Company facing hefty £20,000 fine due to apprentice sustaining severe burns during vehicle repair work
In a court hearing on Thursday 18 September, Morris Marine & Motors Ltd was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs for offences under the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989. The fine stems from an incident that occurred at the company in July 2023, where an apprentice suffered severe burns while working.
The court heard that Morris Marine & Motors Ltd failed to discharge its duty of care under Article 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989. The company was found to have failed to provide adequate training and supervision, and to have neglected appropriate risk management measures.
The accident occurred while the apprentice, who had been employed by Morris Marine & Motors Ltd for just under two months, was using a blow torch in the vicinity of a flammable cleaning product during boat bilge cleaning activity. The company's risk assessment did not account for additional risk factors such as the apprentice's youth and inexperience.
Furthermore, the Health and Safety Inspectorate identified several significant failures at Morris Marine & Motors Ltd contributing to the incident. These failures included a failure to assess hazards and risks associated with boat bilge cleaning activity, and a failure to utilize appropriate information sources to manage risks to health and safety.
The apprentice required treatment at Southampton Hospital for the burns sustained in the accident. It is unclear from available search results what specific measures have been taken by the occupational safety authority at Morris Marine & Motors Ltd following the work accident to improve employee health and safety.
The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Inspectorate for these offences. Morris Marine & Motors Ltd pleaded guilty to the charges in the court hearing. The company's management has not made any public statements regarding the incident or the subsequent fine.
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