News Article

Company operated without risk assessment


Posted by Chris Owen | Date Posted 06.12.2007 | Time Posted 17:02:00 | Views: 448

An accident resulting in severe injury to an employee brought to light a company's failure to implement safe systems of work and properly assess risks.

During October last year the employee was disposing of waste glass at the company's premises. He was riding on a stillage being used to carry the glass, which was itself being carried by a forklift truck into the company's yard. The stillage, with the man still on it, was then raised by the forklift truck over a skip for the purpose of dropping the waste. A gust of wind caught a pane of glass being placed in the skip, causing him to fall into the skip with the glass falling in after him. The accident victim needed major reconstructive surgery on his face, suffered a fractured skull and lost the sight in one eye.

Vizor Tempered Glass Ltd, of Port Talbot pleaded guilty to breaching S.2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and Reg. 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for which it was fined a total of £50,000, with costs of £11,171, at Swansea Crown Court.


Published in sections: Health and Safety ::

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