Coventry construction firm put workers at risk

Date:

1 April 2011

Release No:

WM227/11

A Coventry construction firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after repeatedly breaching health and safety regulations.

Coventry Magistrates' Court heard that an inspection carried out at Coventry Construction Ltd's Torrington Avenue premises, where an incident ten years ago resulted in a worker breaking every finger of one hand whilst operating a faulty radial arm drill, found a number of issues.

The unannounced HSE inspection on 23 November 2009 found inadequate guarding of drills and guillotines, poor control measures when spraying and storing flammable paint - causing potential fire and explosion risks - and inadequate storage of oxygen and acetylene cylinders.

HSE inspectors had previously given advice to the company and issued a prohibition notice for inadequate guarding of a radial arm drill. Despite this, and information about guarding machinery and proper practices concerning flammable paints being available, procedures were ignored.

At yesterday's (Thursday 31 March) hearing, the court heard the company had retained the services of health and safety consultants, who had written to them on six separate occasions highlighting various issues, but those concerns were also not addressed.

Coventry Construction pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £8,000 costs.

HSE inspector Pamela Folsom said:

"This company repeatedly ignored advice and information we issued to them which demonstrated a blatant disregard for the welfare of its workforce.

"The company had hired consultants to advise them on health and safety matters but failed to heed the advice given them in relation to machinery guarding.

"Employers need to take the health and safety of their staff seriously or like Coventry Construction could find themselves in the dock."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states:"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands.