Bedford glazing company fined over workers' injuries

Date:

12 March 2013

Release No:

HSE-E-012/13

A double-glazing manufacturer based in Bedford has been fined for safety failings after a worker suffered life-changing injuries when he and a colleague were hit by toppling sheets of glass.

Justo Llerena, 60, of Stanhope Road, Bedford, was attaching a hook on a pendant crane to the top of an A frame in order to lift two large sheets of glass, when the incident occurred at Clearglaze Ltd's premises on 1 September 2011.

The A frame which collapsed, injuring the two workers

He and a colleague were working around the A frame when it fell over bringing the glass crashing down on top of them. Both workers suffered serious lacerations from the glass as it shattered - Mr Llerena to his arm and elbow and his colleague, who doesn't wish to be named, to his right index finger. Mr Llerena's elbow required surgery but there were complications and he continued to suffer from pain. He has been unable to return to work since and his co-worker was off for ten weeks.

Bedford Magistrates' Court heard yesterday (11 March) that an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) established that Clearglaze had failed to protect the safety of its employees by not making sure that the A frame was secured and could not fall over. Had a bracket been fitted to a wall to hold the frame in place, it would not have occurred.

Clearglaze Ltd, Norse Road, Elms Farm Industrial Estate, Bedford, was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £8,592 in costs after being found guilty of breaching Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Karl Howes said:

"This was a serious incident leading to Mr Llerena suffering painful, life-changing injuries and his colleague also being badly injured. It was also avoidable.

"Any work which involves the lifting of sheets of glass must be suitably planned and executed to prevent the glass falling or shattering. Clearglaze should have ensured this planning was done prior to the work being carried out.

To find out about working safely with glass, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/glass/index.htm.

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. Regulation 8(1) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is properly planned by a competent person; appropriately supervised; and carried out in a safe manner."

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