County Londonderry gas and heating company prosecuted for safety failings

A County Londonderry based plumbing and heating company has been fined after health and safety failings led to dangerous gas installations in several new build domestic properties at sites in County Antrim and County Londonderry.

The company was fined a total of £12,000 for failing to ensure gas work was carried out in a safe manner and in accordance with appropriate standards.

Kiara Blackburn, an Inspector with HSENI’s Major Investigation Team said: “All gas engineers have a duty to ensure the work they carry out in relation to gas installations is safe and without risk to any person including homeowners. All works must be carried out in line with appropriate standards, manufacturer’s instructions and in accordance with Gas Safe Register requirements.”

The investigation by HSENI focussed on the installation of corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) at the new housing developments. CSST although commonly used in the gas industry has specific installation requirements which must be followed to ensure gas installations are safe. The method of installation of the pipework was unsafe and not in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation requirements.

Belfast animal feed manufacturer prosecuted after worker loses hand

The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland has successfully led a prosecution against a Belfast animal feed manufacturer following an incident that resulted in an agency worker sustaining life changing injuries. The company pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court was fined a total of £40,000 for the offences.

The HSENI investigation found that the worker was carrying out maintenance on a grain roller machine in an attempt to clear a blockage when his right hand was drawn into two counterrotating rollers. The incident caused severe crush injuries to his hand which later had to be amputated above the wrist.

Speaking after the hearing, HSENI Inspector, Kiara Blackburn said: “This serious incident could easily have been avoided. It is essential that safe systems of work are developed and implemented to ensure the safety of employees and other people working near dangerous parts of machinery.

“During any maintenance activity, machines must always be safely isolated from energy sources to prevent inadvertent start-up.”