A SWINDON-based equipment hire company has been fined for continuing unsafe working practices and ignoring safety warnings from the Health and Safety Executive.

Chippenham Magistrates Court heard yesterday that HSE served four Improvement Notices on Rapid Hire (Swindon) Ltd, based in Devizes Road, on October 12 for failing to provide adequate training for operators or forklift trucks and telehandlers, and for failing to provide proper inspections for equipment available for hire.

The purpose of the Notices was to protect employees and customers from potential injury. Yet when an HSE inspector returned three months later to check compliance, he discovered that dangerous practices were continuing and three of the Notices had been ignored.

Rapid Hire was found guilty of three separate breaches of Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to comply with the notices.

The company was fined a total of £800 and ordered to pay £1,215.95 in costs.

Speaking after the prosecution, HSE inspector Ian Whittles said: “Rapid Hire blatantly ignored warnings and the Improvement Notices served to them, neglecting its duty of care to its employees and customers.

“Even though there were no reported incidents, serious safety breaches continued and these could easily have resulted in serious injury.”