Tradesmen urged to take more care
Posted on December 02nd 2009
Another firm has been handed a fine after failing to comply with health and safety laws set down in 1974. The company James Huntley & Sons from Southampton pleaded guilty after a worker was killed by a grab claw whilst in a van at a scrap yard. The company was fined £50,000 and was forced to pay around £35,000 in costs for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The court heard how the victim Barry Collins, 24, was in an out of bounds area of the site when the incident happened, although there were no signs indicating that he had entered a restricted area. It is essential that all construction companies should have clear notices, communication of site rules and high visibility clothing should be worn at all times. Failure to abide by these rules can result in a company receiving fines from the HSE or in the worst case, an accident involving an employee.
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