Failure to Prevent Access to Risk Areas Will Draw Penalty, Says HSE
December 16th, 2009Two unrelated fatalities arising from lack of barricades around risk areas owned by companies have prompted a call by HSE for attention to such risks. They have said that securing high-risk areas against unauthorised entry is of prime importance, given that serious accidents can occur in these areas. Companies across the
A fatal accident that took place in a brick quarry owned by Carlton Main Brickworks Ltd, located in Grimethorpe,
The owner of the quarry was at fault because there was no fencing around the area to prevent unwary persons from entering the quarry. As a residential complex was nearby, the owner should have put in place adequate security measures to ensure that children or adults did not wander inside. This was the contention of the investigators who presented the case before Sheffield Crown Court judges.
The company, Carlton Main Brickworks Limited, was charged with negligence of the rules outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,833. HSE investigators dealing with the case said that such untoward incidents can be easily prevented if the company in question takes all risk aspects into consideration.
Companies need to be sure that they are giving the correct instructions with effective policies around health and safety decisions. Workplace Law is a major provider of accredited health and safety training, with well established study programmes for IOSH and NEBOSH courses covering a full range of training from risk assessment to accident investigation to assist in the development and implementation of safety systems within the workplace environment.
