Firm fined after man almost has accident injury

An engineering firm has appeared in court and been fined following an incident in which a contractor almost suffered an accident injury while working on a roof.

Lupton and Place Ltd, which makes parts for the defence, automotive and electronic industries, confessed that it had breached Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of workers.

Reedley Magistrates Court fined the firm £6,000 and told it to pay prosecution costs amounting to £6,250.

Investigating inspector at the Health and Safety Executive Matt Lea said: “The contractor had been employed by the firm for more than 30 years, but nothing was done to monitor or control the work he was doing.”

The court heard how the incident happened at the firm’s factory on Athletic Street in Burnley on September 23rd last year when the contractor, who has not been named, was working on a section of roof that did not have any items in place to prevent him from falling.

He almost suffered an accident injury after falling through a roof panel, but his fall was broken by a machine cover below him.

This month, Mechanical Solutions Ltd of Mansfield was also fined after a subcontractor, Michel Hawkins, fell through a roof.

Published by Hannah Carr