Garage Prosecuted after Putting Workers at Risk

A garage in Barking has been prosecuted because it allowed workers to use unsafe electrical equipment to carry out repairs on cars.

The prosecution occurred after the garage owner was told to stop using a two-post vehicle hoist until repairs were made to exposed live cables and terminals.

However, it was discovered four months later that workers at the garage had not been told to stop using the equipment and were at great risk of electrocution as the equipment was still being used.

The garage owners pleaded guilty to breaking the Health and Safety at Work law and were given a fine of £4000 and £2000 in costs.

HSE maintain that it is very lucky that no one was seriously hurt or even killed and said that equipment which has been banned from use is banned for extremely good reasons.

This story resulted in no one actually getting hurt but it could have been a very different story and one which hopefully will make business owners realise the importance of following the law.

Written by Sara Thomson