A series of health and safety breaches have resulted in significant fines and legal consequences for companies and individuals across the UK, Workplace Wellbeing Professional can reveal.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigations highlight the ongoing risks workers face, particularly in hazardous industries like construction and manufacturing.
From fatal falls and life-changing injuries to unsafe scaffolding and inadequate machine safety, the cases serve as a reminder of the importance of workplace wellbeing and employer responsibility.
Company and Manager Fined After Worker Falls 20 Feet to His Death
Surface Technik (Old Hill) Limited, in Dudley, West Midlands, and operations manager Robert Hammond have been fined following the death of Maciej Rozanski, 42, who fell through a fragile roof while dismantling a steel cleaning machine in Dudley on 29 June 2018.
An HSE investigation found that the work at height was not properly planned, risk-assessed, or supervised, and that employees were not trained for such tasks. Mr Rozanski fell over 20 feet to the ground and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Surface Technik, now in liquidation, was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £28,956 in costs. Hammond, who accepted responsibility for the lack of reasonable care, was fined £8,500 and ordered to pay £8,500 in costs.
HSE Inspector Sarah Smewin emphasised the dangers of working at height without proper planning and training, saying risk assessments, supervision and correct procedures were crucial to preventing such accidents. “This case highlights the risks of working at height from or near fragile roof surfaces and the importance of a risk assessment, proper planning, training and supervision.”
Firm Fined After Worker’s Legs Trapped in Machine
Pearson Hydraulics Ltd, which operates nationwide, has been fined after an incident at a customer’s premises in Plymouth left a 63-year-old engineer with life-changing injuries. The worker became trapped in a laser cutting machine, leading to the amputation of a leg and the risk of losing the other.
Pearson Hydraulics did not have a safe system of work in place for maintenance tasks and failed to provide adequate training, risk assessment or supervision, an HSE probe revealed.
The company was fined £96,333 and ordered to pay £10,701 in costs.
HSE Inspector Emma O’Hara said the company failed to ensure employees were trained and supervised properly, adding: “This incident could so easily have been avoided with the correct risk assessment and implementation of a safe working procedure.”
Scaffolding Company Fined for Unsafe Practices
A.I.M Access Solutions Ltd, of Liverpool, was prosecuted for unsafe scaffolding at a Merseyside housing development. Workers were forced to climb the structure itself due to the absence of a safe ladder, increasing the risk of serious falls.
An HSE investigation found that the scaffold had not been assembled correctly, and the company failed to provide proper access using a ladder.
A.I.M Access Solutions was fined £30,800 and ordered to pay £5,040.75 in costs.
HSE Inspector Sam Eves said A.I.M did not ensure the scaffold was constructed safely or provide a secure way for workers to reach the platform: “A.I.M Access Solutions Ltd did not ensure the tower scaffold was constructed correctly. The company failed to provide a safe way to get to and from the work platform — for example, using an appropriately designed internal ladder.”
Builder Sentenced After Fatal Fall of Asylum Seeker
Bradford-based self-employed builder Sarabjit Singh was sentenced after hiring an asylum seeker for casual labour without ensuring proper safety measures. On 25 August 2021, 29-year-old Eraj Rahanpour fell from unsafe scaffolding and later died from his injuries.
An HSE investigation discovered that Singh failed to conduct a risk assessment, provide safe access to the scaffold or ensure proper supervision.
Singh received a six-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay no costs.
HSE Principal Inspector Paul Thompson said the case was a tragic example of neglecting worker safety, particularly for vulnerable people. “This is an extremely tragic case where a vulnerable person seeking an opportunity to work sadly didn’t make it home that evening.”
Animal Feed Manufacturer Fined After Employee’s Arm Severed
AB Agri Limited of Driffield, East Yorkshire, was fined following an incident in which worker Bartosz Gaj lost his arm while clearing a blockage in an unguarded conveyor at the company’s Driffield site.
An HSE investigation revealed that operatives had not been properly trained in isolation procedures, and there was no system in place to check that safety features were in place before using the conveyor.
The firm was fined £566,000 and ordered to pay £6,410 in costs.
HSE Inspector Sally Gay said the injury could have been prevented by implementing proper risk assessments and safety procedures. “The life-changing injury Mr Gaj suffered could so easily have been avoided by properly assessing the risks, and applying the correct control measures and safe working practices.”