Continual rising trend for negligent employers

An £850,000 fine for a Bradford-based double glazing company after a worker was injured is part of a trend for rising costs for employers found to be negligent when it comes to lone worker monitoring.

Safestyle UK was hit with the fine by Sheffield Magistrates’ Court after a worker who was installing a window in Doncaster fell from a ladder and broke his kneecap. The prosecution, led by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), claimed Safestyle UK failed to ensure the employee was using a safe ladder and that the company had no system of lone worker monitoring or supervision in place.

Tom Morton, CEO of Safe Shores Monitoring, said successful prosecutions brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) were subject to greater fines by courts and local authorities following the introduction of new guidelines.

He urged employers to review their health and safety procedures in order to ensure they met their duty of care requirements to avoid being hit by fines as well as protecting their most valuable asset – their people.

Mr Morton said: “A recent report found that both the number and value of fines from prosecutions brought by HSE almost doubled last year to £73.2million following the implementation of new guidelines.

“The massive £850,000 fine for Safestyle UK shows that HSE is taking breaches even more seriously. Employers have both a moral and financial imperative to keep their employees safe, as well as have systems in place to react quickly in the event workers are injured or threatened.

“Mobile monitoring technology can be used effectively to assist in mitigating risks and supporting first responders with response and investigations. Everyone has a right to feel safe.”