HSE prosecutions: 6 cases and £633,000 in fines, week of 26 Oct 2026
Industry news 4 min read Updated
HSE reported 6 prosecution cases in the week beginning 26 October 2026, with £633,000 in fines. The most common failure: machinery and work equipment. What went wrong and how to avoid it.
In the week beginning 26 October 2026, HSE reported 6 prosecution cases with £633,000 in fines. Most followed a worker being hurt or killed, and every one came down to a risk that wasn't managed. Here's what went wrong, and the training that stops it happening on your site.
This week's cases
- E H Hassell & Sons Limited fined £300,000 plus £5,690 costs after a lifting operation went wrong. Breach of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Read HSE's report
- Epco Energy Solutions Limited fined £20,000 plus £15,239 costs after electrical safety failings. Breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Read HSE's report
- Dlinexsign Limited fined £20,000 after a worker was hurt by unsafe machinery. Breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Read HSE's report
- Lunar Freezing and Cold Storage Company Limited fined £245,000 after a worker was hurt by unsafe machinery. Breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. Read HSE's report
- A company fined £28,000 plus £7,276 costs after a workplace transport incident. Breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Read HSE's report
- C Watkins Plumbing Limited fined £20,000 plus £8,270 costs after a fire safety failure. Breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Read HSE's report
What went wrong, and how to avoid it
Machinery and work equipment (2 cases)
PUWER (the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998) requires machinery to be suitable, maintained and properly guarded, and the people using it to be trained. Most guarding failures are found by a manager who knows what to look for: that's what IOSH Managing Safely and the NEBOSH General Certificate teach.
Training that covers this: Managing Safely, Working Safely, NEBOSH General.
We can also inspect your machinery and safe systems of work. Talk to us about consultancy.
Lifting operations (1 case)
LOLER (the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) requires every lifting operation to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out safely, with lifting equipment that is checked and thoroughly examined. Planning and supervising lifts is exactly what the controlling lifting operations NVQs prove.
Training that covers this: Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Controlling Lifting Operations - Supervising Lifts, Level 5 NVQ Diploma in Controlling Lifting Operations - Planning Lifts, SMSTS.
We can also review your lifting plans and procedures. Talk to us about consultancy.
Electrical safety (1 case)
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems to be safe and properly maintained, and any work on them to be done by competent people under a safe system of work. Managers learn how to control those risks on IOSH Managing Safely and the NEBOSH General Certificate.
Training that covers this: Managing Safely, NEBOSH General.
Workplace transport (1 case)
Reversing vehicles, forklifts and poor separation of people and vehicles cause many serious incidents. Employers must assess the risks, plan safe traffic routes and keep pedestrians apart from moving vehicles. Site managers and supervisors learn to plan and enforce that on SMSTS and SSSTS, and managers in any industry on IOSH Managing Safely.
Training that covers this: SMSTS, SSSTS, Managing Safely.
We can also audit your site traffic management. Talk to us about consultancy.
Fire and hot work (1 case)
Hot work such as welding and cutting, and poor fire risk management, cause serious fires on sites and in premises. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, and hot work needs a permit and proper controls. The NEBOSH Fire Certificate and the Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment cover both.
Training that covers this: NEBOSH Fire, Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment.
We also carry out fire risk assessments. Talk to us about consultancy.
A fine is only part of the cost
On top of the fine come legal costs, time lost to the investigation, the injured worker's absence, higher insurance and damage to your reputation with clients and principal contractors. Training your supervisors and managers costs a fraction of that, and competence is one of the first things HSE looks at after an incident: were the people planning and supervising the work trained to do it?
Book a place on a course date, train your whole team in-house at your site, or ask us for health and safety consultancy: RAMS, CDM 2015 support, audits and fire risk assessments.
Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence.
Published by Site Safety Training on 2 November 2026, last updated 6 November 2026. Course rules and card schemes can change: if you're unsure what applies to you, call 07939 593032 or check with the awarding body.