Record February for C&D

Regular visitors to this page will know that C&D posted a record turnover for January 2014 and we are pleased to report that our February figures are again a record both from previous February figures and for the monthly company turnover figures since day 1.

The increase in turnover is due to increased demand for training courses to major blue chip clients, the success of the 1,2,3 Work at Height courses and the appointment of C&D as CDM-C on five major demolition schemes throughout the country.

We thank both new and existing clients for the increased business and we hope to continue the growth throughout 2014.

Lancashire housebuilder fined for working at height incidents

Paddle Ltd has been fined £56,000 and £11,000 in costs for pleading guilty to breaching reg. 4 of the Working at Height Regulations 2005. Company director Derek Hugh Barnes received 8 months' imprisonment, suspended two years, and can't become a company director for 3 years. He also has to pay a further fine of £32,000 and £11,000 in costs. He pleaded guilty to the breaching of Section 37 of the HSWA 1974.

The action was taken after two reported incidents in 2011 and 2012. The first saw a bricklayer fall four meters injuring his back and foot, the second was a contractor photographed working at height in an excavator bucket while Barnes watched. Both incidents occurred in Cae Canol in Baglan, near Port Talbot.

The problem is, this isn't the first incident the company has faced HSE action against. With several Prohibition Notices being handed out over the years.

HSE inspector Phil Nicolle said:

"Paddle Ltd and Derek Barnes, have, over the years, shown a blatant disregard for health and safety management on their construction sites, as was clearly evident when we investigated the Baglan incidents.

Companies and directors have clear duties of care and safety responsibilities, and it is vital they properly assess, manage and supervise all work activity to mitigate risks at all times."

The company has since put two new company directors in place.

Source: SHP

£232,000 fine for workmens' four storey lift shaft fall

£232,000 in fines and costs have been shared across three companies after two men fell down a four storey lift shaft due to the erection of an inadequate and unsafe platform.

Both men were working in the lift shaft at Exeter University as part of a project to build new student accomodation. Ricki Slocombe (35) broke both of his legs and has been confined to a wheelchair for months. Matthew Blackmore (29) broke his back. Both are lucky to be alive after falling from such a height.

HSE inspector Simon Chilcott commented:

"This was a terrifying incident for the two men which could easily have led to their deaths. As it was, they suffered severe injuries, which were life-changing in the case of Mr Slocombe.

Contractors and employers must make sure they have taken all reasonable measures to provide a safe environment for workers to work in and that any temporary structures are secure."

The 3 companies involved are Cowlin Construction Ltd., Prestopian Ltd., and Somerset Carpenters Ltd. With Cowlin having the largest portion of the fines and costs to pay.

Safety precautions must always be adhered to when working at height, and here at C&D we provide extensive training in that area. If you'd like to discuss your training needs or the courses we offer, please get in touch.

Source: HSE

An example of how not to work at height

The image you see above is a bit of an eye opener and a perfect example of how not to work safely at height. What you are seeing is two men working on a roof without any form of safety in place. There is no roof ladder, and the man sitting down is using a petrol-powered tile cutter while sitting on the ridge.

A single slip and either man could fall. If the man holding the heavy cutter falls, not only does he risk injuring himself, he puts members of the public in danger as the cutter could fall and injure passers by.

The Suffolk roofing firm is owned by Anthony Nightingale, who also happens to be the guy using the cutter in the image. The HSE understandably decided to take action and prosecuted Mr Nightingale under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He now has to pay a total of £4,315 in costs and fines.

HSE Inspector Elizabeth Fowle commented:

"Mr Nightingale should have led by example, but instead he put his own life and the life of an employee at risk. Fortunately no one was injured on this occasion, but it is astonishing that Mr Nightingale thought it was acceptable to use a potentially dangerous piece of machinery while perched at the top of the roof."

Source: HSE

Fall from height costs two companies £21,000

Two companies are having to share fines and costs totalling £21,000 after a 38-year-old worker suffered a fall from height fracturing two veterbrae and being unable to work for seven months. The reason for his injury? He was working at height without the proper safety precautions having been implemented.

The man was working on a mobile scaffolding tower, but the tower had not been erected to the manufacturer's specifications. Even worse, industry guidelines had not been followed and the platform the tower was placed on was unsuitable. There were no guard rails to protect the man on the tower, either.

The HSE prosecuted principal contractor Thomas Long & Sons and subcontractor M-tech Engineering, who were both working at the Convent Street, Nottingham site. Thomas Long & Sons received a £6,000 fine and £3,000 in costs. M-tech received an £8,000 fine and also £3,000 in costs.

The fines, costs, and injury could all have been prevented with proper training and procedures implemented on site. C&D Consultancy offer such training under the title of Working at Height. The course includes:

• Employer / employee responsibilities
• Health and safety law
• Understanding risk assessments
• Pre-shift safety inspections
• Electricity hazards
• Emergency procedures
• Hazards at height and ground level
• Safe working practice with ladders and access systems
• Practical session and assessment (if full day)
• Question & answer paper

Please email Jill if you would like to know more about this or any other course we offer.

Source: HSE

HSE carrying out intensive inspections until March 16th

The Health and Safety Exectuive has announced that between now and March 16th it will be carrying out a series of intensive inspection initiatives, with the aim of reducing death, injury, and ill health on construction sites.

The focus of the inspections will be sites where refurbishment and/or repair work is being carried out. The HSE is particularly interested in high-risk activities such as working at height. The aim: to remind everyone working in the industry that poor standard are unacceptable, and that the HSE has no hesitation in enforcing those standards.

Philip White, HSE Chief Inspector of Construction, said:

"The refurbishment sector continues to be the most risky for construction workers, all too often straightforward practical precautions are not considered and workers are put at risk. In many cases simple changes to working practices can make all the difference.

Poor management of risks in this industry is unacceptable. As we have demonstrated in the past, we will take strong action if we find evidence that workers are being unnecessarily put at risk."

Source: HSE

Working at Height prosecution for Leamington firm

Raicam Clutch Ltd has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Exectuive after an employee fell from a roof breaking five vertebrae and suffering whiplash.

The employee had been asked to go on the flat roof to investigate a leak. However, safety was not a concern meaning there were no guard rails, and the man was not tethered to anything. He tripped over a loose cable on the roof and fell 3.5 metres where his injuries were sustained.

Raicam has received a £5,000 fine for pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. A further £4,952 must be paid to cover costs.

Mark Austin, HSE Inspector, commented:

"This was an entirely foreseeable incident which could have been avoided if Raicam Clutch Ltd had implemented safety precautions accepted within the industry as normal working practices.

Roofing work requires careful planning and assessment of the risks involved. In this case, an employee was working without any protection to prevent him falling which is completely unacceptable."

C&D understand the risks involved with working on a roof or at any height. That's why we regularly offer the training course Working at Height to ensure the precautions and regulations can be understood and adhered to.

If you would like to know more about this course, or any of those offered on our training page, please get in touch.

Source: HSE

Falling from height causes man serious back injuries, costs employers thousands

Graham Parkin has been left with a fractured vertebrae in his back and long-term disability problems after falling from height on a construction site in Burley.

The Health and Safety Executive has prosecuted both Illson Ltd. and Kendal Varley Ltd. for whom Mr Parkin worked. The incident occurred at the Corn Mill in Burley on the 19th November, 2008.

The accident could have been avoided if the proper safety measures had been taken. No guardrails were in place on the site, and the HSE were not correctly notified of the work.

HSE Inspector David Welsh said:

"If HSE had been correctly notified that work on the Corn Mill was going to take place, it could have inspected the site and the injury may have been averted. The measures in place at the time - the responsibility of Illson (Builders & Contractors) Ltd - simply did not amount to a safe system of work, and as a result Graham Parkin sustained a serious, long-term, fall from height injury."

The prosecution has now been successful in the courts and Illson must pay a fine of £5,000 and costs of £3,600. Kendall Barley has a fine of £2,000 and costs of £1,800 to pay.

C&D Consultancy run a number of training courses regularly, and specifically have one geared towards teaching about Working at Height. Please visit our training course pages or contact Harpreet for further information.

Source: HSE

Westwise Demolition fined for roof dismantling without scaffolding

Ivan Pope, trading under the name of Westwise Demolition, has been prosecuted by the HSE and fined £6,000 for exposing employees to unnecessary risk to their safety.

The incident occurred between the 16th and 25th January, 2008. Mr Pope's son and another employee were tasked with dismantling the roof of the Manvers Arms public house in Lincoln.

Rather than setting up scaffolding for the job, the two just used the bucket of an excavator to lift themselves on to the roof. One then sat on the roof passing tiles to the other who stood in the bucket. Once the bucket was full it was lowered to the ground, emptied, and the process repeated.

HSE Inspector Martin Giles said:

This was foolhardy to say the least and could so easily have resulted in serious injury or even death. It is particularly disturbing that Mr Pope was willing to risk the life of his own son by failing to put such basic safety requirements in place.

Working at height remains one of the greatest dangers to construction workers. Many incidents can be avoided if contractors identify a safe way of tackling a job, provide all necessary protective equipment and ensure that workers, sub-contractors or casual employees are fully trained and properly supervised.

Mr Pope pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety Work etc Act 1974. As well as the £6,000 fine Mr Pope also has to pay £13,483 in costs.

Source: HSE and Demolition News

Working at Height

Introduction

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 place duties on employers, the self-employed, employees and anyone who controls the way work at height is undertaken, for example a principal contractor, a client, a managing agent, or contractors, etc. Those undertaking a height work activity need to be trained in the selected system of work and any particular work equipment chosen. For example if a MEWP is selected then the operator must be trained in its use. Managers should check that those doing the work are adequately trained.

Aims 

Essential information for all persons involved with height work which accounts for a third of all

fatalities and serious injuries, explains the importance of height work planning, the risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled and equipment for work at height is properly inspected and maintained.

The Course includes:

· Employer / employee responsibilities

· Health and safety law

· Understanding risk assessments

· Pre-shift safety inspections

· Electricity hazards

· Emergency procedures

· Hazards at height and ground level

· Safe working practice with ladders and access systems

· Practical session and assessment (if full day)

· Question & answer paper

Delegates will be issued with a Certificate of Attendance.