HSE investigation leads to prosecution and fine for glass company

An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has led to a company being prosecuted for putting its employees at risk of suffering accidents at work.

Intercity Glazing Systems - which was established in Bradford in 1998 - was found to have forced its workers to operate on a job which left them exposed to a potentially-fatal fall of six metres in May 2009.

According to the HSE study, certain pieces of essential equipment - such as tower scaffolding and guardrails - were either not present or being used incorrectly, meaning that the company was forced to halt work on the project.

During a trial at Bradford Magistrates' Court, the firm pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which resulted in it being fined £10,000 and meant it was ordered to pay costs of more than £2,500.

HSE inspector David Welsh commented: "When a business expects work at height to be done using particular work equipment it has a duty to ensure that workers use that equipment safely."

Posted by Helen Jones
 

24/09/2010 16:14