Firms fined after injuries at veg processing and packaging plant
Lincolnshire-based West End Cold Stores was fined ₤15,000 and ordered to pay £1,862 in costs after the temporary employers fell 3.5m while removing ceiling panels at its Spalding site. The workers were employed by J&P Recruitment Ltd, of Spalding, which was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £800 costs.
The workers were hurt during the incident on 22 September 2008 after being instructed to remove insulation panels in the wake of a fire.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found they were using a forklift truck together with a man-riding cage to carry out the work. When trying to remove the final piece, all four workers stepped onto the panel and they fell after it gave way, said a statement from the safety body.
All four suffered a combination of broken arms, smashed femurs and broken collarbones. One worker is still unable to work as a result of this incident.
Guilty pleas
Both companies pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Spalding Magistrates' Court.
"All four workers involved in this incident suffered extremely serious injuries and could have been killed,” said HSE Inspector Jo Anderson.
She added the workers had no experience working at height and that the companies had neither carried out a risk assessment nor provided supervision.
"Employers and organisations that use agency workers have a joint responsibility to ensure the safety of all staff who work on site,” said Anderson. “Each party needs to be clear about their responsibilities to avoid serious incidents such as this."
