx]
"While the reduction in the number of assaults and continuing downward trend in the total number of incidents is welcome news, our own survey figures indicate there continues to be a significant problem of under-reporting and that these figures remain the tip of a very large iceberg."
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A Kent-based partner of a development company was prosecuted after dangerous conditions were found at a demolition site in Dover, Great Britain.
According to a report from The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Allan Smith was prosecuted for failing to undertake an asbestos assessment and for not securing a demolition site.
Canterbury Magistrates' Court heard that the Royal Oak Public House, Sandwich Road, Whitfield, Dover, was purchased for development. Over the next six months, Smith from ATS Developments acted as the principal contractor to demolish the building.
HSE was contacted by a member of the public who complained that the site was insecure and children were playing on the building site. An HSE inspector visited to find the pub partially demolished and the site unfenced, despite there being a public footpath running across the land.
The HSE investigation found that no asbestos survey had been carried out prior to demolition, which remained the case even after HSE sent a letter to the partners stating that a survey needed to be undertaken. An Improvement Notice was served about site security.
After the hearing, HSE's Inspector Caroline Penwill noted, “Mr. Smith did not think about the risks he may have exposed his workers and members of the public to by cutting corners.
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Before anyone undertakes any demolition works they must consider whether asbestos is present and take precautionary steps such as carrying out an asbestos survey.
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The site was also very unsecure and exposed local children to the hazards of a building site. What makes this case all the more disappointing is that Mr. Smith continued to work after the HSE advised him to undertake an asbestos survey.
Allan Smith, from Bowling Green Lane, Deal, Kent, pleaded guilty to Regulation 5 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 and Regulation 27(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. He was fined £7,000 ($11,000) and ordered to pay costs of £7,000 ($11,000).
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2012 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact us at: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A British manufacturing firm has been sentenced after a worker's hand was crushed in a metal press at a St Helens factory, according to a report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Barry Kelleher lost his little finger and part of the palm on his right hand as a result of the incident at Crane Building Services and Utilities. The 47-year-old from Leigh also needed two skin grafting operations.
The owner of the factory, Crane Ltd, was prosecuted by HSE after an investigation found the machine could still be operated when a workers hand was underneath the mould. Note: Physical guards and light curtains generally prevent a workers hand from entering the pinch point area.
Knowsley Magistrates Court in Huyton was told the machine had been installed at the factory on Delta Road in St Helens in 1967, but had not been upgraded to comply with modern health and safety laws.
Kelleher does not remember the incident on Jan. 19, 2011, which occurred while he was using the press to mold metal parts, used by the gas industry.
However, the HSE investigation concluded that the most likely explanation is that he inadvertently pressed the foot pedal on the machine while his hand was under the mould.
Crane Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to prevent workers from being able to access the dangerous parts of the machine while it was operating.
The company, of West Road in Ipswich, was fined $15,530 and ordered to pay $7,080.77 in prosecution costs.
Kelleher was off work for seven weeks as a result of his injuries, before returning to work initially for one day a week.
Kelleher was one of more than 3,800 workers who suffered a major injury while at work in the manufacturing industry in Great Britain in 2010/11. Another 27 lost their lives.
Note: machines should be designed so that when body parts are in or near a pinch point, the machine will not operate; machines are then said to be "fail safe." If an adjuster sees such an injury, they must make serious inquiry into whether the machine manufacturer should be brought into the situation as a third party or subrogee.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A factory worker in Greater Manchester lost two fingers in a machine used to punch handles in plastic bags, a court has heard, according to a Health and Safety Executive report.
Karen Schoelzel's employer, Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd, was prosecuted by the HSE after the incident at the plant on Clarence Street in Golborne.(WCxKit)
Trafford Magistrates Court in Sale heard the 53-year-old from Golborne was replacing the rubber insert under a cutting tool on Nov. 23, 2010 when the machine started operating.
The tool came down on her left hand and, as a result, she lost her entire index finger and her middle finger to below the second knuckle. Schoelzel has been unable to return to work nearly a year on.
HSE issued six Improvement Notices and one Prohibition Notice after an inspector visited the site following the incident. The notices required safety improvements to be made to machines at the factory, and prevented a printing press from operating until suitable guards had been installed.
The HSE investigation found suitable guards were not in place to prevent workers gaining access to the cutting tool while the machine was operating, and that it was common practice for employees to change the rubber on the tool without the power to the machine being cut.
The investigation was unable to confirm what caused the machine to start operating when the rubber insert was being replaced, but it found the buttons which operated it were unsuitable and could have been pressed by accident.(WCxKit)
Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd. pleaded guilty to a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to prevent access to dangerous machine parts. The company was fined $2,393.1 and was ordered to pay 1,595.7 in prosecution costs on Oct. 28, 2011.
On average, 34 workers are killed and nearly 5,000 suffer major injuries in the manufacturing industry in Great Britain every year. Information on preventing injuries is available at
www.hse.gov.uk/manufacturing.
British Employer Prosecuted after Employee is burned by Metal at Factory
A Staffordshire-based Great Britain aluminum casting company has been prosecuted after a man was burned by molten metal at its Worcester factory.
According to a report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Asim Qureshi, 41, from Worcester, was operating a die cast machine at JVM Castings Ltd's premises in Droitwich Road, when molten metal sprayed from the back of the machine. (WCxKit)
Worcester Magistrates' Court heard the 650 degrees Celsius molten material burned through Qureshi's clothing after landing on him.
He suffered serious burns to his right arm, shoulder, leg and face and was unable to work for two months. He has been left with scarring on his hand and leg. He is still receiving treatment for his burned skin.
A HSE investigation found the rear of the machine was unguarded and, while personal protective equipment is not a substitute for effective guarding, the operators' overalls and eye protection were unsuitable for the amount of molten metal spray.
The court heard there had been three similar previous incidents of molten aluminum blowbacks at the factory, one of which caused serious injuries to another employee seven months before the incident involving Mr Qureshi.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tariq Khan noted, “Despite three previous incidents, one of which caused serious injuries to another worker, JVM Castings failed to learn from them and did not follow the recommendations of its own investigation.” (WCxKit)
JVM Castings (Worcester) Ltd, of Borman, Apollo, Tamworth, pleaded guilty recently to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £6,000 ($9,300) and ordered to pay £4,000 ($6,200)costs.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Lincoln University in Great Britain has been fined for putting staff, students and contractors at risk of exposure to asbestos.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the failings came to light in February of 2010 when a lecturer became trapped in a room after a door lock broke. She enlisted the help of a colleague to release her and once freed, they noticed debris around the door handle. (WCxKit)
They notified the university's health and safety department which examined the door and others in the area, and discovered most were lined with asbestos insulating board (AIB), and that some were damaged.
The university notified HSE, which carried out its own investigation. It was found that a number of areas across the university's estate had been subject to asbestos surveys over a number of years and many areas were found to contain asbestos-containing materials or even asbestos debris, yet no remedial action had been taken.
Lincoln University Higher Education Corporation, of Brayford Pool, Lincoln, pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 at Lincoln Magistrates Court. The university was fined $15,629 and ordered to pay $19,939.77 costs.
After the hearing at Lincoln Magistrates Court, HSE inspector Edward Walker noted, "Exposure to asbestos fibers is a well-known health hazard that results in approximately 4,000 deaths a year. (WCxKit)
"The university had an asbestos management plan but had failed to follow it and failed to take appropriate steps to manage the risks associated with asbestos over a number of years, putting staff, students and contractors at risk of potential exposure."
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
A modular building company in Great Britain has been fined after a worker was left with permanent injuries when a lifting operation went wrong, according to a report from the Health and Safety Executive.
Banksman John Hughes, of Newark, was working in an outdoor yard of Caledonian Building Systems Ltd at Carlton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, on Feb. 20, 2009. (WCxKit)
He was helping a fork lift truck driver to raise an 11-tonne modular building unit off some blocks and a wheeled axle, on to a lorry, but the unstable load started to rock. Hughes put his right hand on to the wooden block, to move it out of the way, but one end of the unit came down on his fingers.
His index finger was crushed and had to be amputated at the knuckle, however 18 months later after continuing problems it was completely removed. His middle finger was also damaged. Hughes was off work for 12 weeks in total before returning to work.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found the lifting operation was disorganized and the employees involved were not provided with clear information or instructions. It was unclear who was supposed to participate in the operation, what their role was, which equipment would be used and whether the unit would be moved elsewhere or simply vertically lifted. (WCxKit)
Caledonian Building Systems Ltd., of Glendale Gryfe Road, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 8(1)(c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Lastly, Nottingham Magistrates fined the firm $23,000 (£15,000) and ordered it to pay costs of ($11,500) £7,328.
Author Robert Elliott
, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
According to new research conducted by a team from Cardiff University (Wales), half of those British workers surveyed have been ill-treated in the last two years.
The survey reports 4.9 percent of workers were victims of violence while 22.3 percent said they were treated in a disrespectful or rude way. Twenty-seven percent said they felt ignored. The study used data from face-to-face interviews with 3,979 workers, and the data, provided for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), was to be presented at a London conference.(WCxKit)
The report, "Insight into ill-treatment in the workplace: patterns, causes and solutions," was written by academics from Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences and Prof Duncan Lewis at the University of Plymouth Business School. It is based on data from the British Workplace Behaviour Survey, obtained in 2008 from interviews by the market research company TNS Global.
The team also looked in-depth at four large employers, using them as case studies. Workers in the public sector were reported to be "particularly at risk" of rudeness, disrespect, violence and injury. (WCxKit)
The majority of attackers involved in violent incidents were said to be from outside the workplace, with 72% of assailants being customers, clients or members of the public. Workers in health, social work, education, public administration and defense faced the highest risk.
Meantime, staff in the private sector
was more likely to suffer assaults by colleagues, while disabled employees, those with long-term health problems and younger staff are all more likely to experience ill treatment at work, as were lesbian, gay and bisexual workers.
The survey found that permanent staff with managerial responsibilities is more likely to experience what was described as "unreasonable treatment" and violence in the workplace.(WCxKit)
The report notes some 7,000,000 to 8,000,000 British workers suffer from "impossible workloads" and "not being listened to". Managers and supervisors were blamed for two-thirds of incidents of unreasonable behavior but could also be victims of the same treatment.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Great Britain and Ireland’s Unite labor union has vowed to ‘leave no stone unturned’ in its efforts to get the answers to vital safety questions as its members and workers at the Port of Tilbury grieve the loss of a comrade and union representative who was tragically killed in a recent workplace accident.
"A close and loving family has lost a husband and father and his colleagues have lost a truly wonderful friend, Unite spokesperson Andy Green stated in a release. “They only want to help in this tragedy and to learn what happened and why, that is not too much to ask. (WCxKit)
“Our members are deeply shocked that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not responded to calls from Unite representatives at the port to launch an investigation, and that the company has chosen not to conduct a joint investigation alongside the Unite safety representatives, as set out in the company's own health and safety policy.
"We are at a loss then to know why the HSE will not speak to us; its behavior is nothing short of shameful. However, we have been touched by the kind words of condolence from dockworkers in every port throughout the UK. Our union will always fight for truth and justice and to help the loved ones left behind who have to bear the real burden of workplace deaths."
Speaking on National Inspection Day, which is supported throughout Europe, Unite's national officer for docks, Julia Long, called for health and safety action across all ports to reflect the dangers within the port industry. "The government has set the ports as a 'low risk' industry. This tragic incident shows that the government needs to have a rethink on its position. We are calling for the company to carry out a full investigation with our health and safety reps fully involved,” Long remarked. (WCxKit)
“Unite will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to understand how this terrible accident was able to happen. We now call on the HSE and port management to work with us and immediately launch an urgent joint investigation into what happened,” Long added.
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Britain's safety watchdog is challenging the construction industry to learn from the London 2012 construction project and improve the safety record of one of the most dangerous occupations in Britain.
A report from the Health and Safety Executive's Leadership and worker involvement on the Olympic Park research, published recently, shows how the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) adopted an inclusive no scapegoating approach to managing risks that could be adapted to any project – irrespective of its size or budget. It is the first in a series of research reports that HSE will publish as part of the London 2012 Learning Legacy. (WCxKit)
HSE started working with the ODA soon after London was awarded the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games and set out very clear targets of what standards were expected, encouraging strong leadership and sharing of good practice. The ODA's top level commitment to health and safety was made clear from the outset and helped create a safe working environment for the thousands of workers on site.
The London 2012 Games construction project has shown that building projects on time and within budget does not mean compromising on the health and safety of your workers. HSE has received reports of only 114 injuries and eight dangerous occurrences that occurred during the 66 million hours of work, as of October 2011.
Stephen Williams, HSE's director for London 2012, noted, "The report shows how strong leadership and worker involvement are key to a safer working environment. The ODA's creation of a no scapegoating culture allowed workers to raise issues without fear of reprisal, learning lessons to apply across the site and reducing the risk in hazardous activities.
"The construction industry has for many years been one of the most dangerous in which to earn a living. London 2012 is important because it shows it doesn't have to be that way. No matter what size your organization, no matter what size your project, small changes in the way you operate can have a huge impact on the health and safety of your workers. (WCxKit)
“I want the rest of the construction industry to follow London's lead.”
Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. See www.LowerWC.com for more information. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Author Rebecca Shafer
, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Manage Your Workers Compensation: Reduce Costs 20-50% www.WCManual.com.
Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
©2011 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com
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