HSE levies fines upon two Ely firms following work
accident
Health & Safety Update 14/12/2011
Two Ely-based firms have been fined following a workplace
accident in which an employee was seriously injured.
Pipe fitter Anthony Strong, 24, was employed by Cambs Compressor
Engineering Ltd to install pipe work at Anson Packaging Ltd’s
Sutton plant in September 2008.
Part of the pipe work Mr Strong was doing required him to be
based in a roof void located above a suspended ceiling.
Mr Strong and his colleague had been given harnesses to wear to
prevent them from falling as they crawled from the safe walkways to
the void. However, a lack of attachment points in the void meant
that the harnesses could only be used for part of the time.
Mr Strong fell 6.5 metres to the floor below and suffered
serious fractures to his ribs, skull and spine. Following the
incident, the Health and Safety Executive carried out an
investigation which revealed that both companies had failed to
ensure that workers were provided with a safe system of work and
the appropriate equipment.
Cambs Compressor Engineering pleaded guilty to breaching Section
2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and
Regulation 5 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Cambridge
Crown Court.
Anson Packaging admitted breaching Section 3(1) of the Health
and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The companies were fined a total
of £68,030 plus £37,743.72 costs.
Gavin Bull, HSE Inspector said, “Falls from height are one of
the most common, yet preventable, causes of injury at work. In
2008/2009, more than 4,000 major injuries were caused by falls from
height at work.
“In this case a man suffered serious personal injuries because
work at height was not properly planned.”
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