WM574/08 24th April, 2008

Bromsgrove company fined £5,000 for quarry worker's head injury

Employers are being warned by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure they assess workplace risks properly and ensure that suitable protective equipment is not only provided but also worn. This follows HSE’s prosecution of Wildmoor Quarry Products following an incident in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire when a 30kg (66lb) lump of sandstone caused serious head injuries to a worker.

On 21st March 2007, a Wildmoor employee was working at a power-operated machine in the company’s Sandy Lane quarry when a lump of sandstone fell approximately 6 metres (20ft) and struck him on the head. The employee, who was not wearing head protection at the time of the incident, received serious head injuries.

Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector Ian Williamson said:

"It's a fundamental expectation that employees should work in safety. A quarry is one of the most dangerous environments and working there calls for vigilance by employers and workers alike. Assessing risks and implementing safe systems of work, particularly on moving machinery, often only requires simple control measures but, in this case, screens, which may have prevented the boulder from entering the machine, were not sufficiently maintained. It also obvious that workers should wear suitable head protection in an environment where there are large, heavy, materials swiftly moving along at high level."

Wildmoor Quarry Products Ltd was fined a total of £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,520 at Bromsgrove and Redditch Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 23rd April. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Mr Williamson continued:

"To prevent illness or injury it is vitally important that appropriate safety instructions are followed and enforced by employers who must regularly ensure that employees are properly wearing the correct safety clothing, observing safety instructions and armed with all necessary information, training and equipment."

Quarrying still remains one of the most dangerous industrys to work in. Since 2000 over 2,700 workers have suffered an injury reportable to HSE - 21 of those being fatal.

ENDS

Note to editors

1. Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 says: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
2. For more information on health and safety in the quarrying industry, see http://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm. Further information on risk assessments can be found on HSE’s website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm

Public enquiries

Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF HSE BY COI News and PR,

Media enquiries

Journalists only: to Ray Prichard, Tel: 0121 352 5508.
Or Andrew Myatt on 0121 352 5507

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Press Notices issued on behalf of all Government Departments can be viewed on: http://gnn.coi.gov.uk