HSE | A Manchester-based construction company has been fined after workers were put at risk of exposure to asbestos.

A1 Property Maintenance Management Limited was acting as the principal contractor during work at the former Unicorn Public House on Liverpool Road, Eccles, Greater Manchester.

During a routine inspection to the site on 16 May 2022, a HSE inspector discovered that 12 square metres of asbestos insulation board (AIB) had been present in a dumb waiter lift shaft – but had already been illegally removed by unknown individuals. This led to the inspector issuing a prohibition notice stopping all work on site until an asbestos survey had been completed.

Previously, after noticing the pub door had been broken into, a site worker had entered the building, where they discovered what appeared to be asbestos debris in the area around the lift shaft. The debris was later wrapped and removed by a licensed asbestos removal contractor.

However, A1 Property Maintenance Management Limited failed to carry out a full asbestos survey to confirm that all asbestos-containing materials had been removed before allowing further construction work to take place.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(6) of The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. It was fined £5,360 and ordered to pay £5,117 in costs at a hearing at Tameside Magistrates’ Court on 30 July 2025.

Speaking after the hearing, a HSE spokesperson said: “This was a serious incident and put those working in the building at risk of being exposed to the harmful effects of asbestos.

“Duty holders are reminded of the need to review without delay an asbestos assessment if there has been a significant change in the premises to which the assessment relates.”

The prosecution was supported by HSE enforcement lawyer Sam Crockett and paralegal Hannah Snelling.

HSE | A worker suffered serious injuries after falling from a flat roof that did not have any edge protection.

It was the second time Gary Smith, trading as GJ Smith Roofing, had failed to provide edge protection on a job, with HSE previously taking enforcement action against him.

Smith pleaded guilty following the incident on 15 December 2022, when a team of roofers and labourers were working on his behalf, replacing a flat roof on a house in the Luton area.

At around 11am, one of the workers was carrying large wooden boards across the roof, when he inadvertently stepped off the edge of the roof falling a distance of about 10 feet. He suffered a fractured vertebrate in his back and a broken ankle.

The HSE investigation found the task had not been properly risk assessed and planned which meant that edge protection around the flat roof had not been put in place, despite it being reasonably practicable to do so. Following HSE intervention, edge protection was installed before work re-commenced.

Gary Smith of Watling Street, Dunstable, pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 4(1) of the Work At Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £2,125 and ordered to pay costs of £5,445.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tim Nicholson said: “Clearly Mr Smith hadn’t learnt from his previous failures. Sadly, this latest offence resulted in a man being seriously injured.

“What makes this incident even more frustrating is the fact it could so easily have been avoided by properly planning the task and ensuring that suitable edge protection had been put in place prior to work starting.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Julian Ward and paralegal officer Helen Hugo.

Attorney General’s Office | A bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl after falling asleep at the wheel under the influence of drugs has had his sentence increased following the Solicitor General’s intervention.

Martin Asolo-Ogugua (23), from Peckham, South London, had his sentence increased by two years and eight months after the Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP referred the case to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

The court heard that on the morning of 3 August 2024, Asolo-Ogugua was driving a bus in Bexleyheath before falling asleep at the wheel.

The bus drifted across the carriageway and mounted the pavement as Ada Bicakci was riding her bike with her family.

Ada’s family managed to jump to safety, suffering only superficial wounds, but Ada was left with catastrophic injuries. Ada was taken to hospital but sadly died two days later.

Asolo-Ogugua failed a drug test at the scene, having taken cannabis the night before.

CCTV inside the bus showed Asolo-Ogugua yawning, opening the window for fresh air, and appearing to close his eyes frequently.

In a Victim Personal Statement, Ada’s parents said Ada was a beautiful child with a huge, kind heart, who loved to help those in need.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said: “Martin Asolo-Oguagua’s selfishness needlessly took the life of a young girl, causing irreparable damage to a family. I welcome the court’s decision to increase his sentence and would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Ada’s family.”

Martin Asolo-Ogugua was sentenced for four years’ imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by careless driving when over the prescribed limit on 9 June 2025.

On 6 August 2025, his sentence was increased to six years and eight months after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

HSE | A conservatory manufacturer and installation company has been fined £40,000 after an employee fell through the roof of a first-floor orangery home extension.

Leslie Baker was one of several employees of Atrium Conservatories Limited, working to install an orangery extension covering the footprint of a former first-floor balcony at a house in Abberley, Worcestershire on 9 February 2024.

While working on the roof trusses, Mr Baker, who was 56 at the time, stepped onto an unguarded opening for a future skylight, resulting in him falling approximately two metres to the floor below. He sustained a serious head injury, several broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and kidney damage. He remained intubated in hospital for approximately two weeks before surgery could be attempted.

The long-term impact on Mr Baker has been profound both physically, as his mobility has been affected long term, and mentally as he has since been diagnosed with PTSD.

Investigating, the HSE found that no external scaffold had been put into place around the perimeter of the extension to provide safe access or prevent falls to the ground below. Additionally, there were no measures in place internally to prevent falls into the extension.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death and HSE has detailed guidance on working safely at height and managing construction activities.

The HSE investigation also found that Atrium Conservatories Limited had failed to properly plan the work and to provide its workers with suitable instructions for carrying out their duties safely.

Atrium Conservatories Limited of Kington, Herefordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £5,309 in costs.

HSE Inspector Jo Quigley said “Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death.

“This incident could have easily had fatal consequence and it highlights the importance of undertaking a thorough assessment of the risks for all work at height activities. Suitable control measures, such as internal crash deck, should also be implemented to minimise the risk of serious personal injury.

“Every company that carries out building alterations must understand they are undertaking construction work; and therefore ensure they put in place suitable control and management measures throughout the duration of the work to the same standards as the wider construction industry.”

This prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Julian White and paralegal officer Rebecca Withell.

Environment Agency | East Midlands Airport Ltd has been prosecuted for allowing discharges of drainage water containing aircraft and runway de-icing fluid.

At Derby Crown Court, the company was fined £892,500 for three offences of breaching environmental permits for the airport site near Nottingham, contrary to the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016. They were also ordered to pay costs of £65,687.54.

The court was told that the offences had occurred between 14 January 2022 and 4 February 2022.

The airport’s operation potentially causes water pollution through the discharge of surface water drainage containing residues of de-icing fluid from aircraft and runways.

The discharge must therefore meet quality limits as set out in the airport’s environment permit. These limits are calculated to protect the environment.

Any failure to meet these limits is therefore likely to have a chronic impact on the watercourse and result in a deterioration in water quality.

The airport’s environmental permit allows a discharge of site drainage containing a maximum level of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) of 15 mg/l.

BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic matter in a water sample and is indicative of the level of organic pollution.

However, an investigation by Environment Agency officers found that the company had significantly breached this limit on three separate occasions.

In mitigation, the company, which changed management in 2022, said it had actively engaged with the Environment Agency to improve the situation.

The court was told that the company has a poor history of permit compliance.

Prior to this case there have been 13 separate permit breaches at East Midlands Airport since 2006, resulting in 10 written warnings.

BBC News | Dragon Wood Homes Ltd and its director, Paul Whyman were served an enforcement notice in relation to Cliff House in Chevalier Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk in 2017.

In 2018, “multiple serious deficiencies” were identified, with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) investigators ruling there was a risk of rapid fire spreading throughout the building.

At Ipswich Crown Court, Whyman was given a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, while the company was fined £40,000.

Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for public health and public protection, said the court’s decision sent “a clear message”.

“We will not tolerate developers or property owners who ignore their legal responsibilities and put people’s lives at risk,” he said.

Both Whyman, 54, and the firm were also ordered to pay £15,000 each in legal costs within 12 months by judge David Pugh.

They were sentenced after previously pleading guilty to failing to comply with a fire enforcement notice issued by SFRS.

Cliff House, previously a hotel, was converted into a six-storey block of 26 apartments in 2017, but the conversion did not meet the required fire safety standards.

The court heard how Whyman and the company had repeated opportunities to rectify the issues, but they failed to undertake the necessary work.

“While we are pleased that justice has been served, it is deeply regrettable that it took this level of enforcement to reach a resolution,” added Mr Wiles.

“Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has acted with patience and professionalism throughout this lengthy process, always with the safety of residents at the heart of their actions,” he added.

The enforcement notice remains in force and fire safety deficiencies continue to affect the premises.

A fire service spokesperson said: “SFRS remains committed to protecting the public will continue to support residents of Cliff House while monitoring the ongoing safety concerns at the premises.”

HSE | A rogue gas fitter from Norfolk has been jailed after carrying out unsafe gas work at a residential property while suspended from the Gas Safe Register.

Antony Clifton, from Wymondham, was sentenced to 46 weeks in custody after he carried out unsafe gas work while falsely claiming to be a member of the Gas Safe Register. He worked at a home in Drayon, Norwich in January 2022, but there was a gas escape on the inlet to a cooker that had been fitted the day before by the 52-year-old.

The HSE’s investigation found that Clifton had left the appliance in a condition where gas was leaking, and emergency repair work was required. Clifton had previously been served with a prohibition notice by the HSE following unsafe gas work.

Further information and guidance on domestic gas health and safety is available.

Antony Clifton, a director of CS Appliance Repairs Limited, of Exige Way, Wymondham pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(7) and 5(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) 1998 Regulations. He was sentenced to a total of 46 weeks in custody and was ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Martyn Webb said: “Antony Clifton knew that he was not registered and should not carry out any gas work.

“However, he showed a blatant disregard to this fact and his illegal actions meant the people living in that house could have been killed.

“Homeowners and tenants should check for Gas Safe registration before allowing work to commence on their appliances and refuse entry to individuals who cannot prove they are registered.

“All gas work must be done by a registered Gas Safe engineer to ensure the highest standards are met to prevent injury and loss of life.”

Environment Agency | The Environment Agency has prosecuted Welsh Water for breaking conditions of an environmental permit at a Herefordshire sewage treatment works seven times in a five-month period, in breach of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

At Kidderminster Magistrates Court, Welsh Water was fined £24,000 for exceeding permitted levels of sewage effluent from the Clehonger Sewage Treatment Works near Hereford. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £11,835.86 and a surcharge of £181.

Sewage treatment works treat raw sewage to produce an effluent which is discharged without damaging the local watercourse. At Clehonger, the water is discharged into the Cage Brook which is a tributary of the River Wye.

The court was told that officers from the Environment Agency were alerted to an issue following routine sampling results in November 2020.

The environmental permit states that Welsh Water must not discharge effluent containing more than 18 milligrams/litre of ammonia on more than two occasions in a 12-month period.

Results showed that in a five-month period from 23 November 2020 to 17 April 2021 the limit had been exceeded seven times ranging from 18.2 mg/l to 26.2 mg/l.

Officials from Welsh Water told the Environment Agency that the company was aware of additional loading coming into the site from a new development.

In mitigation, Welsh Water said that it had spent a significant amount of money to improve the infrastructure at the site, adding that since this incident there had been no further issues or breaches of permit condition.

HSE | A company in the West Midlands that reclaims and processes textiles has been fined £300,000 after one of its workers was hit by a telehandler.

The man, now 42, suffered serious injuries to his legs in the incident that happened on 23 March 2023 at a factory belonging to JMP Wilcox and Company Limited at Beldtray Works in Bilston.

Stills from CCTV footage captured the scene moments before the 39-year-old man was struck. He had been using a ride-on electric pallet truck inside the factory building. The pallet trucks are used for transporting goods of clothing to sorting lines and other areas around the factory.

The man and his supervisor had been finding stock in the ‘goods-in’ area. He was using his pallet truck to return an empty cage when he was hit by a telescopic handler that was being driven by another employee.

The HSE’s investigation found that the company failed to properly manage vehicle movements on site. This included organising the workplace in such a way as to ensure the safety of its employees, both pedestrians and those using vehicles.

JMP Wilcox and Co Limited of Beldray Road, Bilston pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £300,000 with costs of £7,732.

HSE inspector Gail Bell said: “This incident highlights the dangers to safety from inadequate management of workplace transport. A man suffered very serious injuries due to the failure to put suitable control measures in place.

“These measures ensure people are kept safe at work and specifically prevent them being struck by a moving vehicle.”

This HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Andy Siddall and paralegal officer Melissa Wardle.

HSE | A Norfolk-based food wholesaler has been fined £66,000 after an employee’s leg had to be amputated after he was injured while loading a lorry.

The worker was loading an HGV using a pallet truck at Osprey Foods Limited, in Holt, Norfolk on 5 July 2023.

The HGV pulled away while the man was still inside the trailer, causing both him and the pallet truck to fall between the loading dock and the rear of the vehicle. The injuries he sustained were so severe his leg had to be amputated.

An investigation by the HSE found that Osprey Foods had not taken appropriate measures to control vehicle movements on their site. The traffic light system used to tell the HGV drivers when it was safe to move their vehicles had broken several weeks prior to the incident and had not been repaired. The traffic light remained green during the loading process, meaning that the driver pulled away thinking it was safe to do so and unaware that the man was still in the back of the vehicle.

Osprey Foods Limited, of Holt, Norfolk, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The company was fined £66,000 and ordered to pay £5,850 in costs at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.

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