An engineering firm based in Greater Manchester has been fined £100,000 after a serious incident left one of its employees with multiple crush injuries to his arms, legs, and feet. On 27 September 2023, Richard Jones was welding a large metal ‘A frame’ at Oldham...
Monthly H&S Insights Newsletter
A roundup of key health and safety news, legal updates, and best practices from our monthly newsletter.
Social housing provider fined after men exposed to the risks from vibrating tools
A leading social housing provider has been fined £140,000 after two estate assistants were diagnosed with Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) following years of regular exposure to vibrating tools. Stonewater Limited employed the two men at sites near Tanyard Farm in...
Legal Liabilities of Line Managers and Supervisors: A Closer Look
Health and safety responsibilities don’t stop at the boardroom. While the Managing Director or Chief Executive holds the ultimate accountability, the day-to-day responsibility for ensuring a safe working environment often falls squarely on the shoulders of line...
In Court: Property Developer Fined Over Repeated Safety Failures
A London-based property developer has been fined more than £88,000 after a series of serious health and safety breaches were uncovered at a construction site in Dalston. Nofax Enterprises Limited was overseeing the construction of a four-storey residential building,...
Stress Awareness Month: How Employers Can Take Action This April
April marks Stress Awareness Month, a vital reminder that managing stress in the workplace isn’t just a wellbeing initiative—it’s a legal responsibility. A widely accepted definition of stress, proposed by psychologist Richard S. Lazarus, defines it as: “A particular...
Understanding Hand-Arm Vibration: Protecting Workers from HAVS
Vibration and noise are both forms of transmitted energy—and when workers are exposed to them for extended periods, serious health consequences can follow. One of the most common and debilitating conditions caused by regular use of handheld tools is Hand-Arm Vibration...
Rushing to Failure: How Deadline Pressure Leads to Dangerous Decisions
In the world of workplace safety, preventing injuries is about far more than ticking compliance boxes. It’s about understanding human behaviour and predicting how people are likely to act under pressure—especially when deadlines loom. Over recent weeks, I’ve observed...
Wood Manufacturer Fined Over £1 Million After Two Workers Injured
Wood Manufacturer Fined Over £1 Million After Two Workers Injured A multinational wood-based product manufacturer, West Fraser (Europe) Ltd, has been fined more than £1 million following two serious workplace incidents at its Cowie plant in 2020. The company, formerly...
Company Fined After Worker Loses Three Fingers in Panel Saw Incident
Company Fined After Worker Loses Three Fingers in Panel Saw Incident A Preventable Workplace Tragedy A construction industry supplier has been fined after an employee suffered a life-changing injury while operating a panel saw. The incident occurred at Pemberton...
Understanding UK Health and Safety Regulations and Acts
Many businesses view health and safety laws as restrictive and complex, much like national speed limits—something people ignore until consequences arise. However, compliance is crucial, not just to avoid legal penalties but to protect workers and ensure business...