Company fined over £3,000 after worker falls from height
14:11 - 01/03/2010
Company fined over £3,000 after work...
A company based in Llandysul, West Wales, has been fined £1,750 and ordered to pay a further £1,374 in costs after an employee at its factory fell more than four feet.
Tregroes Waffle Bakery Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the incident which occurred on 28th November 2008. They pleaded guilty to breaching Section 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and, in addition to the fine, they were ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.
During proceedings at Llanelli Magistrate’s Court it was explained that the worker was using a structural girder as access for cleaning the side of a flour hopper when she fell more than four feet and suffered a fractured rib, bruising and a cut leg. Her fall was broken by a bulk container situated directly below; otherwise she could have plummeted twice the distance.
The HSE are currently publicising their Shattered Lives campaign which aims to raise awareness about the dangers of slips, trips and falls in the workplace as well as the significant effects these incidents have on the British economy each year.
Commenting on this recent prosecution, HSE Inspector Scott McKinnon said: “The employee was exposed to unnecessary risk as there was nothing to stop her falling. Many serious - and sometimes fatal - injures are caused by falls from distances below head height. […] This prosecution should serve as a warning to all employers of the need to fully assess the risks from working at height and ensure proper access for elevated areas.”
We can offer an online Working at Heights training course to raise awareness of the dangers involved in this kind of task. E-learning Account Manager, Pete Stock, says: “Working at height is a high risk activity – falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace injury in the UK. It is essential for employers to manage the risks as fatalities can occur if tasks are not properly controlled. Our interactive training course teaches delegates how to follow safe systems of work and explains the law surrounding working at height. It also explains risk assessment and how to properly plan and organise tasks as well as personal protection.”
Our E-learning courses take just 30 minutes, are perfect for induction or refresher training, and can be completed by anyone with internet access. For more information on Working at Height or any of the other 40 titles that we offer, please call us today.
Tregroes Waffle Bakery Ltd was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for the incident which occurred on 28th November 2008. They pleaded guilty to breaching Section 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and, in addition to the fine, they were ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.
During proceedings at Llanelli Magistrate’s Court it was explained that the worker was using a structural girder as access for cleaning the side of a flour hopper when she fell more than four feet and suffered a fractured rib, bruising and a cut leg. Her fall was broken by a bulk container situated directly below; otherwise she could have plummeted twice the distance.
The HSE are currently publicising their Shattered Lives campaign which aims to raise awareness about the dangers of slips, trips and falls in the workplace as well as the significant effects these incidents have on the British economy each year.
Commenting on this recent prosecution, HSE Inspector Scott McKinnon said: “The employee was exposed to unnecessary risk as there was nothing to stop her falling. Many serious - and sometimes fatal - injures are caused by falls from distances below head height. […] This prosecution should serve as a warning to all employers of the need to fully assess the risks from working at height and ensure proper access for elevated areas.”
We can offer an online Working at Heights training course to raise awareness of the dangers involved in this kind of task. E-learning Account Manager, Pete Stock, says: “Working at height is a high risk activity – falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace injury in the UK. It is essential for employers to manage the risks as fatalities can occur if tasks are not properly controlled. Our interactive training course teaches delegates how to follow safe systems of work and explains the law surrounding working at height. It also explains risk assessment and how to properly plan and organise tasks as well as personal protection.”
Our E-learning courses take just 30 minutes, are perfect for induction or refresher training, and can be completed by anyone with internet access. For more information on Working at Height or any of the other 40 titles that we offer, please call us today.
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