A waste firm in south-east London has been prosecuted after it repeatedly put its employees at risk of injury, possibly even death, from use of heavy machinery that was often left in a dangerous condition.

On 5th of November, Westminster Magistrates heard that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had to serve Greenwich-based Murphys (Waste) Ltd with a total of ten enforcement notices between 2009 and early 2014.

The most serious breaches related to defects in machines which presented a ‘risk of death or serious personal injury to employees and people on site’.

HSE told the court the latest two failures, relating to a loading shovel and a 360 degree excavator, had prompted the prosecution of the company in light of their poor safety record.

It is completely unacceptable that a company should have regularly exposed its workers to possible serious injuries through the use of such dangerous equipment. ~Ann Mahoney

It was found that during an annual inspection by an engineer in Oct 2013, several defects were noted with the loading shovel. The worst defective reported was that of extensive damage to the bolts fixing the front bucket to the machine, which as a result could have led to the bucket falling off and crushing anyone nearby.

Murphys (Waste) Ltd was advised not to use it until repairs were carried out but were later found to have kept it in use until a further visit by HSE in January 2014, when a prohibition notice was served to halt any further use of the vehicle.

In a visit just days later, HSE identified an excavator was being used but had neither its left-side mirror or rear mirror in place, severely restricting visibility of the driver while moving about the site, again posing a risk to other workers. HSE served a further prohibition notice on the company preventing its use.

The court was told that on top of these two breaches, the company had been inspected by HSE six times over five years resulting in eight enforcement notices. Two of these had related to defects on a shovel loader and one had required the firm to introduce a proper system for maintenance of the vehicles.

Murphys (Waste) Ltd of Horn Lane, Greenwich, SE London, was fined a total of £6,000 and ordered to pay £1,287 in costs after admitting two offences under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

After learning about this story Ann Mahoney, head of personal injury at M R Law commented:

“Sadly, waste disposal and recycling is one of the main industries in which employees suffer injuries through accidents at work. It can be a dangerous enough job, even when a company maintains a good safety record, so it is completely unacceptable that a company should have regularly exposed its workers to possible serious injuries through the use of such dangerous equipment.

It is important any employer keeps all work vehicles and equipment in a good state of repair, whatever the job and failure to do so leading to an employee suffering an injury often forms the basis of many personal injury claims through accidents at work.”

Link to the original story: http://press.hse.gov.uk/2014/south-london-waste-firms-dismal-safety-record/