In November 2015, at Quantum Exhibitions and Displays Ltd in Hipperholme, a 26 year old worker broke his right leg tibia and fibula bones, suffered burns on his right hand, and sustained an open fracture of the index finger on the same hand.
All very nasty injuries.
This was due to a three tonne vibrating road roller that the worker was using sliding down a steep incline and trapping him underneath.
Safety in the workplace
It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that workers are not harmed in the line of duty. There can be a number of things that employers can do to uphold this, and there is plenty of legislation in place to protect employees in the workplace.
In this case, it seems clear to us that the accident was entirely preventable. There was no system in place to protect the worker from being injured, and the Health and Safety Executive agreed.
Company fined
Quantum Exhibitions and Displays have been fined for the incident having been found in breach of health and safety legislation.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £70,000, with £4,139.50 costs, by Bradford Crown Court.
The Health and Safety Executive inspector, Jacqueline Ferguson, said:
“There was no vehicle restraint or edge protection system in place to prevent vehicles from approaching the unstable edge of the embankment with the foreseeable risk of the vehicle overturning. This was a serious accident that could have proved fatal. Companies should be aware that the Health and Safety Executive will not hesitate to take appropriate actions against those that fall below the required standards.”
The Health and Safety Executive is Britain’s national regulator for health and safety in the workplace. Their aim is to reduce injuries in the workplace.
We can help!
If you have been in an accident at work that was not your fault, and you think you might be entitled to compensation, you can speak to us for free and friendly legal advice.
We specialise in personal injury, and if we think you have a claim, we can get you the compensation that you deserve.
Source: http://press.hse.gov.uk/2016/worker-trapped-by-three-tonne-road-roller/
