PP Construction Safety News Desk

YOUNG WORKER INJURED IN CINEMA DEMOLITION

Philip — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:09:08 +0000

Demolition worker seriously injured in excavator incident An young demolition worker has been seriously injured in an incident involving an excavator during demolition of a disused cinema in Ramsay Cambridgshire on 17th March 2010. It appears he was working on the ground in close proximity to the excavator when he was struck by the attachment. Further report Comment: Most excavator related deaths involve [...]

DUMPER MANSLAUGHTER TRIAL STARTS

Philip — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:34:11 +0000

Construction company director denies manslaughter allegation Edward Day (E J Construction T/A) is facing a manslaughter trial following the death of workman Mark Wilkin who drowned when a dumper truck fell into a lake in 2007. The death occurred during redevelopment of a quarry involving major earth moving work. The prosecution allege that ”the risk of the dumper overturning into deep water is a great one. There is a real [...]

LADDER FALL LEAVES PAINTER WITH BRAIN DAMAGE

Philip — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:39:12 +0000

Directors of decorating firm prosecuted after unexplained fall Liversedge Decorating Contractors Ltd, two of its directors, and a second company Foster Turn-Key Contracts Ltd have today been prosecuted after a painter was injured on a student accomodation refurbishment project in 2007. Trevor Dawson of Yorkshire was working as a painter when the incident happened. Magistrates heard that he apparently fell from a ladder. There were no witnesses. Work [...]

DOMESTIC CLIENT NOT LIABLE FOR INJURY

Philip — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:20:09 +0000

Court rejects workman fall injury compensation claim on client A decorator who was injured whilst using a ladder owned by a domestic client has failed in his six-figure compensation claim. Tomasz Kmiecic fractured his elbow when the under length ladder he used slipped when attempted to access a garage roof. The judge said the facts suggested Mr Sniegula was “in respect of this work at least [...]

TRAINEE FELL THROUGH STAIRWELL OPENING

Philip — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:06:01 +0000

Aberdeenshire company fined after apprentice joiner injured in fall Scotia Homes (North) Limited has been fined £4k for breaches of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 after a 17 year-old trainee fell 3m to a concrete floor. He fell through an unguarded stairwell opening on a new homes development project injuring his head and legs. Inadequate safeguards provided to protect opening Stonehaven Sheriff Court [...]

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE: IMPROVING H&S PERFORMANCE

Philip — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:11:29 +0000

HSL offer second training day to meet excessive demand for new course The Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), an agency of HSE, recently launched a new one-day course on behaviour change which is fully booked. An further course has now been arranged for Wednesday 31 March 2010 at the HSL Laboratory in the Buxton and only a few places are remaining. The cost of the course [...]

WORKERS HOSPITALISED AFTER LEAD EXPOSURE

Philip — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:51:54 +0000

Failure to identify lead paint on renovation project causes lead risk HSE has issued a reminder to refurb clients and contractors of the dangers of exposure to lead paint in the workplace. It follows the prosecution of a Perthshire company after two workers were admitted to hospital with acute lead poisoning. The restoration company, Blairish Restorations Limited of Aberfeld, Scotland was fined [...]

DANGEROUS ‘BRIDGE’ TO THE COURTROOM

Philip — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:20:10 +0000

South west hotel developer given short sharp shock for unsafe working A Newquay-based company has been ordered to pay £5k in fines and prosecution costs after putting builders at risk on one of its hotel construction sites in the town. Bluechip Hotels Ltd of Porth, pleaded guilty to breaching HSW Act Sections 2 and 3 after failng to provide guardrails on a ‘bridge’ [...]

GREATER MANCHESTER SITES FAIL SAFETY TEST

Philip — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:12:53 +0000

HSE inspection initiatives finds too many dangerous sites More than a quarter of the construction sites visited in Greater Manchester last week failed safety inspections. HSE inspectors carried out checks at 163 construction sites in Manchester, Salford and Trafford during two days of intensive inspections. Inspectors issued 56 enforcement notices across 42 of the sites. Work was either stopped immediately or projects were required [...]

HSE SUBSIDISED WORKER TRAINING

Philip — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:27:33 +0000

Construction sector selected for HSE training initiative There is evidence that involving the workforce is fundamental to good health and safety performance, and good for business. HSE is therefore offering two new subsidised health and safety training courses designed to either: (1) help organisations get started with worker involvement; or (2) improve their existing arrangements for involving workers. Construction is a target [...]