Company Fined £100,000 after Worker is Seriously Injured

A cargo handling company based in Suffolk has been fined £100,000 following an incident in which an employee suffered life changing injuries.

On 15th August 2014, an employee of Extreme Handling Limited (EHL) was assisting a fork lift truck operator at GMA Warehousing and Transport Limited’s Felixstowe site. The pair were moving a one tonne sheet of marble when it fell on the worker from EHL. He suffered a fractured sternum, serious abrasions to the back of his head as well as extensive and severe crush injuries to both of his legs.

The Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident and found that the method used to move the load was unsafe practice.

After pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, GMA Warehousing and Transport Limited, of Central Avenue, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich, Suffolk was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs totalling £9938.38.

HSE inspector Jessica Churchyard said after the hearing:

“Employers have an absolute duty to ensure that they do everything reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety of their employees.”

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Source: Health & Safety Executive