Company Director fined and sentenced to community service

Subcontractor suffers serious burns after Director failed to complete appropriate health and safety checks 

A contractor was working at a house in Braintree when he suffered 55% burns to his body from the steam of a boiler fitted by Pure Flame Solutions.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Daniel Clark Director of Pure Flame Solutions carried out an installation of a boiler in a way that the safety critical elements – the pressure relief valve and expansion tank – could be isolated from the rest of the system, contrary to the manufacturers’ installation instructions. They continued to state that he had failed to complete appropriate checks on the system when ensuring it would be safe to commission.

Pure Flame Solutions Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They were fined £2000 and ordered to pay and ordered to pay costs of £2603. Daniel Clarke also pleaded guilty and ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.

The HSE officer stated on review of the case that the “serious incident could have been prevented had Daniel Clarke undertaken the necessary checks to ensure it was safe to commission the boiler”. Adding that “Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

But what does this mean for your business?

This case emphasises that HSE not only deem your business accountable for serious breaches of the Health and safety work act but also any individuals who cause serious breaches which subsequently which may cause life changing injuries.

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