You probably heard about the Queen's asbestos problems earlier this week (and if you didn't, go and read the blog we wrote about it). Here are some other health and safety stories that didn't get quite so much attention this week...
Stafford Borough Council were hit with a £20,000 fine (plus costs) on Wednesday after an HSE inspection found that "a suitable risk assessment had not been carried out" at a local theatre. The investigation was carried out after a 33-year-old worker was injured in a fall at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre and left unable to work for more than two months afterwards.
*
A company in West Yorkshire has admitted to breaching health and safety regulations in relation to a fatal incident that occurred in late 2012. Keith Jarman, a 65-year-old man from Doncaster, was killed by a falling metal cage roughly two and a half years ago whilst making a deliver to an Oasis store in Hebden Bridge; the managing director of Oasis Limited entered a guilty plea on Wednesday, and the company will be sentenced in September.
*
Car manufacturers Hyundai are under fire in America, with the United Auto Workers union petitioning for health and safety improvements in the company's factories. According to Buzzfeed, the workers are particularly concerned about "exposure to unsafe chemicals" - read the full story here.
*
Finally, a couple of updates from Alton Towers, which is still reeling from the much-publicised Smiler crash earlier this month. The theme park has re-opened its gates since the accident, but visitors are complaining that too many attractions have been closed, with many suggesting that Alton Towers should lower their admission prices to reflect this.
According to the Express & Star, "Park-goers...have queued up for more than an hour for some attractions only to see them shut with no prior warning for safety testing." However, a representative for Alton Towers stated, "any delays that we are experiencing now are within our expected level."
Meanwhile, Joe Pugh - one of the people injured in the Smiler crash - was released from hospital on Tuesday; according to the Daily Star, Joe, his girlfriend Leah Washington (who had her leg amputated in the wake of the accident), and a third victim have all received payouts from the theme park's insurers.
More health and safety news and insight here.
