Suffolk company fined after worker suffered serious injury

Date:

18 March 2010

Release No:

HSE-E-59

A Suffolk seed producer has been fined after a worker suffered serious injury when he fell while loading a vehicle.

Peter Snowling's injuries included a fractured skull and spinal injuries after the 49-year-old fell from a ramp while loading a shipping container with sacks of peas at High Fen Seed Store, Dead Lane in the town.

Mr Snowling's employer, W A Church Ltd, of Bures, was fined £8,000 with £4,642 costs, at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates Court today, after a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act, 1974.

The HSE investigation found that the company had failed to take sufficient steps to ensure the risks associated with work at height were identified and controlled.

HSE Inspector, Saffron Turnell said:

"If Mr Snowling's employer had taken precautions to ensure his safety, this incident could have been avoided.

"Working at height remains one of the most dangerous things employees can do. This case highlights the need for companies to do everything possible to minimise the risks employees face when working at height."

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states that "it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all his employees."
2. Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that "every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work."
3. Regulation 6 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states that "where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury"
4. For more information on managing risks in the workplace www.hse.gov.uk/risk

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI