Marine firm fined for risking accident at workRSS Feed

The owner of a Falmouth-based marine company has been fined for safety failings that could have led to a fatal accident at work.

Kenneth Dunstan, trading as Mylor Marine Maintenance of Marlowe Bridge, was in breach of four diving safety regulations, potentially leading to an accident claim.

In May 2010, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors discovered that an employee of the firm, Benjamin Taffinder, was diving without suitable equipment or precautions having been taken.

He was diving without a second breathing cylinder, a standby diver, a lifeline, or a line for voice communications.

In addition, Mr Taffinder was not qualified to carry out commercial dives. Mr Dunstan was fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to breaching the safety regulations.

HSE inspector Bill Chilton said: "Working underwater can be unforgiving should anything go wrong. Therefore, diving projects need to be planned, the equipment needs to be suitable for the task and the divers and their support team need to be competent."

The news comes shortly after the HSE issued a warning for the industry after two shellfish divers were killed in separate incidents in inshore Scottish waters.

Serious Law, accident claim solicitors

 Posted by T B Walters

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