Shropshire firm fined for worker's fall from height

Date:

11 September 2012

Release No:

HSE/MIDS/126/12

A Shropshire firm, which hires out equipment for working safely at height, has been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he fell from a cherry picker.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted UK Platforms Ltd following the incident at the company's depot in Halesfield, Telford.

Telford Magistrates' Court heard how the 42-year-old man, who does not want to be named, was standing on the cherry picker's engine canopy to repair the mechanical arm when he fell two metres, landing on a concrete floor.

He suffered a compression fracture to his skull, which caused bleeding on his brain, and fractured four vertebrae, four ribs and his collarbone.

He was in hospital for nearly two weeks and was only able to return to work this year on 26 March, almost a year on from the incident on 28 March 2011.

HSE's investigation into the incident found UK Platforms had failed to plan or supervise the work properly and there was no protection to stop the man from falling from the machine.

UK Platforms Ltd, of Stafford Park 1, Telford, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and today (11 September) was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £5,888 costs.

HSE inspector Katharine Walker said after the hearing:

"This was an entirely avoidable incident where a man suffered from injuries so serious, it took almost a year for him to return to work.

"Companies must ensure that work at height is properly planned and supervised and carried out safely to prevent falls. If UK Platforms had used another powered access platform alongside the cherry picker, the incident would never have happened.

"It is unacceptable to see such failings, particularly as UK Platforms hires out access equipment for working safely at height and therefore should have known how to carry out this job."

Guidance on working safely on height is available from HSE at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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. Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is-
   1. properly planned;
   2. appropriately supervised; and
   3. carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe."

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