The owner of a textiles firm has been prosecuted after failing to demonstrate that up-to-date insurance was in place.

Merthyr Magistrates’ Court heard that William Cuthbert trading as BC Shirts, failed to provide evidence of Employer’s Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over a period of six months.

William Cuthbert, trading as BC Shirts, of Unit 4, Oaklands Business Park, Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf was charged with breaching the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 and was fined £1000 in total and ordered to pay costs of £9,143.35.

Speaking after the case HSE Inspector Wayne Williams said:

“Failure to provide suitable insurance puts workers at risk of not being adequately compensated in the event of an injury or illness sustained whilst at their place of work”

Information on ELCI requirements can be found here:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/get.htm

Notes to Editors:

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: legislation.gov.uk/
3. Further HSE news releases are available at press.hse.gov.uk.