A Case at A Warburtons
Warburtons Ltd. has been fined after an agency worker was injured when his arm got trapped in a conveyor belt. The worker’s right arm became trapped between a conveyor belt and moulder as he attempted to clean out dough which had become caught between tins.
The company was fined £1.9m under the Provision & Use of Work Equipment Regulations.
This highlights again the importance of assessing all risks faced by employees and training employees how to work safely.
Since the new Health & Safety sentencing guidelines were introduced in February 2016 there has been a significant increase in fine levels for companies prosecuted for offences under the Health & Safety at Work Act and the associated regulations.
In 2016 there were 19 fines of more than £1m compared to just three fines of over £1m in 2015 and none in 2014.
Health & Safety Myth
Health and Safety Regulations now ban the use of ladders.
This is a story that appears frequently. There is no ban on ladders if they are used safely. There are regulations to ensure that people do use ladders safely to reduce the numbers of workers seriously injured or killed falling off ladders every year.
There is no ban on ladders as long as they are secured and used appropriately.
ISO 45001
The latest draft of ISO 45001, the planned international standard for safety and health management systems, has been approved in an international ballot. However further amendments to the standard, which is due to replace BS OHSAS 18001, may push the publication of the final text into next year.
Big Ben
Big Ben has fallen silent as of 12 noon on 21st August for 4 years due to health and safety concerns for workers who will be working on refurbishing the tower which holds the bell. Authorities have been criticised for halting the chimes because of health and safety, with many criticising that not even The Blitz halted the chimes of Big Ben.
