Two Firms Fined after Workers are Injured On-site
The Health and Safety Executive has fined two companies over safety breaches that resulted in the serious injuries of two workers.
Incident
In October 2010 two workers employed by Sitewatch, Guy Davies and Nayan Patel, suffered serious injuries as they were working on a partly constructed cold store. Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how the pair were injured when the roof lids of the structure collapsed on top of them.
Nayan Patel suffered numerous fractures to his foot and required a metal plate to be fixed in his arm after it was fractured in two places. Guy Davies meanwhile suffered serious fractures to his right kneecap and thighbone.
Sentencing
John Sisk and Son Limited (Sisk) of St Albans, Hertfordshire was employed as primary contractor for installing a new distribution warehouse in Motherwell. The company was found guilty of an offence under Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and fined £64,000.
Hemsec Installations Limited (HIL), of Birkenhead was subcontracted to design and construct the cold store structure. The company was found guilty of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and fined £71,000.
HSE principal inspector Graeme McMinn said following the hearing:
“The accident could have been prevented if Sisk had enforced their permit to work system and ensured that workers were not allowed access to the roof lid section until they received confirmation that the roof lid section had been installed correctly and was safe.
“HIL should have ensured that their sub-contractor had installed the connections between the roof lid and cold store wall in line with the design specifications. They should also have checked that these connections were safe before allowing Sisk access to the roof lids.”
Accidents at Work – Expert Advice
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Source: Health & Safety Executive
