June Grenfell tower fire

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Grenfell tower fire At the time of going to press, 79 people are believed to have been killed at the Grenfell tower fire in West London. Which occurred on 14 June.

1 Grenfell tower fire At the time of going to press, 79 people are believed to have been killed at the Grenfell tower fire in West London. Which occurred on 14 June. A number of injured remain in hospital and emergency services are continuing the search for bodies. Emergency services were called to the fire at the block of flats in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea just before 0100 hrs on Wednesday 14 June. The blaze was not under control until 0114 hrs on Thursday - 24 hours later. The fire is believed to have started on the fourth floor and spread quickly. A total of 65 people were rescued from the building by firefighters. Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered a full public inquiry into the blaze. Meanwhile, the police have launched a criminal investigation. The tower was built in 1974 by Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council. An 8.6m refurbishment was completed by Rydon Construction in May The work included new exterior cladding, replacement windows and a communal heating system. The bottom four floors were also remodelled, creating seven additional homes and improvements to communal facilities. At the time of the fire there were 127 flats across 21 residential floors and three levels of mixed use. Fire safety experts have pointed to cladding on the building as a possible reason the blaze spread so quickly. Footage has shown the fire travelling up one side of the building, before engulfing the entire block. The cladding had a metal outer coating and an expanded foam interior. This polyethylene - or plastic - core is less fireproof than other alternatives. But the UK's national fire safety organisation, the Fire Protection Association said this type of cladding - when properly fitted and with its polyethylene insulation expertly encapsulated - should resist fire. However, even Some exterior cladding can create cavities which, in some cases, can cause what's known as "a chimney effect", drawing flames up the cavity if there are no fire barriers.

What is the chimney effect? Roofing company fined Study IOSH Managing safely for less We need to wait for the investigation report before concluding what went wrong at the Grenfell tower blaze.

2 What is the chimney effect? Roofing company fined Study IOSH Managing safely for less We need to wait for the investigation report before concluding what went wrong at the Grenfell tower blaze. But several commentators have mentioned the possibility of a chimney effect facilitating the spread of the fire. A chimney effect occurs when flames are drawn into a cavity as illustrated bellow. Inserting barriers into the cavity is an effective way of mitigating the risk posed by the chimney effect. Building interior Cavity A roofing company has been sentenced for safety failings related to working at height. Brighton Magistrates Court heard how numerous concerns were raised by members of the public about work being carried out by G & S Roofing Limited. The company twice ignored written advice to address the issue of working at height in an unsafe manner. In August 2016, a further concern was raised by a member of the public who contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after seeing more evidence of operatives hired by G & S Roofing working unsafely from height. Inspectors then visited the site. You can now study IOSH Managing safely with us online for: 145+vat for 1 user 145+vat per user for 2 to 9 users 145+vat per user for 10 to 49 users 125+vat per user for 50+ users You can also make great savings with our IOSH Managing safely bonus bundle. Find out more at Fire drawn into cavity External cladding The HSE investigation found one of the operatives to be working on the flashings of a chimney from a ladder resting on the pitch of the roof at the unguarded gable end of the two storey house. There were no suitable measures in place to prevent a person falling from the gable end, a fall which could have caused personal injury. A prohibition was served but the company took no action to rectify the dangerous working conditions. G & S Roofing Ltd was found guilty in its absence to breaching Regulations 4(1)(a) and 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by virtue of Regulation 3(b). The company was fined a total of 80,000 and ordered to pay costs of 4,574.

Fine following uncontrolled fire Study IOSH Working safely for less You can now study IOSH working safely with us online for: 65+vat for 1 user 64+vat per user for 2 to 9 users 62+vat per user for 10

uk Vertellus Specialties UK Limited has been fined after an uncontrolled fire at the company s Seal Sands premises in Middlesbrough.

3 Fine following uncontrolled fire Study IOSH Working safely for less You can now study IOSH working safely with us online for: 65+vat for 1 user 64+vat per user for 2 to 9 users 62+vat per user for 10 to 49 users 60+vat per user for 50+ users You can also make great savings with our IOSH Working safely bonus bundle (see below). Find out more at Vertellus Specialties UK Limited has been fined after an uncontrolled fire at the company s Seal Sands premises in Middlesbrough. Teesside Crown Court heard the fire occurred at the premises in the early hours of 14 May The fire involved large quantities of dangerous substances including Vitride, which led to this fire being declared a major incident. The Vitride was in drums and each one burst open causing a large fireball. No one was injured as a result of this fire, but police declared a major emergency and the road was closed for several hours. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Cleveland Fire Brigade found that Vertellus failed to adequately maintain its equipment; and failed to ensure the equipment was suitable to control temperature or prevent ignition to an uncontrolled release. Vertellus Specialties UK Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations The company was fined 135,000 and ordered to pay costs of 37, Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Stephen Britton said: Luckily no one was injured as a result of this uncontrolled fire. Duty holders, particularly those who could be subject to a major incident, need to carry out robust planning to prevent and control major accidents. All engineering disciplines should be used, using outside assistance if needed. Here, there was a failure to recognise how a leak could develop into a larger problem.

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5 Fine following heights rescue failings Fine for ignoring enforcement action Fine after worker suffers burns A North East based contractor Pyeroy Ltd has been fined due to failings in their work at height rescue planning. Plymouth Magistrates Court heard that on 21 October 2013 Mr Keith Stevens, aged 57, was helping to dismantle temporary roofing at Devonport Naval Base using a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP). His colleagues found him trapped between a roof beam and the controls of the MEWP. There was a delay in Mr Stevens being lowered to ground. Mr Stevens died of a pre-existing heart condition. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Pyeroy had not properly planned the work on a MEWP in restricted overhead areas. It was also found that other Pyeroy employees had not received suitable training in the emergency lowering procedure of the elevated platforms and no practice drills had been carried out. Pyeroy Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations The company was fined 130,000 and ordered to pay costs of 14, Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Helena Allum said: If Pyeroy had trained other employees to use the mobile elevated work platform in emergency situations, Mr Stevens would have been lowered to the ground more swiftly. This case highlights the need for duty holders to properly plan all work at height beforehand, including emergency planning and rescue situations. Hatchmere Park Ltd has been fined after failing to comply with enforcement safety notices. On 12 March 2015, a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector visited the construction site at Falcon Park, Devon and observed serious health and safety failings. Exeter Crown Court heard the HSE visited the site after being alerted of unsafe construction work taking place by the Local Authority, and noticed residents were being put at risk as some homes were at risk to falls taking place, with nearby walls creating drops of two to four and a half metres, with nothing in place to prevent falls from happening. An investigation by the HSE and Torbay Council found multiple safety failings. There was overall a failure to take reasonable steps to manage the construction work without risk to the health and safety of both workers and residents. The company failed to comply with improvement notices served by both the HSE and Torbay Council, relating to site security including the fencing, perimeter and signs that identify the construction site. Hatchmere Park Ltd pleaded guilty to a total of eight charges laid by both HSE and Torbay Council for a failure to comply with the enforcement notices and for breaching Regulation 9 (1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations The company also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations The company has been fined a total of 90,000 and ordered to pay costs of 25,000. Two companies have been fined after a worker suffered extensive burns to his face, arms and hands as a result of an electrical incident. Newcastle Crown Court heard the 28-year old man who was employed by Park, Gate and company Ltd (PGC), suffered extensive burns on 21 December 2014 while he was carrying out electrical work for Armstrong World Industries Limited (AWI) at a site in Gateshead. The employee cut a live cable which caused serious burns to his face, arms and hands. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found both firms failed to adequately identify whether the cables were live or dead prior to work commencing. It was also found that Park Gate failed to provide employees with a specific safe system of work. Park, Gate and Company Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined 80,000 and ordered to pay costs of 13, Armstrong World Industries Limited, of Armstrong House, Market Square, Uxbridge pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined 400,000 and ordered to pay costs of 13, Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Victoria Crofton said: There were serious failures on the part of both companies in this case. Electricity supplies should be made dead and proved to be dead before work starts.

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Fine after worker scalded Bouncy castle accident pair charged Worker falls through fragile skylight A waste company has been sentenced after one of its workers received severe burns to his upper body

7 Fine after worker scalded Bouncy castle accident pair charged Worker falls through fragile skylight A waste company has been sentenced after one of its workers received severe burns to his upper body and face. SUEZ Recycling and Recovery Tees Valley Ltd operates the site at Haverton Hill, Stockton-On-Tees. It processes waste and turns it into energy by burning it. Teesside Crown Court heard how the worker was injured on 17 October 2014 when he was seriously scalded by hot ash and water. Following a blockage on one of its lines the injured person opened two hatches on a chute which takes the burnt waste away. He used a metal pole to dislodge the blockage. In doing so the waste dropped into a pit filled with water and a plume of hot ash and steam erupted from the hatches causing severe burns to his upper body and face as he turned to escape. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to adequately consider the risk that workers were exposed to during this task. This meant the system of work they had wasn t sufficient to stop the incident happening. It was also found the company failed to implement appropriate systems to manage and supervise this workplace activity. This meant the limited measures they had put in place were not followed. SUEZ Recycling and Recovery Tees Valley Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act The company was fined 220,000 and ordered to pay costs of 12, Two people have been charged with manslaughter after a seven-year-old girl died when the bouncy castle she was playing on blew away. Essex Police said fairground workers Shelby Thurston, 25, and William Thurston, 28, had been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence. The pair, from Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, have also been charged with failure to discharge a general health and safety duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act They are due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court towards the end of June. Summer Grant, from Norwich, suffered serious injuries at a funfair in Harlow, Essex, in Paramedics were called to Harlow Town Park but Summer died in hospital. At the opening of an inquest into Summer s death last April, Chelmsford Coroner s Court heard high winds had taken the dome-shaped inflatable some distance. A Stranraer based groundwork company has been fined after a worker fell more than seven metres through a fragile roof. Stranraer Sheriff Court heard the 42-year-old had been subcontracted by McKeown Groundworks Limited, to carry out roof repairs on a barn at Whiteley s Farm, Stranraer. On 24 May 2016 the worker arrived at the farm to work on the roof. As he walked along the roof he stepped on a translucent light panel which broke under his weight resulting in his falling through the roof to the ground below. The worker suffered a compression fracture of the lower back as a result of this incident. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that McKeown Groundworks Limited failed to adequately supervise this work at height and relied on the experience of the workers to avoid injury while working at height. It was also found that McKeown failed to plan the work at height and therefore no control measures had been put in place to prevent workers falling from or through the roof. McKeown Groundworks Limited was fined 12,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Helen Diamond said: McKeown s failings resulted in serious injuries which could have easily been prevented had the company planned the work at height. Planning the work at height would have included an assessment of the risks and ensuring that suitable and sufficient measures were in place to prevent falls from height.

Property developer and foreman guilty of gross negligence manslaughter Brexit 'will enhance' UK wildlife laws A Brighton property developer and his site foreman have been found guilty of gross

Following the visits, Oakes had attended safety training, including some specifically related to working at height.

8 Property developer and foreman guilty of gross negligence manslaughter Brexit 'will enhance' UK wildlife laws A Brighton property developer and his site foreman have been found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after a carpenter fell to his death when the plank he was standing on snapped. Following the visits, Oakes had attended safety training, including some specifically related to working at height. However, the court was told that despite this and additional advice from the HSE, standards subsequently deteriorated at the site. Clarke fell 4.5m through a first floor void on 30 September 2014 as he walked across a plank carrying a load that weighed been 20 and 30kg, according to the BBC. Michael Holland, 69; his development company Cherrywood Investments; and 46 year old foreman Grant Oakes were also all found guilty on 8 June of breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 after a trial at Lewes Crown Court. The HSE had stopped work at the site, the conversion of a former stable block in Stanmer Park, Brighton into housing, a year before carpenter David Clarke, 55, fell to his death. The court heard that inspectors found poor standards of work at height. They found numerous openings in the first floor, through which people could fall several metres. The inspectors also found that workers on site had not been given adequate training. He sustained serious head injuries and was airlifted to St George s Hospital in Tooting, London. He died on 28 October. Holland, of King s Road, Brighton; Oakes, of Elm Drive in Hove; and Cherrywood Investments will be sentenced at a later date. Gail Purdy from the Crown Prosecution Service said: This has been a complex case to bring to court. In addition to the manslaughter charges, careful consideration had to be given to additional charges under health and safety legislation. To do this, we had to prove there had been a total failure by the individuals and the company to undertake their responsibilities for the safety of their employees on site. Both men visited the site regularly and would have seen the conditions, which included work being carried out with voids that someone could fall through, but they did nothing to prevent this happening. Mr Holland completely failed to grasp his personal responsibilities and even went as far as to blame the victim for his own death, despite having previously been advised by the Health and Safety Executive of the measures that needed to be taken on site. Any Brexit changes to the UK's wildlife laws will increase - not reduce - environmental protection, Michael Gove has pledged. The new Environment Secretary said he wanted to enhance current rules safeguarding nature wherever possible. He said he would discuss shifting the use of farm grants after 2022 in order to enhance the countryside. Environmentalists welcomed his promises, but some are sceptical whether they will actually be met. Mr Gove made his comments to BBC Farming Today.

Tesco fined 8m for fuel leak that polluted waterways and sewers Tesco Stores Ltd have been fined a total of 8million at Preston Crown Court 5million for a health and safety charge and 3million for an

Petrol entered the sewerage system with the odours affecting residents up to 1km away causing people to seek medical attention with headaches and sickness.

Around 7,000 litres was later recovered at the site and the remainder escaped into the sewer system and watercourse.

9 Tesco fined 8m for fuel leak that polluted waterways and sewers Tesco Stores Ltd have been fined a total of 8million at Preston Crown Court 5million for a health and safety charge and 3million for an environmental offence following a fuel leak from one of its petrol stations, which polluted waterways and sewers. filling tank at a petrol station in Haslingden operated by Tesco. Petrol entered the sewerage system with the odours affecting residents up to 1km away causing people to seek medical attention with headaches and sickness. The odours remained in the homes for a number of days. About 23,500 litres of unleaded petrol leaked from the tank over a 29 hour period. Around 7,000 litres was later recovered at the site and the remainder escaped into the sewer system and watercourse. The incident, which occurred in July 2014, sparked a huge multi-agency operation involving the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council, United Utilities, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Police. The incident had a massive impact on the local community and environment with residents having to leave their homes due to petrol odours coming from the sewer network. The Environment Agency s joint investigation with partners found that the incident resulted from Tesco s failure to address a known issue with part of the fuel delivery system and an inadequate alarm system. The situation was compounded by poor emergency procedures. Between Wednesday 2 July and Thursday 3 July 2014 approximately 23,500 litres of petrol escaped from a petrol Tesco Stores Ltd pleaded guilty to causing a water discharge activity not under and to the extent authorised by an Environmental Permit, contrary to Regulation 12(1)(b) and 38 (1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations A guilty plea was entered at an earlier hearing at Burnley Crown Court on 12 September There was a further indictment led by Lancashire County Council: Contravention of Regulation 6(8) of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR) 2002 contrary to s.33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act A guilty plea was also entered for this charge. Tesco Stores Ltd were fined a total of 8million at Preston Crown Court; 5million for the health and safety charge and 3million for the environmental offence. They were also ordered to pay Environment Agency costs of 35, and (approx.) 22,000 to Lancashire County Council. County Councillor Albert Atkinson, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council with responsibility for Trading Standards, said: This was a major leak of fuel in a relatively built-up area and close to a busy superstore. The potential consequences are only too obvious. The fact that the leak was allowed to continue for more than 24 hours undoubtedly contributed to a risk of harm to people living and working nearby, as well as emergency services and other professionals attending the incident. To receive the HSQE newsletter each month, just send an to: newsletter@hsqe.co.uk Past copies of the HSQE newsletter are available from:

Editorial. Victoria. Absolute Shocker. Reported incidents. Visit us on the web. Traffic Management Focus

Editorial. Victoria. Absolute Shocker. Reported incidents. Visit us on the web. Traffic Management Focus Absolute Shocker Editorial Traffic Management Focus Barry Dunn, WorkSafe s Construction Program Strategy Manager writes about the traffic management focus, which commences on the 15 August 2016. The Safe