Motorsport engineering firm fined following HSE inspection

A motorsport engineering firm based in Kent has been fined after Britain’s workplace regulator identified numerous health and safety breaches.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited Hispec Motorsport Limited - a specialist designer and producer of aftermarket brake upgrades for road, race, track, and kit cars. During their visits, the inspectors found serious breaches of the law and enforcement notices were issued.

The subsequent investigation found the business had not maintained work equipment and staff were seen operating Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines with safety panels removed allowing access to dangerous moving parts. A high voltage panel had been removed and machinery remained in operation. In addition, the company had done little to prevent employees from being exposed to water-mix metal working fluid mist, a known cause of Occupational Asthma and Occupational Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.

Hispec Motorsport Limited, of Watling Street, Dartford, Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of The Health and Safety At Work Etc Act 1974. The company was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay costs of £7,378 and a victim surcharge of £2,000 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 3 May 2024.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Sam Brown commented: “Our inspections identified multiple failings by this company to manage key risks associated with work undertaken in the engineering industry.

“Employees were using unguarded machinery and being exposed to hazardous substances that can cause debilitating respiratory diseases. Numerous interventions by our inspectors revealed a consistent failure to meet the minimum legal standards."

“This prosecution demonstrates that we will not wait for an injury or ill-health to occur before prosecuting.”

Click here to read the full HSE press release.

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