Leading firearms firm fined £800,000 after worker suffers burns in Lincolnshire
HSE investigation finds multiple breaches of safety regulations
GMK Limited, one of the UK’s leading firearms distributors, has been fined £800,000 following an incident at its Lincolnshire site where a worker sustained burns due to unsafe practices.
The 36-year-old woman was injured while disposing of pyrotechnic waste, suffering burns to her hands, face, and legs when the material ignited.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that GMK Limited had not conducted a risk assessment or provided suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) and allowed the disposal of pyrotechnic waste in an unlicensed area of the facility.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 7 of the Explosives Regulations 2014.
The court heard that the incident occurred due to a failure to adhere to established safe methods, opting instead for an informal disposal practice used repeatedly without proper oversight.
HSE Inspector Philip Smith criticized GMK Limited for failing to implement safe working practices, noting that the injuries were avoidable.
Smith stated, "This young woman’s injuries could have easily been avoided with the implementation of safe working practices and use of the correct PPE."
He expressed hope that the substantial fine serves as a deterrent against neglecting worker safety.
The case was prosecuted by HSE advocate Tom Ledden-Rocks, with enforcement lawyers Laura Lax and James Towey contributing to the proceedings.