The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Suffolk-based company, after an agency worker was injured when he fell from height from a ladder.
The worker was employed at Pauls Malt Limited in West Knapton, near Malton, Suffolk and was injured on 6 May 2015 after falling approximately two metres from the ladder. He sustained two fractures to his right foot and bruising to his chest, as well as head injuries.
The worker fell while checking the fill level of malt in a container being loaded for export, before closing the hopper feed. The container was fitted with a full-size fabric liner with a high-level loading flap, which would be zipped up once the container was full.
An HSE investigation found that the company had not carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the work at height involved in closing the zipped flaps on the fabric liners used to line containers being loaded with malt for export.
A system of work had developed which involved propping a 4m-long ladder against the rear of the container to gain access to the zip-up flap.
However, the ladder was too long for this purpose and was propped at too shallow an angle – the ladder had slipped outwards at the foot, causing the agency worker to fall with the ladder.
At Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on 29 July 2016, Pauls Malt Limited – trading as Boortmalt – of Eastern Way, Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,257.
Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Falls from Height Claims
Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those injured in falls from height caused by the negligence of a third party on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:
• Accidents at work
• Balcony falls
• Children’s accidents
• Faulty goods claims
• Holiday accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Public liability claims
• Sports injuries.
Falls from height claims usually have to be made within three years of the incident – children can make personal injury claims up to the age of 21.
Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of injuries sustained in a fall from height caused by negligence and who wish to make a compensation claim.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Falls from Height Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.