Examples of enforcement - Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

• Fatal accident at a meduim sized company
• No proper segregation between workers and vehicles at a fish factory

Fatal accident at a meduim sized company

An employee of a fireplace company died after being crushed by several large marble slabs. The accident happened as a result of poor health and safety management. The storeman had been holding slabs to his chest to move them into position for lifting by a crane. The company’s risk assessment did not address the issue of manually handling the marble sufficiently.

Outcome:

The company pleaded guilty and fined £18,000 plus £8,722 costs.

No proper segregation between workers and vehicles at a fish factory

During a visit to a Fish Factory no proper segregation between workers and Fork Lift Trucks (FLTs) was identified in the production area, which included no demarcation area for pallets to be dropped off for workers.

Outcome:

An Improvement Notice was served on the company requiring them to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for the segregation of employees from FLTs. The company complied with the Notice and installed a separate traffic routes from FLTs and pedestrians. A drop off zone marked out where items could be dispatched by FLTs and collected by hand pallet trucks operated by workers.