Police Force Held Guilty for Accidental Shooting of Staff
In yet another case instituted by the HSE for failure to observe safety regulations at the workplace, a police force and an officer have been fined after a civilian worker was shot during a practice session.
The accident took place at
Micklethwaite used ammunition from a sweet tin kept in the forces’ armoury. However, the tin contained live ammunition and he ended up picking live bullets for the practice session. After he had loaded the revolver with the bullets, he tried demonstrating the rotation of the cylinder by firing. The revolver fired live bullets at one of the control room staff named Keith Tilbury in the abdomen. The worker received grave injuries and was rushed to hospital where he stayed for over 20 days, including 10 days in Intensive Care Unit. He has still not recovered completely form the injuries.
The incident was followed by an investigation by the HSE, wherein it was found that a risk assessment had already been carried out that covered the issue of usage of live and non-live ammunition, especially when they are mixed. However, the force did not follow the safety procedures after its assessment, which included arms and ammunitions to be in control of an experienced person.
When the hearing took place recently at Southwark Crown Court, the police force as well as the officer was charged with breach of safety regulation. The officer pleaded guilty to the charges of violating Section 7 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and he was asked to pay £13,000, inclusive of the fine as well as costs.
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