Saturday 18:36
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned companies to ensure that adequate precautions are being taken to prevent injuries due to falling from height - which claimed 46 lives last year.
The warning comes after Single Source Ltd was fined 5,000 and costs of £1,434 at Telford Magistrates' Court on Friday 15 December following an accident, which resulted in an elderly employee falling three metres over the edge of a mezzanine floor, fracturing his spine and both heels, on 11 August 2005.
Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector Guy Dale said:
"Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most common cause of major injury to employees. Every year, around 50 people are killed and more than 3,000 seriously injured as a result of falling from height"
Jim Morgan age 70 from Telford was working as a cleaner during the night shift in a loading bay area on a mezzanine floor when the incident occurred. Another employee was operating an electric pallet truck with a container on the front which obscured his vision. As it was moved into the loading bay it hit Mr Morgan and pushed him over the edge on to a concrete floor below. The incident happened at Single Source Ltd's site at Stafford Park, Telford, Shropshire.
Single Source Ltd, a company which packages sachets of condiments, pleaded guilty to a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Note to editors:
Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: Call HSE's InfoLine, Tel: 08701 545500, or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE HSE BY GOVERNMENT NEWS NETWORK,
Client ref HSE WM 4089/06
