Inflatable play equipment must be checked
May 18, 2009
Inspectors of inflatable play equipment are being warned by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) that they must conduct comprehensive safety checks or face prosecution.
In June 2006, safety concerns expressed by Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council, regarding the safety of inflatable play devices, sparked HSE's investigation into the validity of safety certificates and inspections carried out by Peter John Morrell.
HSE's investigation uncovered instances, at Watton in Norfolk, Spennymoor in County Durham and Kingston-on-Thames, where Morrell had issued 'pass' certificates for inflatables, despite there being safety-related faults. In November 2008 HSE issued a Prohibition Notice on Peter Morrell legally preventing him from conducting further inspections until he has complied with the 'Schedule to the Notice'. HSE pursued its investigation of three specific instances in order to bring a prosecution case before the courts.
Several deficiencies noted with the inflatables showed that Morrell's inspections were not carried out in accordance with the relevant BSEN (British & European Standard). This standard is not the law but following it would usually be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the law. Although Morrell operated as an 'Inspector of Inflatables' he was not registered with any of the recognised authorities for the Inspection of Play Inflatables and Amusement Devices (such as PIPA and ADIPS) nor did he demonstrate his competence in any similarly accepted manner.
Morrell (74), of Prestatyn, pleaded guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday 15th May, 2009, to three charges of breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The judge imposed a conditional discharge of 12 months for the breach in the Kingfisher Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames and two years for each of the instances in County Durham and Norfolk. These conditional discharges are to run concurrently and the judge voiced that such serious health and safety breaches, aggravated by the risks to young children, would normally attract a substantial financial penalty but this was "not possible" given the state of Morrell's personal finances which also reflect his inability to receive remuneration from inspecting inflatables due to the Prohibition Notice served on Morrell by HSE.
In June 2006, safety concerns expressed by Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council, regarding the safety of inflatable play devices, sparked HSE's investigation into the validity of safety certificates and inspections carried out by Peter John Morrell.
HSE's investigation uncovered instances, at Watton in Norfolk, Spennymoor in County Durham and Kingston-on-Thames, where Morrell had issued 'pass' certificates for inflatables, despite there being safety-related faults. In November 2008 HSE issued a Prohibition Notice on Peter Morrell legally preventing him from conducting further inspections until he has complied with the 'Schedule to the Notice'. HSE pursued its investigation of three specific instances in order to bring a prosecution case before the courts.
Several deficiencies noted with the inflatables showed that Morrell's inspections were not carried out in accordance with the relevant BSEN (British & European Standard). This standard is not the law but following it would usually be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the law. Although Morrell operated as an 'Inspector of Inflatables' he was not registered with any of the recognised authorities for the Inspection of Play Inflatables and Amusement Devices (such as PIPA and ADIPS) nor did he demonstrate his competence in any similarly accepted manner.
Morrell (74), of Prestatyn, pleaded guilty at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday 15th May, 2009, to three charges of breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The judge imposed a conditional discharge of 12 months for the breach in the Kingfisher Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames and two years for each of the instances in County Durham and Norfolk. These conditional discharges are to run concurrently and the judge voiced that such serious health and safety breaches, aggravated by the risks to young children, would normally attract a substantial financial penalty but this was "not possible" given the state of Morrell's personal finances which also reflect his inability to receive remuneration from inspecting inflatables due to the Prohibition Notice served on Morrell by HSE.
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