Norfolk company fined for assessment breach

Date:

6 December 2012

Release No:

HSE-E-107

The owner of a Norfolk aggregate site has been prosecuted for failing to complete a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for moving rail wagons without a locomotive.

King's Lynn Magistrates' Court heard today (6 December) that during a site visit to Sibelco Ltd, in Leziate, near King's Lynn, in November 2010, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) identified that although a risk assessment had been completed, it was unclear and failed to address all the hazards associated with the activity.

Sibelco Ltd, of Station Road, Leziate, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £10,203 in costs after admitting breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Steven Gill said:

"This prosecution underlines the importance of companies suitably assessing and controlling risks associated with workplace transport - whatever form this takes.

"Although in this case a risk assessment had been carried out, it was not deemed to be suitable and sufficient."

Further information on assessing and managing risk can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/risk

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to prevent 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states: "Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of - (a)the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and (b)the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking, for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions and by Part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997."

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