Latest news with #HealthandSafetyatWorketc
South Wales Argus
02-08-2025
- South Wales Argus
Tata Steel fined £1.5 million after contractor's death at Port Talbot
His family learnt of his death while they were waiting for him at his youngest son's school rugby match. Maintenance work to replace a lift cylinder on a large conveyor system had been completed earlier that day, and the system was in the process of being put back into service when a hydraulic leak was found. A radio call was sent out for Justin, 44, to resolve the issue at about 2pm. Although power was isolated to part of the system, other sections remained live. As staff worked on the lower level to fix the leak, Justin returned to the floor above and climbed into the conveyor system. His presence triggered sensors which activated a moving beam in a live section, fatally injuring him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident and prosecuted Tata for what an inspector described as 'basic' health and safety failures. At the time Tata's Port Talbot plant was the largest steelworks in the UK. Justin's wife Zoe Day said: 'Since losing Justin I am not the same person I was. 'I have struggled since that day – mentally, I am lost and don't know where I'm going with life. It's shattered my whole world. 'We were together for 23 years and did everything together. I can't put into words how much this has affected me. I am a shadow of my former self and from the day of the incident, my world fell apart.' The HSE investigation found Tata Steel failed to ensure the work to replace the lift cylinder was done safely. After the job was completed, the company also failed to properly isolate the conveyor system before Justin returned to address the leak. It was found that Tata Steel also failed to ensure the conveyor system was effectively guarded to prevent access to dangerous moving parts. Tata Steel (UK) Ltd, of Grosvenor Place, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £1.5 million and ordered to pay £26,318.67 in costs at Swansea Crown Court. HSE inspector Gethyn Jones said: 'Justin Day's death could so easily have been prevented. A much-loved family man is not here because of failures in health and safety basics. 'Employers have a responsibility to make sure sufficient procedures are in place to protect workers – both employees and contractors – and that those procedures are understood and followed. 'The dangers of moving machinery are well known. Sufficient risk assessments must be carried out and access to dangerous areas must be properly guarded and controlled. 'This has been a long and thorough investigation, and we believe this is the right outcome.' The prosecution was brought by senior enforcement lawyer Jon Mack at HSE.
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Ithaca Energy hit with £300,000 fine after safety breach
The three men had been tasked with carrying out inspection work at the base of one of the facility's sub-sea columns, but during preparation failings of hardware and incorrect operating procedures caused the bottom of the lift shaft to commence filling with water. A lack of water alarms at the bottom of the shaft meant the control room was unaware of the situation, and the trio began to descend on the lift. Read More: They experienced 'a rush of air' before the bottom of the lift made contact with the water. The men were up to their knees before managing to press the emergency stop button, with no injuries sustained. The HSE investigation found that water marks on the lift door revealed it had reached a level of just under 1.5 metres before the lift was stopped and returned to surface. Ithaca's own investigation determined that the water level could have actually reached more than three metres, meaning the men would have found it difficult to escape through the top hatch of the lift if the workers had used the lift later and/or had not been successful in bringing the lift to a halt immediately. HSE issued Ithaca with an improvement notice and work in confined spaces was stopped by the company until February 2021 to allow a full review to take place. Ithaca Energy (UK) Limited of Queens Road, Aberdeen pleaded guilty to breaching The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, 30 Regulation 4(1) and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Section 33(1)(a). The company was fined £300,000. HSE inspector Ian Chilley said: 'This was a terrifying incident for the workers involved, we are just thankful that no physical harm came to them. 'This fine should send a message and reminder to those operating offshore facilities for them to be extra vigilant. 'It was only a matter of good fortune that this incident didn't result in serious injury, or worse.' "When passing sentence, the sheriff observed the case marked 'another reminder of the need for rigorous adherence to health and safety in the oil and gas industry'." A spokesperson for Ithaca Energy said: "Ithaca Energy takes its responsibilities in relation to the health, safety and welfare of its employees and contractors extremely seriously, and takes considerable pride in its excellent safety record. "The company has treated the matter with the utmost seriousness and accepts its responsibility for the failings that led to the incident, where thankfully no individual was harmed. A thorough internal investigation was launched immediately, and the company has worked closely with the HSEx to implement and comply with the recommendations of their findings."
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Airport fined after pensioner dies following fall from lift
The 81-year-old had just landed at the airport after holidaying on the Greek island of Rhodes with his wife Anne, when the incident happened on November 28, 2023. Mr Young and his wife, who has mobility issues, had been waiting for one of the airport's ambulifts to assist them disembarking the aircraft shortly after 4pm. The couple had been two of six people requiring the assistance of the ambulift following the flight. Ambulifts are a specially designed vehicle to assist passengers with reduced mobility. Edinburgh Airport has several such vehicles which are owned, maintained and operated by the airport and driven by its employees. READ MORE: Mr Young attempted to pass a piece of hand luggage to a worker on the ground whilst the tail lift had not yet been lowered. It is believed he leant against the safety rail, which swung open causing him to fall approximately five feet to the ground below. He was assisted to his feet and helped into a wheelchair and although he wasn't thought to have sustained serious injury at time, he was taken to hospital. When examined at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, it was found Mr Young had sustained serious injuries and he subsequently died on December 7 as a result of the injuries. As a result of the incident, Edinburgh Airport Limited submitted a RIDDOR to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and an investigation was carried out. That found that when it was raised from the ground, the locking mechanism on the tail lift's safety rail was misaligned, meaning it could potentially open outwards if pressure was applied to it. When the safety rail moved outwards from the lifting platform an open edge was created and it was through this that Mr Young fell. Edinburgh Airport Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £80k at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on June 10, 2025. HSE inspector Jurate Gruzaite, said: 'Edinburgh Airport Limited had a duty to ensure all of its work equipment was maintained in an efficient state and in working order. The company failed in this duty and had a role in a family tragedy that unfolded the moment Mr and Mrs Young returned from holiday. 'It is clear that the fault on the ambulift had been in place before Mr Young fell from the platform. 'We can only hope this tragic incident is one the industry can learn from.'
The Independent
25-02-2025
- The Independent
Moment welder crushed at Sunderland shipyard caught on CCTV
A welder was crushed while working at a shipyard in Sunderland in 2022, newly-released CCTV footage shows. David Vinsome, 37, from North Shields, sustained multiple rib fractures and internal injuries following the incident at Pallion Shipyard, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said on Tuesday, 25 February. He was crushed between an excavation bucket and a fabrication table. HSE said the company failed to ensure that the lifting activity was properly planned by a competent person or carried out in a safe manner, and failed to establish a safe system of work for this activity – leading to a breakdown of communication between the multiple operators involved. Midland Steel Traders Ltd, Portobello Ind Est, Shadon Way, Chester le Street, pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £100,000 and told to pay £4,916 costs at Newcastle Magistrates Court on 13 February 2025.
