Car repair companies fined £4,000 for ignoring electrical defects
15:53 - 03/08/2010
Car repair companies fined £4,000 fo...
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted three car repair companies for exposing their workers to a serious risk of injury by failing to act on electrical faults in their workshops.
All three companies, based on neighbouring sites in Empress Road, Luton, had been served with improvement notices in 2009 after HSE Inspectors found that the electrical equipment in their workshops was defective and therefore created a risk of electrocutions, fire or even explosions.
Follow-up checks carried out in October 2009 revealed that that the companies had failed to act on the notices and had not arranged for tests, examinations or repairs to be carried out on the defective electrical systems.
Azhar Mohammed, trading as ANS Bodyshop and AMS Spares, was charged with failing to comply with improvement notices served to him on 1st May 2009. He was ordered to pay a £1,500 fine plus costs of £742.40 after he admitted breaching Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Izhar Ul Haq, trading as BM’s Repair Centre, and Asif Butt, trading as Hydeny Autos, were each convicted for similar offences. Mr Butt also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was ordered to pay £742.40 in court costs on top of a £500 fine. Mr Ul Haq admitted failing to act on the improvement notices and neglecting to arrange proper maintenance examinations of a car hoist which had been found to be defective. He was fined £2,000 and also ordered to pay court costs of £742.40.
Stephen Manley, the investigating HSE Inspector, said: “These three men completely ignored their legal responsibilities under a direct instruction, leaving workers and others at risk.
“It is not acceptable for any company to expose workers to these unnecessary risks.”
First Response Training offer a wide range of health and safety training courses that can help companies identify their responsibilities and learn how to manage risks and work safer, to avoid ending up in a situation similar to that cited above. Check out the website or call to speak to one of their experienced sales team to discuss which training course, from Essentials of Health and safety, to Statutory Fire Training, is right for you.
First Response can also offer an e-learning course specifically aimed at the dangers of working with electricity and electrical equipment. E-learning and Business Development Manager, Pete Stock, explains: “Every year in the UK, there are thousands of reports of injuries which are incurred as a result of an electric shock, electric arcing, explosions or fires caused by electrical faults.
“Our Electrical Safety e-learning course is interactive, just 25 minutes in duration and is fantastic for induction or refresher training. It provides delegates with information about electricity at work, electrical equipment, electricity and the body and portable equipment. It is a must for all workers who are exposed to electricity and electrical equipment at work.”
For more information, call First Response Training today.
All three companies, based on neighbouring sites in Empress Road, Luton, had been served with improvement notices in 2009 after HSE Inspectors found that the electrical equipment in their workshops was defective and therefore created a risk of electrocutions, fire or even explosions.
Follow-up checks carried out in October 2009 revealed that that the companies had failed to act on the notices and had not arranged for tests, examinations or repairs to be carried out on the defective electrical systems.
Azhar Mohammed, trading as ANS Bodyshop and AMS Spares, was charged with failing to comply with improvement notices served to him on 1st May 2009. He was ordered to pay a £1,500 fine plus costs of £742.40 after he admitted breaching Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Izhar Ul Haq, trading as BM’s Repair Centre, and Asif Butt, trading as Hydeny Autos, were each convicted for similar offences. Mr Butt also pleaded guilty to breaching Section 21 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was ordered to pay £742.40 in court costs on top of a £500 fine. Mr Ul Haq admitted failing to act on the improvement notices and neglecting to arrange proper maintenance examinations of a car hoist which had been found to be defective. He was fined £2,000 and also ordered to pay court costs of £742.40.
Stephen Manley, the investigating HSE Inspector, said: “These three men completely ignored their legal responsibilities under a direct instruction, leaving workers and others at risk.
“It is not acceptable for any company to expose workers to these unnecessary risks.”
First Response Training offer a wide range of health and safety training courses that can help companies identify their responsibilities and learn how to manage risks and work safer, to avoid ending up in a situation similar to that cited above. Check out the website or call to speak to one of their experienced sales team to discuss which training course, from Essentials of Health and safety, to Statutory Fire Training, is right for you.
First Response can also offer an e-learning course specifically aimed at the dangers of working with electricity and electrical equipment. E-learning and Business Development Manager, Pete Stock, explains: “Every year in the UK, there are thousands of reports of injuries which are incurred as a result of an electric shock, electric arcing, explosions or fires caused by electrical faults.
“Our Electrical Safety e-learning course is interactive, just 25 minutes in duration and is fantastic for induction or refresher training. It provides delegates with information about electricity at work, electrical equipment, electricity and the body and portable equipment. It is a must for all workers who are exposed to electricity and electrical equipment at work.”
For more information, call First Response Training today.
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