News
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AUGUST 2018 | 25
News
DIRECTOR JAILED AFTER EXPLOSION KILLED TWO BROTHERS
Simon Thomerson has been sentenced to 8 months in custody after pleading guilty to a health and safety breach that resulted in the death of two brothers.
Luton Crown Court heard how Mr Thomerson, the sole owner and director of Clearview Design and Construction Ltd, had been contracted by the owners of an industrial park in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire to refurbish several of the units.
Brothers Ardian and Jashar Lamallari had been employed as labourers and were working inside the unit at 16:45 on 3 October 2015 when an explosive fire occurred. Both brothers suffered near 100 per cent burns and died within 12 hours of the incident. A third man who was working with them also suffered severe burns but survived.
A joint investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary and the
Suspended sentence for South East scaffolder following unsafe work
A Kent-based scaffolder has been sentenced after unsafe working practices were observed during the erection of scaffolding.
Medway Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 19 August 2016, Mr Steven David Connolly was working at a site in Chartham, Kent when an inspector observed him employing unsafe working practices when erecting scaffolding.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive( HSE) found Mr Connolly was working unsafely and putting himself at serious risk
Health and Safety Executive( HSE) found that Mr Thomerson had supplied the three men with several litres of highly flammable“ thinners”, which they then poured onto the floor of the unit to remove old dried carpet tile adhesive.
The investigation found that Mr Thomerson had given no serious consideration to the safe use of the thinners, despite the obvious warnings on the containers. The vapour spread over an area up to half the size of a tennis court
of falling from the scaffold under construction. He ignored interjections of a HSE inspector, refusing to work safely and instead subjecting her to a torrent of abuse. Mr Connolly then left the scaffold in an unsafe and incomplete condition with no warning for subsequent users.
Mr Steven David Connolly of Greenacres, Lower Kingswood, and was ignited by one of several possible ignition sources that were in the area.
Sole owner and director of Clearview Design and Construction Ltd, Simon Thomerson of Sutherland Avenue, London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3
‘
no serious consideration to the safe use of the thinners, despite the obvious warnings on the containers
’
( 1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He received a custodial sentence of 8 months and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £ 170.
www. hse. gov. uk
Surrey pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 6( 3) and 8( a) of The Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He has also been subject to the condition of a curfew between 9am and 5pm at his home address for which he will be tagged and ordered to pay costs of £ 2,000.
NORTH WEST ROOFER SENTENCED AFTER FAILING TO MANAGE HEALTH AND SAFETY ON SITE
A Manchester-based roofer has today been sentenced after breaching health and safety laws.
Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 7 November 2017, Michael Anthony Roden( who also trades as M & R Roofing and Onyx Roofing) and his employee were contracted to carry out roof replacement work at Wheildons Butchers, Manchester. Mr Roden failed to implement any form of edge protection or scaffolding whilst the roofing work was carried out and did not have employers’ liability compulsory insurance.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive( HSE), found that Mr Roden had previously been served with two prohibition notices on two separate occasions with regards to working from a height with no suitable edge protection. Despite this, Mr Roden continued to work without appropriate scaffolding and, in doing so, put himself and his employee at risk of a fall from height, as well as members of the public who were at risk from any falling materials.
Michael Anthony Roden of Ribble Walk, Droylsden, Manchester pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months imprisonment suspended for two years, 240 hours community service and ordered to pay costs of £ 4,600.
http:// www. hse. gov. uk / work-at-height / index. htm