03-04-2008
Companies fined after recycling plant accident
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
Britain's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has confirmed that legal action has been taken against two firms, following an accident at a recycling plant in Greenwich.
Following the incident, which occurred in 2004 and resulted in the victim losing the tips of two of his fingers, both firms have been fined a total of £30,000, excluding costs.
"This incident demonstrates the importance of ensuring that employees are properly trained to carry out risk assessments and to properly operate permit-to-work systems - not just how to fill in forms," said Loraine Charles, an inspector for the HSE, an organisation funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.
One firm was found to have breached Section 3(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the other was found to be in violation of Section 2(1) of the act.
Consequently, the HSE has issued a warning to businesses to ensure that both contractors and employees are in receipt of the required levels of training to ensure safe systems of work and the proper completion of risk assessments.
