Canadian Occupational Safety | Two Alberta companies have been fined a combined $550,000 after pleading guilty to violating provincial occupational health and safety legislation in connection with a 2022 explosion that killed two welders at a tank storage facility north of Edmonton.

The incident happened on 12 November 2022, at an oil and gas development in northern Alberta.

Two workers were welding on top of a tank when an explosion occurred within a tank farm, according to the Alberta government.

The explosion claimed the lives of Greg Podulsky, 29, and Darcy Schwindt, 47, while the men were conducting work at the site operated by Tamarack.

Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd. and Peace Pipefitting Inc. each admitted to a single count under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act during a court hearing in Slave Lake.

Justice Robert Marceau accepted a joint sentencing submission that included both fines and creative sentencing measures.

— Accurate at time of publication | May 2025

Government of Western Australia | A hay processing company in regional WA has been fined $595,000 (and ordered to pay $5,510 in costs) over a serious injury to a worker.

HA Hold Co Pty Ltd pleaded guilty to failing to provide and maintain a safe workplace and, by that failure, causing serious harm to a worker, and was fined in the Northam Magistrates Court.

In January 2023, a leading hand was working under a labour hire arrangement at the hay processing plant at Carani in the Wheatbelt, operating a small hay press.

He climbed through an unguarded area onto the press’s conveyor belt to rearrange some hay bales that had become twisted in front of a chamber in which hay bales were cut in half.

He was pushed by the mechanical arm that pushes hay bales into the cutting chamber, and his leg became trapped in the chamber. His leg was fractured, and he suffered a degloving injury.

The conveyor belt did have interlocked gates on the opposite side from where this incident occurred, and opening these gates stopped the conveyor belt.

However, workers had previously accessed the conveyor belt while it was moving by reaching over the conveyor belt and pushing the twisted hay bales. This was faster and more convenient than walking around to the other side of the conveyor to the interlocked gates.

— Accurate at time of publication | May 2025

Cornwall Council | A self-catering holiday let business has been ordered to pay a total of £33,658 in fines and court costs after failing to adhere to fire safety regulations.

In October 2023, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service received concerns regarding the fire safety provisions at holiday accommodation known as Premier Apartments Flats 1 to 4 in St Ives.

During an inspection at the premises on the same day, the Fire Safety Inspector found multiple fire safety breaches including a lack of risk suitable risk assessments and inadequate fire detection.

Sentencing, District Judge Jo Matson said fire safety matters were extremely serious due to the risks that can occur. She added that those staying at the premises were on holiday and should be protected.

The court heard that following the inspection in 2023, the company had spent around £25,000 rectifying the issues raised.

Holiday Enterprises Limited was ordered to pay a fine of £22,660, a victim surcharge of £2,000 and £8,998 in costs. The company was given 28 days to make full payment.

Kathryn Billing, Chief Fire Officer at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Fire Safety Order is designed to protect life in the event of fire, and whilst prosecution is always a last resort, the case serves as a strong reminder to those with responsibilities that if they fail to meet their regulatory requirements or put people at significant risk in the event of fire, we will not hesitate to seek the highest sanctions possible.”

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

HSE | A Gloucestershire farmer has been fined after the shepherdess he employed was killed in a quad bike crash.

Laura Simmons was working alone on 2 June 2023, spraying weed killer along fence lines, using the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) at a farm in Charlton Abbots near Cheltenham.

The overloaded quad bike overturned. The 22-year-old was found by a jogger several hours later.

Laura, described by her mother as “lively, caring and adventurous,” died from fatal spine injuries. An investigation by the HSE found the ATV overturned due to an overloaded front rack, uneven tyre pressure, unstable load from lack of baffles in the spray tank and the potential for the spray lance to be used during movement.

Baxter, of Chedworth, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £6,161.72 costs at a hearing at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on 29 April 2025.

Laura’s mother paid tribute to her daughter from Shetland, saying: “She was a lively person who loved animals, was very caring, was a hard worker, was plucky, intelligent, practical, adventurous and she had a beautiful smile.”

After the hearing, HSE inspector Emily O’Neill said: “This was a tragic incident, and a much-loved young woman has lost her life. It could have easily been avoided with the right controls in place.

“We found several failures, so Mr Baxter’s previous suggestion that Laura was a victim of ‘unfortunate circumstances’ is, frankly, offensive.

“This prosecution highlights ongoing safety concerns in the agricultural sector, which remains one of Britain’s most dangerous industries for workers. Proper equipment, training and risk assessment are essential to protect workers.”

The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Arfaq Nabi and supported by paralegal officer Rebecca Foreman.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

HSE | A construction company has been fined after a kitchen fitter was crushed to death by a pack of concrete blocks at a site in the Cotswolds.

Martin Dunford, 33, was ‘very much loved’ by his family who say they miss him ‘every day’ since the incident on 23 January 2020. Martin was killed after being pinned against the side of a lorry loader as two stacks of concrete blocks fell onto him.

Martin had been working at Ebrington Rise, near Chipping Campden – a development of 16 three, four and five bedroomed houses being built by Piper Homes Construction Limited.

The HSE’s investigation found that Martin had walked around a lorry loader to talk to a driver about how long he would be on site, as he needed access to one of the properties being built. A stack of concrete blocks which had been placed on top of another stack of blocks, which was also supported by a wooden pallet, toppled over onto him, pinning him against the side of the lorry. He sustained severe internal and head injuries and died on site.

Piper Homes Construction Limited, who were the principal contractor on the site, had failed to ensure that a suitable, level storage area was provided for the safe offloading of construction materials. The company had also failed to ensure that wooden pallets in a suitable condition were used for the storage of construction materials and that persons were excluded from delivery areas.

Piper Homes Construction Limited, which is currently in liquidation, of Lace Market Square, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £5,236 in costs.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

United States Environmental Protection Agency | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a settlement for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act with Nalco Production LLC and Nalco Co. LLC.

The companies manufacture polymer blend chemicals at their facility at 6216 W. 66th Place in Chicago, Illinois. The companies will pay $401,300 in penalties.

EPA alleges the companies violated requirements to prevent chemical accidents by failing to develop and implement hazard assessments, provide process safety information, secure operating procedures, or conduct periodic inspections on equipment.

EPA also alleges the companies violated requirements to develop incident investigation and risk management plans.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

WorkSafe Victoria | A major construction company will spend more than a million dollars to improve health and safety outcomes after an unloading incident left a young man with life-threatening injuries.

Dromana Magistrates’ Court heard J Hutchinson Builders Pty Ltd, trading as Hutchinson Builders, had entered into an enforceable undertaking while facing a single charge of failing to ensure a workplace under its management and control was safe and without risks to health.

WorkSafe may reinstate the charges if the undertaking is contravened or withdrawn.

In August 2022, a truck driver employed by another company was delivering three large electrical switchboards to a Hutchinson construction site at Rosebud Plaza, assisted by his 21-year-old son.

As the driver’s son stood on the truck’s tray removing straps, a forklift struck the unsecured load, causing him and a switchboard to fall 1.6 metres to the ground.

The court heard the 770-kilogramme switchboard landed on his head and torso, causing life threatening crush injuries including skull, facial, and multiple other fractures, brain damage, and facial nerve palsy. He was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition and has since partially recovered, with ongoing physical and emotional impacts.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

Registered Gas Engineer | A Scottish local authority has been fined more than £13,000 after a carbon monoxide leak at a primary school in Bishopbriggs.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that a number of staff and pupils at Balmuildy Primary School reported feeling ill in February 2020, experiencing symptoms including headaches and nausea.

Throughout the day, several pupils were sent home and staff had to take medication to relieve their symptoms. The following day, testing for a gas leak revealed high levels of carbon monoxide present in areas of the school. The building was immediately evacuated.

An investigation by the HSE in conjunction with Gas Safe Register investigators found that one of the two auxiliary gas boilers at the site was leaking carbon monoxide into the boiler room and the school buildings. The investigation found this was due to a lack of maintenance.

If the faults with the boiler had been found before the incident through the required routine maintenance, it would have been classed as Immediately Dangerous. This would have necessitated the disconnection of the gas boiler until it was repaired.

East Dunbartonshire Council of Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 35 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. The council was fined £13,333 plus a victim surcharge of £999.98.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

WorkSafe Victoria | An industrial plastics manufacturer has been fined $75,000 after a worker suffered life-threatening crush injuries when his head was caught in machinery.

In December 2024, Class Plastics (Aust) Pty Ltd was fined $40,000 without conviction in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to a single charge of failing to maintain plant that was safe and without risks to health.

Following an appeal, the Melbourne County Court set aside the original sentence, instead convicting the company and imposing a $75,000 fine. The company was also ordered to pay $4,000 in costs.

In April 2022, a supervisor at the company’s Truganina factory was attempting to rectify an issue with a plastic blow moulding machine when his head was caught between a moving bar and the machine’s frame.

The man suffered a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull and intracranial bleeding which required immediate surgery.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

Canadian Occupational Safety | A ski resort in British Columbia has been fined $78,369.61 following a serious workplace incident in which an employee was severely injured.

While the worker was installing signage in a parking lot using a utility vehicle, the employee accidentally reversed the vehicle over the edge of an unguarded slope at the ski resort, resulting in a rollover crash that caused serious injuries.

Penalties, the agency added, are based on the employer’s payroll, the seriousness of the infraction, and their compliance history.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

HSE | A paddleboard business owner has been jailed for 10 years and six months for gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of four people in 2021.

Nerys Lloyd, 39, from Aberavon, who was the owner and sole director of Salty Dog Co Ltd, was charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of Paul O’Dwyer, 42, Andrea Powell, 41, Morgan Rogers, 24, and Nicola Wheatley, 40, following their tragic deaths following the incident in Haverfordwest Town Weir on 30 October 2021.

She admitted all four charges, along with one count under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act.

At her sentencing, the court heard how on 30 October 2021, Lloyd with the assistance of Paul O’Dwyer, planned a trip organised through Lloyd’s business.

However, there had been heavy flooding, and severe weather warnings were in place, which were not heeded by Lloyd. The river was running fast, and the weir was in an extremely hazardous condition. Lloyd did not check the weir or provide a safety briefing to the participants nor inform them of the presence of the weir. Despite this, Lloyd facilitated the paddleboarders entering the water and she led the group along the river.

As the group approached the weir, apart from Lloyd, all the participants were pulled over the top into its base and became trapped before being ejected from the weir. Four of the participants survived.

Instructor Mr O’Dwyer, who initially exited the river safely, re-entered the water in an attempt to rescue the others, but was immediately dragged over the top. The four victims died as a result of drowning/immersion.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025

HSE | A road haulage company in Nuneaton has been fined £90,000 after a metal heat exchanger fell from its lorry killing a cyclist.

A Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), operated by JW Morley Transport Ltd, was driving down College Street, Nuneaton on 18 June 2021 carrying four heat exchangers weighing over 10,000kg, when as it went round a bend, the load shifted in the vehicle causing one of the straps securing the load to snap.

This resulted in one of the heat exchangers falling from the lorry, killing 70-year-old Christopher Baker, who was cycling alongside the vehicle.

— Accurate at time of publication | April 2025