No risk assessment before worker two metre fall

A worker sustained multiple injuries at a bottle manufacturer in Leeds when he plunged two metres onto a concrete floor.

The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Allied Glass Containers Ltd after the incident at its factory in Hunslet in January 2009.

Leeds Magistrates Court heard that in order to remove and replace faulty equipment at the factory, the mezzanine floor had to be opened up. A gap of three-square-metres was created for the equipment to be moved using a block and tackle pulley system. This gap was subsequently left open in case other adjustments were required before the maintenance team took a break.

A problem was identified and a worker was called back to the upper level. The worker lost his footing and plunged through the gap, falling two meteres onto a concreate floor below. The worker spent 11 days in hosptial where it was discovered he had sustained multiple injuries to his back and skull and bruising to his brain and kidney. He has yet to return to work.

Allied Glass pleaded guilty to a Section 2(1) breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in relation to the incident, namely for failing to ensure the safety of workers from the risk of a fall from height. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £3,173 costs on 3 Februrary 2010. The company was also ordered to pay a seperate £15 victim surcharge, the proceeds of which will be spent on services for victims and witnesses.

During the investigation, HSE inspectors discovered no risk assessment for creating a hole in the floor had taken place, and no precautions were taken to prevent a fall. Since the incident, the company has made improvements to ensure the flooring need not be lifted for maintenance work of this type.

After the hearing inspector Paul Yeadon commented: "Somebody could easily have died here. This incident was completely preventable with a simple risk assessment and a bit of common sense in planning the job.

"Allied Glass has lost a valued, experienced employee, who is still recovering from his injuries. He should never have been allowed to fall.

"We have continued to engage with the company and it's reassuring that lessons appear to have been learned, with improvements now in place to prevent future falls.

He concluded: "We hope this hearing serves as a reminder to all manufacturers that employee safety should be of paramount importance at all times. It shouldn't take an accident of this kind to prompt the implementation of safe-working procedures that should be in place regardless."

Falls from height are the biggest single cause of workplace deaths in the UK.

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