A recent case involving a Macclesfield firm illustrates the need for firms across all sectors to take heed of Health and Safety regulations. While they are especially important in public facing sectors such as healthcare, for instance, other organisations need to understand and comply with them.

Recently, the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted a Macclesfield-based manufacturer of draining products, Stormguard Ltd, after one of its factory workers became injured by an unguarded drill. The firm had ignored health and safety warnings, putting its workers at risk. It was subsequently fined £2,000 and had to pay £4,377 in legal costs.

Deborah Walker, the HSE inspector involved in the case, said: “There was simply no need for this incident to have happened, especially as Stormguard’s own health and safety officer had raised the issue with the company. […]The employee was lucky to escape with relatively minor injuries, but they could easily have been much worse. Workers at the factory were regularly using the drill without an adequate guard and while wearing gloves so there was a high risk that someone would be injured.”

A provider of Health and Safety training courses can help ensure regulations are followed, ensuring workers and members of the public are protected.