Suspended prison sentences over safety


The director of a Port Talbot furniture factory and three of its managers/shareholders have received suspended prison sentences for ongoing health and safety failings.


Swansea Crown Court heard how the factory of Margam Hall Upholstery Limited in Henshaw Street, Port Talbot was included in the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) programme of visits to woodworking premises, which are considered a high risk industry because of dangerous machines and hazardous substances including wood dust and glues.


The visit highlighted a number of health and safety concerns at the factory in early 2015 including poor control of wood dust, no maintenance of work equipment including fume and dust extraction and noisy conditions. There were inadequate toilet and washing facilities. 


Ten Improvement Notices were served on the company in February 2015, and despite ongoing intervention by the HSE, there was little progress and conditions remained poor. Seven of the Improvement Notices were not complied with.


Judge Geraint Walters said: ““The operation the four of you were engaged in was nothing short of a ticking time bomb in relation to the health and safety of employees.”


All four were given 10-month suspended prison sentences, fined £2,500 each and disqualified from being a company director for five years.


http://press.hse.gov.uk/2016/four-receive-suspended-jail-sentences-for-health-and-safety-failings