Worker suffers injuries from 4ft fall

A company whos employee fell more than four feet has been prosecuted by the Health & Safety Executive.

Llanelli Magistrates Court heard how an employee of Tregroes Waffle Bakery Ltd was cleaning the side of a flour hopper at the companys factory in Llandysul. On 28 November 2008 the employee fell more than four feet from a structural girder and suffered a fractured rib, bruising and a cut leg. Had a bulk container not been directly beneath the employee, she would have fallen even further.

Tregroes Waffle Bakery Ltd was fined £1,750 and ordered to pay £1,374 costs after pleading guilty to a charge under section 6(3) of the Work At Height Regulations 2005.

HSE Inspector Scott McKinnon said: "The employee was exposed to unnecessary risk as there was nothing to stop her falling. Many serious - and sometimes fatal - injures are caused by falls from distances below head height.

Inspector McKinnon concluded: "The company took immediate action to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future, and co-operated fully throughout the investigation. This prosecution should serve as a warning to all employers of the need to fully assess the risks from working at height and ensure proper access for elevated areas."

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