HSE clamps down on South Yorkshire businesses

Over the course of a week in January, 22 inspectors from HSE’s Yorkshire and North East Field Operations teams inspected 71 businesses in the Sheffield and Rotherham area. Of those visited 46 companies needed to make improvements to better protect the health, safety and wellbeing of workers in metal fabrication, engineering, general manufacturing and waste and recycling sectors

During the course of the week inspectors served three prohibition notices and 31 improvement notices. Examples of some of the breaches found included poor controls of welding fumes and metal working fluids.

In addition to where notices have been served, HSE has formally written to a further 23 local businesses to compel them to improve various aspects of health and safety.

Andrew Denison, acting head of operations said, “Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of workers is of paramount importance and at the heart of what we do.

The high proportion of breaches identified during this initiative indicates that the risks were not being adequately controlled.

Inspectors’ have taken robust proportionate action to deal with serious risks and to ensure companies are complying with the law.

I hope businesses will take note and understand that they will be held to account if they fail in their responsibilities.