Wales | Defence company fined £800,000 after man shot on MoD range

HSE | A defence technology company has been fined £800,000 after an employee was shot during testing of ammunition at a Ministry of Defence (MoD) range in South Wales.

The father-of-two was left paralysed below the shoulders after being shot by a 5.56mm bullet fired from a gun, 570 metres away. The incident happened on 25 March 2021 during a NATO ammunition quality assurance trial at the MoD Ranges in Pendine.

The now 42-year-old’s role had been to check the impact of bullets on a metal target and was in front of the target when the bullet was fired.

Employers are required by law to protect both their employees and others from harm and assessing the risk is just one part of the overall process. HSE guidance is available to explain what steps should be taken.

QinetiQ Limited of, Cody Technology Park, Ively Road, Farnborough, Hampshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The company was fined £800,000 and ordered to pay £8,365 in costs.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025