Locations
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.
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£100,000 |
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Company: |
Scottish Borders Abattoir Limited |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1), Section 33(1)(a) and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
COPFS & HSE, 20 August 2014 |
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Disqualified director jailed over worker death and company deception |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: Sentence: |
£100,000 (for Aztech) Imprisonment of 26 months (Mr O'Boyle); 12 months suspended (Mr Lee) |
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Company: Individuals: |
Aztech BA Ltd Paul O'Boyle, Russell Lee |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (company) Health and Safety Act, Fraud Act and Company Directors Disqualification Act (individuals) |
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Costs: |
£8,000 for Mr Lee. |
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Source: |
HSE, 29 August 2014 |
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Injury: |
Death |
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Fine: |
£85,000 |
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Company: |
Life Style Care PLC |
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Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£48,000 |
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Source: |
HSE, 28 August 2014 |
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Injury: |
None; fine for forging a positive examination report on a faulty vehicle |
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Fine: |
£18,000 |
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Company: |
MIB United Meat Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 33(1)(m) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; and Regulation 9(3) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 |
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Costs: |
£2,314 |
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Source: |
HSE,4 September 2014 |
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Edinburgh company fined £12,000 after lorry crushes employee |
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Injury: |
Crush injuries to head, face, and chest |
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Fine: |
£12,000 |
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Company: |
Macfarlan Smith Limited |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
n/a |
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Source: |
COPFS, 21 August 2014 |
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Injury: |
Fractured an eye socket, sustained bleeding in skull, multiple collar bone fractures and a broken rib |
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Fine: |
£10,000 |
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Company: |
Lanchester Dairies Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£1,690 |
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Source: |
HSE, 19 August 2014 |
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Injury: |
None; no effective management systems to control exposure to the health risks to employees. |
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Fine: |
£7,000 |
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Company: |
Brooks Crownhill Patternmakers Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and regulations from Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 |
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Costs: |
£1,379 |
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Source: |
HSE, 29 August 2014 |
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Injury: |
Severe internal bruising and possible nerve damage. |
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Fine: |
£5,000 |
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Company: |
Quaintbrook Properties Ltd |
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Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£5,518 |
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Source: |
HSE, 29 August 2014 |
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Injury: |
None; put lives at risk |
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Fine: |
£4,050 |
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Individual: |
Giles Boardman |
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Legislation: |
Section 33(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and regulations in the Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 |
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Costs: |
£513 |
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Source: |
HSE, 1 September 2014 |
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Injury: |
Workers' health put at risk for three months |
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Fine: |
£2,000 |
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Individual: |
Roland Couzens |
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Legislation: |
Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
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Costs: |
£3,102 |
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Source: |
HSE, 22 August 2014 |