An engineering firm in Aberdeen has been fined for safety failings after an apprentice was injured by a pressurised hose.

The teenager, who was 16 at the time, was working for Alfred Cheyne Engineering Ltd, trading as ACE Winches, at its Turriff premises when the incident occurred on 25 July 2012.

Banff Sheriff Court heard the company was pressure-testing a hose when the apprentice was struck in the back and fell to the ground. He was taken to hospital with cuts and bruises, but made a full recovery.

A subsequent investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the incident had been caused when a section of the hose broke free from its coupling as it had not been tightened enough.


There had also been similar failures in the past, but the court was told that testing procedures had not been changed. In addition, the company had also failed to provide formal training to staff carrying out the testing.

Niall Miller, HSE Principal Inspector, said: "This incident could have easily been avoided if Alfred Cheyne Engineering Ltd had carried out a risk assessment for the pressure testing of hose assemblies, which would have identified the safety measures required to reduce any risks.

"The need for pressure testing to be segregated from other work and for employees not to be allowed to approach any equipment while it is under pressure is well documented in guidance, which is readily available.

"In this case the young apprentice was lucky to receive only cuts and bruises, his injuries could have been a lot worse."

Alfred Cheyne Engineering Ltd deals in equipment for the offshore oil and gas, marine and renewable energy industries. The company was fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

(JP/CD)