Work stopped at eight Yorkshire firms after HSE visits

More than 70 firms across West Yorkshire have been told to make safety improvements to protect their workers after an intensive two-week inspection initiative.

Flammable liquids not being stored properly, missing or inadequate guards around machines and uncontrolled exposure to fumes from welding were some of the hazards identified by the HSE and local authority officers who visited nearly 450 companies across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Eight of the visits resulted in Prohibition Notices being served – meaning dangerous activities had to be stopped and action taken before work was allowed to continue.

In addition 63 premises were served with Improvement Notices that require businesses to correct or improve failings within a given timescale or risk further enforcement action.

One firm in Kirklees is under further investigation and could be prosecuted as a result of the serious dangers uncovered by inspectors.

HSE Principal Inspector, David Green, said:

"It's encouraging that the majority of businesses we visited did appear to be doing all the right things to protect their workers. However, despite making companies in the target areas aware, in advance, that we were carrying out inspections we did still find a significant number of unsafe working practices that put employees at risk of illness or injury.

"We always prefer to offer guidance and advice to business to help them operate within the law but we will take enforcement action when we find the health and safety of employees are being put at risk."