Global steel firm prosecuted after workers were crushed

Date:

22 December 2011

Release No:

HSE/NW/63Tata

A global steel firm has been sentenced after two workers suffered major injuries when a warehouse door, weighing over 300 kilograms, collapsed on them.

The collapsed warehouse door which injured the two workers

The employees at Corus, which has since been renamed Tata Steel UK Ltd, were trying to repair a roller shutter door at its plant in Workington when the door and a supporting pillar gave way.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to make sure a suitable risk assessment was carried out for the work, putting the lives of its staff in danger.

Both the workers, who were maintenance fitters from Workington, suffered badly broken legs in the incident at the Curwen Road site on 20 April 2009.

Part of the falling structure also struck one of the workers, 51 year old Anthony Ryecroft, on the head, splitting his hard hat and cutting his head and shoulder. He was unable to work for 15 months as a result of his injuries.

The other worker, 59 year old Geoff Anderson, never returned to work for the company and has now taken voluntary redundancy.

Workington Magistrates' Court heard the firm did not have a robust system in place for making sure its maintenance staff were planning and carrying out work safely.

The court was told the two workers had been sent to repair the door after it was hit by a forklift truck, causing it to become stuck. They were removing some of nuts from the supporting pillar when it came loose and collapsed.

Tata Steel UK Ltd admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of the two workers. The company, of Millbank in London, was fined £13,300 and ordered to pay £11,631 in prosecution costs on 22 December 2011.

Speaking after the hearing, the investigating inspector at HSE, Mike Griffiths, said:

"These two workers have suffered major injuries, with long term effects to their lives, because their employer didn't do enough to make sure they stayed safe.

Anthony Ryecroft's damaged hard hat

"One of the workers could potentially have been killed if he hadn't been wearing a hard hat. Despite this, he still suffered a severe cut to his head and several other serious injuries.

"The work could have been carried out safely by removing the guide for the slats on the roller shutter door so that it could be wound up. However, it wasn't planned properly in advance due to the company's procedures."

Nearly 4,000 workers suffered major injuries in the manufacturing industry in Great Britain in 2010/11. Another 27 lost their lives. Information on improving safety is available at www.hse.gov.uk/manufacturing.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

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