“At one point I was genuinely terrified I was going to bleed out and die”
A flower supplier has been fined after an employee’s leg was amputated following a serious incident at its processing facility in Huntingdon.
Andy Hazelden was working for MM Flowers Limited, at its site in Alconbury Weald, on 4 February 2023 when he was injured while helping to manually unload cargo from a delivery trailer ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Cargo had become stuck on the trailer, and Mr Hazelden, along with two colleagues, attempted to free it. As part of this process, he stepped onto a roller deck where there was a gap.
Once the cargo was freed, a skid slid from the trailer onto the roller deck and struck his left leg, which had become trapped in the gap.
The 60-year-old sustained devastating injuries and later underwent a series of medical procedures, ultimately resulting in a through-knee amputation.
His injuries have been life-changing, leaving him reliant on a wheelchair and the care of his wife. He has also been unable to continue his much-loved pastime of riding motorcycles.
Read more on the HSE website.
Construction firm fined after death of teenage labourer
A construction firm has been fined £40,200 after a teenage labourer died falling down a ventilation shaft on a London building site.
Renols Lleshi, 19, was helping to dismantle scaffolding on the 12th floor roof garden of a block of flats being built at the Ark Soane Academy site, Mill Hill Road, London W3 on 5 July 2023. As he stepped onto a ventilation shaft the covering gave way, and he fell six floors to his death.
Renols father said “My family and I are devastated by the loss of Renols. To know that his death was caused by an accident which was entirely avoidable only makes our loss even harder to cope with.
For more on the incident visit the HSM website.
AI over-reliance risk grows, warn safety experts
Astutis has revealed its Learner Report 2026, which reveals UK workplaces are now entering a critical transition period as AI begins to shape health and safety.
The survey, taken by professionals in multiple health and safety industries, reveals that nearly three quarters (73%) of health and safety professionals believe that AI will play a significant role in workplace safety over the next five years.
However, adoption of AI remains limited, with only one in 10 saying they actively use AI, a third (32%) of people considering using AI in future and three in 10 (29%) only at pilot stage, highlighting widespread hesitation.
When it comes to HSE professionals’ thoughts on bringing AI into health and safety, over two fifths (44%) say that they’re excited to bring this into the work place, but remain cautious.
At the same time, readiness is a huge barrier, with over four fifths (84%) of respondents said they either lack the skills to use AI effectively in the workplace, or would require additional training.
Learn more on the HSM website.
Company fined after worker crushed by one-tonne block while inside HGV trailer
A vehicle maintenance company in Worcestershire has been fined after one of its workers was crushed under a one-tonne concrete block.
The father -of-two, 35, had been working for Redditch-based BA Mobile Fleet Services Limited when the incident happened on 14 December 2023.
His leg injuries were so severe his left foot and lower leg subsequently had to be amputated, while he sustained serious injuries to his right leg. The man was also dismissed from his job after the incident.
The then 33-year-old had been inside an HGV box trailer as it was being loaded with the one-tonne concrete blocks. The vehicle was being loaded in preparation for a Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) brake test. He had been inside the trailer with a colleague while a third worker loaded the blocks using a forklift truck. It was during this process that the forklift truck ‘nudged’ a stack of blocks inside the trailer, causing them to topple on to the man’s legs – resulting in his devastating and life-changing injuries.
Visit the HSE website to read more.
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