Falling MDF severely injures worker
February 10, 2010
A worker suffered multiple fractures after being hit by large falling MDF boards.
North West Surrey Magistrates heard how a stack of MDF, which were more than two metres long an over a metre wide were stacked vertically against a closed door. On 17 May 2008 a number of the boards fell on top of an employee who suffered fractures to the left side of his forehead, his eye socket, cheek bone and left arm.
On 5 February 2010, Thistle Woodworks Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 10(4) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was given a conditional discharge of three months and ordered to pay costs of £1,544.40.
HSE Inspector Suzanne Matthews said: "This method of stacking boards was inherently unsafe and injuries were inevitable if the stack was disturbed. This company failed its employee, who suffered several severe fractures as a result.
Inspector Matthews concluded: "Boards should never be stacked on their edge without adequate support. They should be stored flat, or in a pigeonhole or toast rack arrangement with staff clearly told about the dangers of propping boards with inadequate support."
Find out more about Working at Heights
North West Surrey Magistrates heard how a stack of MDF, which were more than two metres long an over a metre wide were stacked vertically against a closed door. On 17 May 2008 a number of the boards fell on top of an employee who suffered fractures to the left side of his forehead, his eye socket, cheek bone and left arm.
On 5 February 2010, Thistle Woodworks Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 10(4) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was given a conditional discharge of three months and ordered to pay costs of £1,544.40.
HSE Inspector Suzanne Matthews said: "This method of stacking boards was inherently unsafe and injuries were inevitable if the stack was disturbed. This company failed its employee, who suffered several severe fractures as a result.
Inspector Matthews concluded: "Boards should never be stacked on their edge without adequate support. They should be stored flat, or in a pigeonhole or toast rack arrangement with staff clearly told about the dangers of propping boards with inadequate support."
Find out more about Working at Heights
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