Company fined £175,000 after worker suffers brain trauma
A London company has been fined £175,000 after a worker suffered serious head injuries that saw him hospitalised for seven months.
The man, who was 35 at the time, was working at a domestic property on Elmfield Avenue, Crouch End, London, on 3 March 2019 when he sustained head injuries during concrete pumping operations carried out by sub-contractor Singh Will Mix It Ltd.
A concrete pump operator was cleaning the pump’s hose after it had been used to pump concrete for a ground floor extension at the property. As the pump operator was doing this, the pump became blocked, leading to a sudden release of pressure and causing the hose to whip and strike the worker in the head. The pump operator was not qualified to operate the machine.
The injured worker spent seven months in hospital following the incident, suffered brain trauma, and continues to have difficulties with his speech, memory and movement.
Read more on the HSE website.
HSE to investigate dislodged vessel in Edinburgh dock
The Health and Safety Executive is to investigate how a US Navy vessel toppled over at a dock in Edinburgh.
It said it would visit the site at the Imperial Dock, Leith, working alongside Police Scotland.
The 250ft research vessel dislodged from its holding on Wednesday (22 March) injuring 35 people, with 23 being taken to hospital and 12 treated on-site.
The ship is owned by the United States Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center and operated by Oceaneering International. During the Covid pandemic it was placed in long-term moorage in 2020 and has not been used since.
Dr Iraklis Lazazis an experienced marine academic from Strathclyde University’s said the incident was extremely unusual and will require a robust investigation. “I’ve never come across myself any such accidents,” he told BBC Scotland, “being involved in a number of dry dockings throughout the world, as well as through my academic career. No such thing has happened before.”
For more on the incident, visit the SHP website.
Research highlights fire knowledge gaps
Almost nine in ten (85%) UK tradespeople would not know how to react if they encountered a fire at work, according to new research.
The study, conducted by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, surveyed 500 UK tradespeople to reveal how prepared workers are for emergencies.
Despite a third (33%) of respondents having witnessed a fire while on a job, fewer than one in eight (12%) say they always have access to an extinguisher, and 85% say they don’t have one in their vehicle.
It appears that some trades are more likely to come across fires than others. Locksmiths encounter incidents the most often (56%), followed by joiners and plasterers (both 50%).
Learn more about the study on the HSM website.
Company fined after worker seriously injures hand
A company has been fined after a worker’s hand was pulled into a large drill causing serious injury.
The aircraft fitter, who worked for GE Aviation Systems Limited, was using the unguarded drill at the firm’s former site on Kings Avenue, Hamble, Hampshire on 3 November 2019.
While using the drill on the frame of a small plane, the worker’s left hand was caught by metal debris and then became entangled around the drill. The worker was only able to stop the drill by reaching with his free hand to detach the airline.
The worker sustained injuries to his left hand, including ligament and tendon damage as well as deep lacerations.
Read more about the incident on the SHP website.
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