Toyota Plead Guilty To Health And Safety Breaches

Car firm in health and safety breach

11/01/2007

Motor company Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK ltd pleaded guilty yesterday in Derby Magistrates Court to breaches of the health and safety at work regulations after one of their workers fell from a ladder, fracturing his skull.

Paul Gale (39) from Tutbury in Staffs was assisting a colleague in November 2005 to fit pieces of unistrut, metal sections to which other items can be attached, to a gantry above their heads. Each of the men was stood on stepladders 2.5 metres high. Mr Gale’s colleague fell from his ladders and in doing so knocked Mr Gale who fell to the ground.

Mr Gale sustained a fractured skull, fractured vertebra, fractured wrist, dislocated finger, fractured ribs and severe bruising. He was off work for 3 months and was on light duties for 4 months. Mr Gale continues to work for the company and continues with symptoms from his injuries.

Toyota were fined the maximum penalty permitted in the Magistrates court of £25,000 in connection with the charges and were ordered to pay costs of £3321 by District Judge Alderson.

The company accepted it had failed to follow its own guidelines after the court had heard that the company used stepladders when other equipment better suited for the job was available.

The court was also given evidence that no risk assessment specific to the job had been carried out to identify the risks associated with it and remove those risks so far as possible.

Health and safety lawyer

Louise Morgan, Associate with national law firm Irwin Mitchell who represents Mr Gale said: "The Work at Height Regulations make it clear that working from ladders should be avoided where possible because of the serious risks of falls from height. This is one of the most common types of accident which workers suffer."

"Mr Gale suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident and does not want other workers to suffer accidents in the same way which is why he has consulted us."