Case ‘Another Example of Consequences Of Safety Failings’

By Rob Dixon

Removal firm White & Co has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs after a work accident in October 2011, when a man broke his leg while moving machinery.

Ian Barnard suffered the unfortunate workplace injury when a steel fly press weighing 75kg fell on him as he was removing equipment from Bedford to Wellingborough in Northampton for a local motor spares company.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the company had failed to assess the risks related to such work, while the worker himself had not been provided with adequate training regarding manual handling.

Two improvement notices were served on the company following the incident.

Sally Rissbrook, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who specialises in helping victims of serious work accidents to get access to vital funds which go towards their rehabilitation and recovery, said: “This is another case which is a prime example of the serious consequences that safety failings can have on a person’s life.

“The victim in this case suffered serious leg injuries and was in plaster for months after being treated in hospital.

“Investigations by the HSE suggested that something as simple as the right training could have made a huge difference in this case, perhaps avoiding the incident all together. Employers simply cannot afford to cut corners when it comes to worker safety and should do everything in their power to mitigate the risks faced by their staff.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in relation to Falling Object claims