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Firm fined for health and safety breaches

F & R Cawley Ltd, of Covent Garden Close, Luton, was fined a total of £5,900 and ordered to pay £2,131 in costs, at Luton Magistrates’ Court.

The firm admitted breaching Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1988 and Regulation 5 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

An employee of F & R Cawley Ltd was emptying the skip, which required it to be lifted in the air and tipped so its contents fell into the back of a truck.

While this operation was being carried out the skip’s large metal doors, which weighed 14 kilos each, came loose at the hinges and fell off.

One struck and cracked the pavement and the other hit the employee in the head, causing a four inch cut. He was taken to hospital and was off work for five weeks.

An investigation by the HSE found the skip doors had been removed and refitted during a refurbishment. The ‘in-house’ welders undertaking the work had not been given instructions to follow for the safe refitting of the doors. Additionally the company had no monitoring system to ensure this safety critical matter was picked up before the skip left the workshop.

The company was fined £3,300 for breaching the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations and £2,600 for breaching the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.

HSE Inspector Graham Tompkins said: “This was a foreseeable accident that had the potential to cause serious and even fatal injuries. It was easily preventable through simple communication and a basic monitoring system to ensure the safety critical instructions had been adhered too.

“”HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way.””


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