Luton companies ignored warnings on electrical equipment

Date:

7 September 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-E-25

Three Luton car repair companies have been fined a total of £4,000 for failing to act on electrical defects in their workshops - exposing their workers to a serious risk of injury.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) yesterday prosecuted Azhar (aka Aziz) Mohammed (trading as ANS Bodyshop and AMS Spares) for failing to comply with improvement notices served on 1 May 2009.

Meanwhile Izhar Ul Haq (trading as BM's Repair Centre) and Asif Butt (trading as Hydeny Autos) and were convicted and sentenced for a similar offence respectively on 23 July and 23 August 2010. All three companies are based on neighbouring sites in Empress Road, Luton.

Luton Magistrates' Court heard how the electrical equipment in the three companies' workshops were defective, creating a risk of electrocutions, electric shock, fire or even explosions in such potentially hazardous environments.

When HSE carried out follow up checks on the notices in October 2009, inspectors found that all three companies had failed to arrange for tests or examinations of the defective electrical system and had not carried out any remedial work or otherwise adequately maintained the equipment.

Mr Butt and Mr Mohammed admitted breaching Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to act on the improvement notices. Mr Butt was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £742.40 while Mr Mohammed was fined £1,500 with costs of £742.40.

Mr Ul Haq pleaded guilty to two breaches of the same section. He admitted failing to act on the improvement notices and failing to arrange maintenance examinations of a car hoist which was found to be defective. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £742.40.

Investigating HSE Inspector Stephen Manley said:

"Improvement notices are served for a reason - to correct failures of a business to properly protect workers or members of the public. We will not tolerate our notices being ignored.

"These three men completely ignored their legal responsibilities under a direct instruction, leaving workers and others at risk.

"It is not acceptable for any company to expose workers to these unnecessary risks."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
2. Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 provides that "if an inspector is of the opinion that a person is contravening or has contravened one or more statutory provisions he may serve on him a notice [...] requiring that person to remedy the contravention within such period as may be specified in the notice."
3. Izhar Ul Haq, 32, resides on Marlins Road, Luton, Beds
4. Asif Butt, 32, resides on Runley Road, Luton, Beds
5. Azhar (aka Aziz) Mohammed, 36, resides on Beechwood Road, Luton, Beds
6. For more information about electrical safety at work, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm

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