In short: Insulation co had poor COSHH assessment

Open-access content Thursday 25th February 2016

From the archive: Just so you know, this article is more than 3 years old.

Natural Insulation's failings related to controlling substances hazardous to health

Natural Insulation (formerly Black Mountain Insulation) did not conduct an adequate assessment for processing hemp and failed to adequately guard machinery. The investigation was carried out following concerns raised anonymously.

At Wrexham Magistrates' Court, Natural Insulation, which specialises in construction products made from wool and hemp, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and Regulation 6 of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations. It was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £59,000.

Recycler overlooked orphan cylinder risks

Wednesday 17th February 2016

The pressurised gas cylinder arrived at Walter Heselwood’s site in Sheffield hidden inside a water tank. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Kirsty Storer explained that orphaned pressurised gas cylinders often turn up in waste streams destined for recycling sites. Orphaned cylinders do not belong to major companies such as Calor Gas, BP Gas, Flogas and BOC Industrial Gases, which have retrieval arrangements.

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In short: Exploding gas cylinder hit worker in the head

Monday 8th February 2016

A pressurised gas cylinder was put through a shearing machine for processing on 16 June 2009 when it exploded. Tony Johnson, 55, was hit in the head by a large section of the cylinder and died from his injuries. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) investigation found Walter Heselwood had not adequately assessed the risks from handling different types of scrap metal and failed to implement appropriate measures to minimise these risks, such as installing a blast wall.

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Packaging company left multiple pinch points

Thursday 17th March 2016

The worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, was employed by Signode, a division of ITW, as an electrical maintenance engineer at its Swansea, Wales, site. On 30 May 2013 he offered to help on the polyester sheet production line after one of the five people who were supposed to be on shift called in sick. As he was rethreading plastic into the pinch roller, his glove was caught and the machine dragged in his right hand. He pulled his hand free but his index finger was so badly damaged it had to be surgically removed below the knuckle.

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Badly designed gate fell and injured worker

Wednesday 24th February 2016

Merthyr Tydfil-based Advanced Gate manufactured and installed a gate system for Personal Hygiene Services (PHS) in Caerphilly. It featured two leaves – the first was driven by a motor and it powered the second via a chain and sprocket.On 30 September 2014 a PHS employee went to close the gate manually after the mechanism failed. As he pulled one of the leaves, it detached from the runners and fell on him. A vertical rail struck his leg, resulting in severe trauma tearing muscle and nerves. He was hospitalised for ten days and off work for 12 months.

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National Grid Gas pays £1m for main rupture

Monday 22nd February 2016

As we reported last month, three National Grid Gas workers and two employees from RS Services were deployed to Ashby Road, Scunthorpe to stop a gas leak. The fault was in the location of a previous repair on the pipe that first needed to be removed.

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In short: Improper guarding led to amputation

Thursday 3rd March 2016

An employee of ITW was repairing a broken piece of plastic sheeting by rethreading it into the pinch roller. His gloved hand dragged into the rollers and was crushed. The index finger on his right hand had to be surgically removed because it was so badly damaged. The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation into the accident, which happened on 30 May 2012, found ITW had not properly guarded machinery along the length of the production line, despite having identified the risks.

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Topics

Hazardous substances

Safe systems of work

Work equipment

Manufacturing and engineering

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