The fines and costs which may flow from a safety related incident can be significant, not to mention the reputational stigma which the company will suffer. We set out below examples of recent prosecutions which give a flavour of the sentences handed down following conviction. For further information on any of these cases please do not hesitate to contact Rhys Griffiths of our Corporate Risk Management Group.
Developer and sign company fined for advertising sign collapse |
Injury: |
Permanent brain injury |
Fines: |
£300,000 (SGSL) |
Companies: |
St George South London Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£222,692 (SGSL) |
Source: |
HSE, 26 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Death |
Fine: |
£250,000 |
Company: |
Nolan Recycling Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£53,100 |
Source: |
HSE, 25 September 2013 |
Pharmaceutical company fined £100,000 after man sprayed by toxic chemical |
Injury: |
Sprayed with bromine; inhalation of corrosive substance, severe skin burns and damage to one eye |
Fine: |
£100,000 |
Company: |
Aesica Pharmaceuticals Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£7,803 |
Source: |
HSE, 20 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Death |
Fine: |
£50,000 |
Company: |
JA Jones & Sons |
Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£50,209 |
Source: |
HSE, 13 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Torn ear, three chipped teeth, nerve pain and several stitches to head |
Fine: |
£50,000 |
Company: |
Pyranha Mouldings Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£6,562 |
Source: |
HSE, 20 September 2013 |
Firm in court after two workers suffer devastating injuries within a week |
Injury: |
Severe injuries to abdomen; another worker had to have his leg amputated |
Fine: |
£46,500 |
Company: |
Hydro Pumps Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
n/a |
Source: |
HSE, 27 September 2013 |
Health board fined after failing to protect worker from attack |
Injury: |
Nurse attacked by patient; hair pulled out in large clumps |
Fine: |
£32,000 |
Company: |
Lothian Health Board |
Legislation: |
Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
n/a |
Source: |
HSE, 11 September 2013 |
Injury: |
None |
Fine: |
£30,000 |
Company: |
Merepark Construction |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£8,490 |
Source: |
HSE |
Injury: |
40 percent burns to upper torso and head |
Fine: |
£25,000 |
Company: |
Yacht Project Associates Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£65,000 |
Source: |
HSE, 27 September 2013 |
Machine safety - food for thought after worker loses finger tips |
Injury: |
Lost the tips from four fingers |
Fine: |
£18,000 |
Company: |
Oldfields Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£9,399 |
Source: |
HSE, 30 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Broken right leg in two places |
Fine: |
£12,000 |
Company: |
Firth Rixson Metals Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£7,024 |
Source: |
HSE, 1 October 2013 |
Company fined after toppling trolley severs worker's fingers |
Injury: |
Two fingers severed |
Fine: |
£12,000 |
Company: |
Noon Products Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£5,068 |
Source: |
HSE, 26 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Four fractures to pelvis, dislocated thumb and sustained soft tissue damage to left hand and both legs |
Fine: |
£11,000 |
Company: |
L&M Glazing Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£6,400 |
Source: |
HSE, 25 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Two skull fractures, a crushed left ankle and leg broken in four places |
Fine: |
£10,000 |
Company: |
F Brunton & Sons Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 |
Costs: |
£5,153.40 |
Source: |
HSE, 30 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Several fractures to ribs, shoulder blade and spine, as well as severe cuts to head. |
Fine: |
£10,000 |
Company: |
W Cooper and Son (Plymouth) Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£5,000 |
Source: |
HSE, 27 September 2013 |
Injury: |
Severed three fingers |
Fine: |
£6,667 |
Company: |
Armistead Engineering Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 |
Costs: |
£5,715 |
Source: |
HSE, 1 October 2013 |
Injury: |
None; fine for inadequate provisions for safe work at night |
Fine: |
£6,000 |
Company: |
RW Christopher Crane Hire Ltd |
Legislation: |
Section 2(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£1,904 |
Source: |
HSE, 11 September 2013 |
City council fined after teenager suffers electric shock at skate park |
Injury: |
Finger amputated |
Fine: |
£5,000 |
Company: |
Newport City Council |
Legislation: |
Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 |
Costs: |
£9,477 |
Source: |
HSE, 24 September 2013 |
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.