Health and safety warning issued to businesses

Following the prosecution of a company in Thetford, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has urged companies to more effectively manage safety risks in the workplace.

In a move which could prompt some to invest in personal protection equipment, the HSE fined Tulip Ltd £265,000 due to a number of health and safety regulation breaches.

According to the regulatory body, Michael Warnes – an employee of the company – lost three fingers in a machine that was found to have been lacking in adequate guarding in October 2005.

A month later, a contractor was subjected to a severe electric shock when changing a light fitting on the same site and in February 2006 Tulip was found to be in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for allowing people to use walkways without adequate guardrails over a suspended ceiling.

Commenting on the case, Steve Gill, HSE inspector, said: 'The company has exposed their employees to potentially dangerous situations and HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way.'

The HSE was give sole responsibility for promoting better workplace health and safety in April this year.


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