07.15.10
Safety Equipment and Regulations Can Save Lives
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has always placed prime priority to safety and prevention of accidents. It has encouraged companies to adopt safety procedures and equipment to protect people from injuries and preventable deaths.
The Health and Safety at Work etc Act clearly lays down the requirements to be complied with for a safer workplace that ensures the safety and health of workers. Any negligence under the law and violation of regulations could lead to serious repercussions.
This truth was driven home when Comet Group plc was held responsible for the death of roofing contractor Mr. Paul Alker on 12 June 2007. Alker who was working on the rooftop of the retail store at Wrexham fell to his death when he stepped on a roof light. He wore no protective gear and the roof light was not protected. Alker was seriously injured with broken ribs, fractures and internal injuries that led to a fatal pulmonary embolism.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Comet Group plc and the company pleaded guilty. It had to pay a fine of £75,000. Under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 it was ordered to pay £24,446 in costs. The roofing contractor’s employer Steven Christopher Smith of Wrexham Roof Services Ltd was prosecuted too. He was charged with manslaughter and sent to jail for two and a half years. He was also accused of misleading the court and committing acts intending to pervert the course of justice.
HSE inspector Debbie John was clear that the death was preventable and that Comet should have ensured safety of its workers by providing them with adequate protection. The roof lights too were not adequately protected and were fragile. Simple steps would have ensured safety of the workers.
The entire incident was a black mark on safety regulations and the company has to be held responsible for the violation and death. This was a clear wake-up call to all organisations that are yet to take safety measures seriously.
Health and Safety training can be provided by reputable companies, such as Workplace Law; their range of accredited courses by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations. The IOSH Managing Safely course is for managers and supervisors in any sector and any organisation. It’s designed to give managers all they need to know to help handle health and safety in their teams.
