Welsh jam maker fined £40k for worker fall
Llandudno Magistrates’ court heard how on the 6 April 2020 a worker was installing a security camera on the outside of the company’s production building in Pwllheli using an unsecured ladder.
The worker fell 4.5 metres after the ladder slipped and sustained multiple fractures to his right arm, left leg, cheekbone and a dislocation of his backbone.
Poor planning
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the work at height had not been properly planned and alternative access equip[ment to allow safe working at height had not beeen considered.
It also found that that no training had been provided to either the injured party or other in relation to working at height, as well as a failure to ensure effective monitoring of work at height practices to identify any shortcomings in the company’s procedures – an issue which it noted had persisted for some time.
The Clarendon Food Company Ltd of Bryn, Y Ffor, Pwllheli, Gwynedd pleaded guilty to breaching section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The compay was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,344.30
Lack of necessary information
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Matthew Pendle said: “Those in control of work at height have a responsibility to properly plan and supervise the work to ensure suitable equipment is selected. They also should provide the necessary information, instruction and training to workers.”
In 2020, the HSE found that workplace injuries int eh food and drink manufacturing sector were significantly higher than the national average.
Non-fatal injuries accounted for 2.8% of instances of workplace injuries in 2019/20. Over the past five years, incidents involving lifting and carrying accounted for 26% of seven-day injuries, while slips, trips and falls made up 36% of specified injuries.
