Ipswich manufacturer prosecuted over work accident
Personal Injury 10 May 2011
A
work injury suffered by a member of staff has led to a manufacturer in Ipswich appearing in court.
Stevenage Magistrates Court heard Crane Ltd, the parent company of Viking Johnson, admit to breaching Regulation 4 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations and Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.
As a result, the company was fined £15,000 for the first breach and £10,000 for the second. The firm was also instructed to pay prosecution costs of £3,387.25.
The charges related to a
work accident on May 7th 2009, when a machine operative was employed at the Viking Johnson premises in Hitchin.
"Although Crane Limited had a health and safety system in place, they failed to recognise it was not adequate. Therefore the safety of its employees was compromised when handling the flange rings as Crane failed to properly assess risk and failed to provide adequate work equipment," Health and Safety Executive inspector Sandra Dias said.
The 39-year-old man was left with internal injuries and several fractures when a steel flange rings weighing 250kgs fell on him.
In addition, a Hertfordshire company, Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd, was this month prosecuted after a man was left paralysed from a work accident.
Published by Hannah Carr
