Two companies have been fined after unsafe asbestos work was carried out on a property in Leatherhead, Surrey. Staines Magistrates’ Court heard how a licensed asbestos removal contractor, was subcontracted to carry out the work. The contractor removed some asbestos containing materials and agreed to carry out repair works on other water damaged materials within [...]

The sentencing guidelines have now been in force for some time and we are seeing the impact that they are having. In recent weeks a Manchester building contractor has been sent to jail for eight months for hiring two workers who were not qualified to carry out work at height and failing to provide fall [...]

Two owners of Kidderminster based fencing firm Hoo Farm Fencing have been given suspended sentences after a worker was hit by timber posts and frames which fell from a fork lift truck. The worker suffered injuries that still require regular physiotherapy sessions following the incident on 12 February 2016, although the seriousness of the safety [...]

A Manchester building contractor has been jailed following the death of a casual labourer who fell nearly seven metres through a fragile roof. The 45-year-old labourer had been carrying out repair work at Witney Mill, Manchester when the incident occurred on 23 November 2013. The contractor had been engaged by the warehouse owner, who believed [...]

A Bedfordshire based contractor has been fined after failing to carry out suitable assessment of asbestos removal work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had the demolition work, which was undertaken in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire reported to 16 April 2015 by a member of the public, which prompted an investigation into the work. The investigation found [...]

Changes in Sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences are starting to have an impact with health and safety fines totalling £20.6 million being served between February 2016 and August 2016 compared to £14.4 million between February 2015 and August 2015 – a 40% increase. There has also been an impact on individual prosecutions particularly [...]

A property management company has been fined £120,000 after a 29-year-old died falling down a lift shaft, after he became trapped and attempted to escape having been unable to raise the alarm. The incident occurred when two men, one a resident in the building, were trapped in a lift and were unable to raise the alarm. They attempted to escape by forcing the [...]

The new sentencing guidelines that have seen an increase in fines and possibility of prison sentencing is already having an impact with a number of individuals being prosecuted for breaching health and safety legislation. In one of the latest cases a manager of an access plant hire firm has been sentenced to a maximum penalty [...]

A construction company and its managing director have been prosecuted for operating an unsafe construction site during the conversion of a building in Bollington. Both were found guilty of completely failing in their duties to protect the workers or members of the public from harm, and that it was claimed that only luck caused no [...]