Call us on 0844 324 5840

NEWS & RESOURCES

Waste company director banned after repeated health and safety failings

In a recent case, relating to health and safety, the director of a waste transfer company has been banned from being a company director after being found guilty of exposing employees to unsafe working conditions.

Preston Crown Court heard evidence that in November 2018, Mr Mohammed allowed his workers to continue to use a poorly maintained and damaged telehandler.

Mr Mohammed already has a previous conviction for transport-related health and safety offences that followed a fatal accident in 2013 and further enforcement action in 2017. Despite this, he allowed workers to continue to use the extremely damaged machine on a waste transfer site in Blackburn.

Health and safety investigation

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the telehandler had been used without a camera, mirrors and working reversing lights. This presented a serious danger and could lead to people becoming stuck and seriously injured as the driver would not be able to adequately see when  reversing the vehicle.

Mr Mohammed from Blackburn pleaded guilty under Section 37 to breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He received a six months prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and 190 hours of unpaid work and six rehabilitation days. Mr Mohammed was also banned from working as a company director for the next five years.

In the waste and recycling industry, transport incidents are a major cause of serious and fatal injury. Each year, there are more than 5,000 workplace accidents involving transport. While around 50 of these incidents result in death, the main causes of injury are people being crush or stuck by vehicles or by falling off them.

Previous convictions

In 2013, Mr Mohammed and his firm, Blackburn Skip Hire, were instructed to pay £80,000 in costs and fines after one of his employees was crushed to death. The employee died while using a skid steer loader to move rubbish. Mr Mohammed’s company had bought a second-hand skid steer loader at auction but failed to ensure its safety features were working correctly.  As the restraint bar was not working after having been disabled, the controls could still be used even with no one sitting in the cab. The engine’s minimum speed had also been increased, while a further fault meant the vehicle could suddenly reverse unexpectedly. The employee died from injuries to the back of his head.

SHARE THIS:

Instagram

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Looking for advice?

GET IN TOUCH

Got questions? Looking for advice?

RELATED RESOURCES

Explore our comprehensive library of related resources to gain valuable insights, expert tips, and helpful tools for optimising your HR practices.

01
Sexual Harassment – Complying with the New Statutory Duty
Online Training
11 October 2024
02
GAS SAFETY WEEK 2024 | Workplace Gas Safety Guidelines
Insights
11 September 2024
03
UK Riots 2024: Protecting Your Workforce
Insights
12 August 2024

Request a Call from an HR Advisor

Our expert HR Advisors are here to assist you. To schedule a complimentary 30-minute call, please complete the form below. One of our advisors will reach out within 24 hours to either conduct the consultation or arrange a suitable time.

SIGN-UP FOR UPDATES

Receive all the latest industry insights, expert tips and exciting updates from HR Solutions, straight to your inbox.

Strategic HR thinking whitepaper

Our latest HR whitepaper offers an in-depth analysis and strategic framework aimed at transforming Human Resources into a pivotal element of business success in the rapidly evolving corporate environment of 2024.

PARTNER REGISTRATION

Register your details below and we will contact you regarding how HR Solutions can support your organisation.

MAKE A GENERAL ENQUIRY

We’re here to assist you with any questions or enquiries you might have. Simply fill out the form below, and our dedicated team will get back to you.

var iframe = document.getElementById('pageurl-general-popup-6'); iframe.src = iframe.src + "?Form_Completion_Page=" + window.location.pathname + "&" + window.location.search.substr(1);

REQUEST A PROPOSAL FROM US

We’re here to assist you with any questions or enquiries you might have. Simply fill out the form below, and our dedicated team will get back to you.

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Please complete the form and one of our team will call you back to discuss your query/booking.

Request your free trial

Register your details below and we will contact you about your 30 day free trial of the HR Knowledge Base.

REGISTRATION FORM

Register your details below and we will contact you about access to the HR Knowledge Base.  As part of your approved industry membership organisation you can get access to the HR Knowledge Base, created by Business HR Solutions, which is the go-to resource for thousands of business owners and managers across the UK.

2023/2024 SME BUSINESS SURVEY

Our latest 2023/24 SME Business Survey sheds light on the intricate dynamics shaping the SME sector and unveils critical insights that can guide businesses toward sustainable success.

IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE HR ADVICE LINE TIME, PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW.

HR Solutions are here to help. We offer a standard hourly rate package for ad hoc HR advice which means you can pay for what you need, whenever you need it, and then quickly get advice. Our highly experienced advisors are on hand to provide you with practical employment advice to help you manage your workforce.  You can purchase HR Advice Line time now, and the time purchased will be valid for 12 months.