HSE inspections can happen to any business at any time. The inspectors are ensuring businesses are adhering to Health and Safety laws and not putting their workers at risk. Any company or manufacturer who ignores the enforcement notices sent by HSE officials will face serious financial penalties.
This case study, reported by HSE, demonstrates the importance of following health and safety procedure at your premises at all times. Employees need to be trained and regularly reminded of their responsibilities. Notifications and guidance sent by the HSE should always be adhere to in order to avoid the financial ramifications of being found in breach.
The Incident:
A manufacturer was visited at their site in Grantham by HSE inspectors. They identified serious safety breaches, including poor structural integrity in areas accessed by both employees and visitors. They also found unsafe equipment, inadequate fume controls and areas which put visitor’s and worker’s safety at risk.
Following the first inspection, the inspectors gave improvement notices. These included the manufacturer needing to control exposure to fumes and other hazardous substances, needing to assess structural safety, ensuring equipment (such as forklift trucks) had been thoroughly examined and confirmed safe.
Further breaches were identified and notified within a Notification of Contravention. Un guarded machinery parts, no edge protection on structures, unsafe storage of flammable materials, and no appointed health and safety officer.
The Investigation:
The HSE returned to see if their notices had been followed. Yet, further inspections revealed continued non-compliance. In an effort to remedy the exposure to fumes, the manufacture had installed ducting above welding benches. However, this ducting was supported upon unstable structures – posing a serious risk of injury.
An investigation by HSE found that the manufacturer had failed to ensure health and safety welfare for their employees. The company’s health and safety standard fell well below legal requirements, even after visitation and guidance.
HSE returned to the site five more times, consistently finding unsafe and ineffective measures. They served three additional improvement notices and a prohibition notice.
The Outcome:
The Grantham manufacturer pled guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £80,000, a sum made up of multiple offences. They were also ordered to pay £7,495 in costs, along with a £2,000 victim surcharge.
Businesses and Manufacturers must follow health and safety procedure at all times
HSE inspections are serious and can happen at any time to any business. It’s the responsibility of a business’s health and safety officer to ensure colleagues are adhering to the company’s health and safety policy, and to notice any changes that need to be made to the premises to reduce risk.
Businesses must identify and control employee exposure to hazardous substances. Welding fumes are hazardous substances and require local exhaust ventilation. Learn more about fume guidance from the HSE here.
For more advice on your Health & Safety and to access our risk management services, contact our partner Sentient. Avoid scenarios such as the above by learning more about Sentient’s services. Contact Sentient and talk to our team for advice, and to see Sentient’s health and safety material.
