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The fines and costs which may flow from a safety related incident can be significant, not to mention the reputational stigma which the company will suffer. We set out below examples of recent prosecutions which give a flavour of the sentences handed down following conviction. For further information on any of these cases please do not hesitate to contact Rhys Griffiths of our Corporate Risk Management Group.
National power firm fined after employee electrocuted
| Injury: | Death |
| Fine: |
£300,000 |
| Company: |
UK Power Networks |
| Legislation: | Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | £219,352.09 |
| Source: | HSE, 31 August 2011 |
Company fined after man dies in machine incident
| Injury: | Death |
| Fine: |
£200,000 |
| Company: |
Duco International Limited |
| Legislation: | Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 |
| Costs: | £43,352 |
| Source: | HSE, 8 September 2011 |
Newport council fined following death of disabled man
| Injury: | Death |
| Fine: |
£100,000 |
| Company: |
Newport City Council |
| Legislation: | Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 |
| Costs: | £60,108.02 |
| Source: | HSE, 13 September 2011 |
Bus builder fined after Falkirk worker hit by steel platform
| Injury: | Deep cut to chin and four broken teeth |
| Fine: |
£50,000 |
| Company: |
Alexander Dennis Ltd |
| Legislation: | Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | n/a |
| Source: | HSE, 13 September 2011 |
Pitmachie garage worker fatally injured
| Injury: | Death |
| Fine: |
£15,000 |
| Company: |
Pitmachie Garage Ltd |
| Legislation: | Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | n/a |
| Source: | HSE, 6 September 2011 |
Glasgow demolition worker fatally injured
| Injury: | Death |
| Fine: |
£15,000 |
| Company: |
Whiteinch Demolition Ltd |
| Legislation: | Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | n/a |
| Source: | HSE, 30 August 2011 |
Somerset employer prosecuted after teenage employee loses fingers
| Injury: | Loss of four fingers |
| Fine: |
£15,000 |
| Individual: |
Nigel Ashley |
| Legislation: | Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | £7,376.40 |
| Source: | HSE, 5 September 2011 |
Two firms prosecuted for dangerous building site
| Injury: | None – fined for poor standards at building site |
| Fine: |
£8,000 (Kubik) |
| Companies: |
Kubik Homes Ltd |
| Legislation: | Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety etc at Work Act 1974 |
| Costs: | £2,426.50 (Kubik) £2,384.50 (Bellway) |
| Source: | HSE, 30 August 2011 |
Company fined after scaffolding collapse at wedding
| Injury: | None |
| Fine: |
£8,000 |
| Company: |
Block Scaffolding Limited |
| Legislation: | Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | £7,370 |
| Source: | HSE, 5 September 2011 |
West Yorkshire firm fined over worker injury
| Injury: | Two fingers partially severed |
| Fine: |
£7,500 |
| Company: |
Shaw Pallet Ltd |
| Legislation: | Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: | £2,410 |
| Source: | HSE, 8 September 2011 |
Council in court over workers exposed to asbestos
| Injury: | Three men exposed to asbestos |
| Fine: |
£5,000 (Birmingham CC) |
| Companies: |
Birmingham City Council |
| Legislation: |
Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (Birmingham CC) |
| Costs: |
£1,091 (Birmingham CC) |
| Source: | HSE, 5 September 2011 |
Kent tree surgeon fined over worker's injuries
| Injury: | Broken leg, severe muscle injuries and hospitalisation for several weeks |
| Fine: |
£5,000 |
| Individual: |
Richard Curteis |
| Legislation: |
Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: |
£3,679 |
| Source: | HSE, 13 September 2011 |
County Durham firm fined after worker struck by waste vehicle
| Injury: | Broken shoulder, two fractured toe bones and a cracked rib |
| Fine: |
£3,350 |
| Company: |
First Skips Ltd |
| Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: |
£3,528.70 |
| Source: | HSE, 30 August 2011 |
Disregarded safety warnings cost Bolton firm
| Injury: | None – fine for ignoring formal safety warnings |
| Fine: |
£705 (Mr Smith) |
| Individuals: |
Anthony Smith and Yvonne Barrett |
| Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Section 33(1)(g) of the Act |
| Costs: |
£2,500 (Mr Smith) |
| Source: | HSE, 9 September 2011 |
Barnet bread company fined after man dies from fall
| Injury: | Death |
| Fine: |
£1 (Ovenpride) |
| Company: Individual: |
Ovenpride Wholesale Ltd |
| Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
| Costs: |
£200 (Mr Mahmood) |
| Source: | HSE, 24 August 2011 |