Port And Company Fined Over Incident

The Health and Safety Executive’s decision to fine a port and shipping company over the death of a worker has been welcomed by a leading workplace injury lawyer.

Luigi Feola of Sardinia is believed to have drowned after falling into water at Newhaven Docks while carrying a hose along a narrow strip of quay.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the quayside was poorly lit and lacked sufficient edge protection, while the risks of the work had not been properly assessed and Mr Feola was working around 100 hours a week for Forship S.P.a

David Urpeth of Irwin Mitchell said he hoped the move to fine the Italian firm and Newhaven Port & Properties a total of £185,000 in relation to the incident should prove to be a wake-up call for companies involved in the same line of work.

The lawyer, who has significant experience in cases based on accidents at work, said: “The safety and welfare of workers should be of paramount concern to businesses in all sectors.

“While this case may be linked to the shipping industry, it is representative of issues which occur in many sectors – such as inadequate protection and poor working conditions.

“I hope that lessons will be learnt from this tragic incident.”