Telford engineering firm fined £12K after worker suffers crush injuries

A lifting company based in Telford has been fined after a beam weighing two tonnes fell onto an employee causing severe injuries. The incident on 21 August 2014 occurred at Pelloby Engineering Limited’s site at Halesfield 19, Telford.
A team of two employees were working in the company’s ‘finishing shop’ moving a seven metre long beam (weighing approximately two tonnes) across the shop floor. The beam was connected to an overhead crane using a single five tonne fabric round sling. During lifting, the sling snapped dropping the load to the floor. It landed on one of the employees pinning him down and crushing his leg and lower torso.
Telford Magistrates Court heard today the workers were steadying the load by hand and not using ‘tag lines’ to keep them out of the danger zone. The employee using the overhead crane had not been formally trained to use it. The sling was also found to be in a poor state of repair and lacked the required LOLER statutory examination report.
Pelloby Engineering Limited of Telford was fined £12,000 with costs of £1057 after pleading guilty of breaching Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Lyn Mizen said: “This employee has suffered some horrendous injuries as a result of an entirely preventable incident. The employee leading the lifting operation was not trained to use the equipment or to recognise when it was unsafe to use. They were also not informed about the use of ‘tag lines’ which are designed to keep workers out of dangerous areas. Pelloby Engineering Limited fell far below the standards expected of a competent employer, standards which are well publicised and accepted within the industry.”
Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited (HIBL) is determined to ensure that its clients are well-informed on H&S risks such as this one, and are familiar with the legal requirements. Our specialist teams at Corporate Risk Systems Limited and Henderson Risk Management Limited provide expert advice and training to engineering and other companies. Contact Ian Cliffen on 01283 509175 or advice@crsrisk.com if you or your clients would like a no-obligation discussion on health and safety. We provide audits and reviews, H&S training and qualifications, and our popular retained consultant service. See www.crsrisk.com for further information.

Congratulations Stephen Mullenger - The winner of the CRS NVQ Level 5 Diploma Candidate of the Year 2015 Award

On Friday 29^th May Stephen Mullenger collected the coveted CRS NVQ Level 5 Diploma Candidate of the Year 2015 Award at a special presentation held at Sahara Force India F1, Silverstone and was attended by delegates from various sectors including Construction, Manufacturing, Emergency Services, Police and the food industry . Stephen who was nominated by Martyn Grant our Head of Distance learning said “Stephen started his NVQ in OHSP in August 2013 and completed in October 2014. During this time he was employed by Thames Valley Police (TVP), the largest non-metropolitan police force in England & Wales, who employ in the region of 10,000 staff and volunteers. Stephen has the responsibility for the Health & Safety of the more operational side of policing within TVP including work activities such as; surveillance , crime scene investigation , CID, firearms licencing and many other high risk areas. In addition to holding down this extreamly busy post he has completed the qualification to a high standard and within a respectable timeframe.
Stephen was presented the Award by Lisbeth-Faye Strutt – Business Manager for City & Guilds. On receiving the award Stephen said “I would like to say thank you  to CRS for nominating me for the totally unexpected award, it is very much appreciated.  I would also like to thank my assessor Martyn Grant, I could not of completed the NQV without his encouragement and expert guidance throughout the 14 months it has taken me to complete the diploma.
About 18 months ago I attended an NVQ seminar and was sat exactly where you are now and wondered if I could commit to such an undertaking.  I questioned myself whether I had the ability and determination to complete the NVQ.  I found the most difficult part was to make the decision to commit and enrol on the course.  Once I overcame this personal hurdle I found the remainder of the course relatively easy to complete and as I successfully completed each module, my confidence went from strength to strength as my knowledge and understanding of the subject developed.  If you think this NVQ is right for you, I would advise you to enrol as soon as possible and in no time at all you could be in my position here today accepting this award.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all good luck and reiterate my gratitude to CRS and a special mention to Ros Stacey for arranging  the  special  presentation  of this award today”.

Quarrying company fined for ignoring advice

A Mold-based quarry firm has been fined for putting employees, contractors and delivery drivers at risk.
D P Williams Holdings Limited, of Brookside Works, The Nant, Rhydymwyn, Mold, pleaded guilty to continued non-compliance with relevant legislation, despite being warned previously by the health and safety watchdog.
The specialist quarrying company appeared at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court and was fined £5,000 with costs of £2,500. after admitting to breaches of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 11(1)(a) and The Quarries regulations 1999 Regulation 30 (a&b).
The court heard though no one had been injured, the firm was issued with two Prohibition Notices and four Improvement Notices by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors over a period of December 2009 to September 2013 relating to dangerous working conditions at the quarry.
The court also heard the company had previously ignored advice from its own quarry manager and geotechnical specialist about working conditions at the quarry.

CRS Support Health & Safety Week – 15th-19th June 2015

CRS are supporting Health & Safety Week as one of the UK’s largest providers of Health & Safety Accredited Training we are offering a 20% discount on any of our Open NEBOSH Courses run at any one of our 10 Training venues across the UK. So from Edinburgh in the North to Southampton in the South there is no better time to ensure that your employees receive the accredited Health & Safety training required under the Health & Safety at work act. With savings of around £250 plus vat per delegate this is a great saving. Courses must be booked during the Health & Safety week (15^th-19^th June) and must be taken before 1^st December. Places limited. Information on Health & Safety week can be found here
Contact our sales team on 01283 509175 and find out more

A Great turn out for NVQ Level 5 Diploma Seminar – The Best Route to CMIOSH

Corporate Risk Systems Ltd (CRS) Health Safety & Environmental Training Specialists based at Burton on Trent, Staffs ran their second seminar of the year on Friday 29^th May at Sahara Force India HQ at Silverstone. The Seminar was run to help employees understand the best routes to Chartered Membership of the Institution of Occupation Health & Safety (CMIOSH) one of the most sought after Health & Safety Qualifications.
The seminar was well represented by delegates from Thames Valley Police Force, Engineering,  Oil & Gas, Construction, Fire Rescue and Military  sectors who all wanted find out about the best routes and how to get started. Lisbeth-Faye Strutt – Business Manager for City & Guilds gave a short introduction to  City and Guilds and their vocational qualifications this was followed by Richard Ball – CRS NVQ Assessor who gave a presentation on the different routes to CMIOSH and how the City & Guilds NVQ level 5 Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety  is currently the most popular route. As a distance learning course it can be started any time and with no written exams the course works with each individual in their own sector and organisation to achieve the qualification. The course is supported by our Team of CMIOSH tutors and assessors to guide and mentor each individual. After the morning event a buffet lunch was enjoyed by the attendees prior to being presented with a small gift courtesy of Sahara Force India F1. If you missed the event we will be holding another FREE seminar on Wednesday 21^st October. If you would like to come then call Ros Stacey – UK Sales Director 01283 509175 or email rs@crsrisk.com to get your name on the guest list. For more information about the best route to CMIOSH or the NVQ Level 5 Diploma contact rs@crsrisk.com

Staffordshire Illegal Waste Site Operator Jailed For Seven Months

A Burton man has been sentenced to seven months in prison after illegally using land to repeatedly store and burn mixed waste, following a court hearing at Stafford Crown Court last month. 

Robert Murphy was sentenced on April 30, following a hearing relating to the operation a waste facility on land close to the A38 at Eggington near Burton-upon-Trent.

Despite a stop letter issued by the Environment Agency, Murphy used the site over a 15-month period, changing of the locks to the site entrance, the deployment of CCTV and the deployment of a concrete block to prevent access to the land.

Environment Agency – “Throughout the investigations Murphy was given a number of opportunities to stop his illegal activities but continued to show a complete disregard towards the environment, landowners and authority”

The waste included metal, wood, electrical items and demolition waste. Stafford Crown Court decided an immediate custodial sentence was needed due to the seriousness of the defendant’s actions.

Further proceedings have been scheduled for 12 June so the landowner can seek compensation to pay for some of the clean-up costs.

An Environment Agency officer involved with the investigation said: “Throughout the investigations Murphy was given a number of opportunities to stop his illegal activities but continued to show a complete disregard towards the environment, landowners and authority.

“This prosecution demonstrates that we take cases such as this very seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute if necessary, to protect the environment and local communities.”

Source :CIWM

Recycling Boss Jailed For Selling Old British Armour To Middle East

The boss of a recycling company contracted to dispose of Ministry of Defence equipment has been jailed for selling British military armour worth £12m.
Sidney Nicholls, 53, sold old British military equipment, which would be worth £12m new, to the Jordanian Army.
The equipment included helmets and riot shields used in conflicts, as well as body armour subject to strict secrecy rules.
Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith – “If sold outside the MoD system, it would present a serious risk to national security” Worcester Crown Court heard this posed “serious risk” to national security as it would be possible to work out the strength of the armour and calculate what ballistic force would be required to defeat it.
Nicholls, from Stanford Bridge, Worcs, admitted fraud by false representation and was jailed for two years. Nicholls worked for UKBF, a sub-contractor of another recycling firm, in Kidderminster, Worcester. Instead of destroying the equipment, he stockpiled it and agreed to sell them to a broker.
According to the Mirror, the Jordanian Army agreed to pay £250,000, of which Nicholls would receive £100,000. The MoD, however, intercepted the 60 pallets of stock on a ship and Nicholls was arrested.
Prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith said: “If sold outside the MoD system, it would present a serious risk to national security.
“It could be possible to work out the strength of British armour and what ballistic force would be required to defeat it.” Shawn Williams, defending, said Nicholls – now bankrupt – said: “He is not a person who is not patriotic.”
Source: CIWM