Accident At Work

A company has been ordered to pay nearly £15,000 after failing to promptly report an injury when a mezzanine floor collapsed.

The large multinational Wednesbury-based firm, KTC (Edibles) was fined by West Bromwich magistrates for health and safety breaches.

Noshad Ali, who is an employee of the company, was trapped between 1,000kg bags of beans and rice when the floor collapsed.

Following a number of offences at the premises on Moorcroft Drive, KTC (Edibles) pleaded guilty to an offence of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulation 3(2) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. The firm was fined £12,500 and had to pay costs of £2,388.

The incident was reported eight months after it occurred in February 2008. It came to light during a Health and Safety Executive investigation into other health and safety concerns.

The local authority environmental health officer informed the HSE about the floor collapse. The company was provided with advice on how to install edge protection about the hole left by the collapse, by the inspector.
Copyright © Press Association 2009

David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “I welcome the fine imposed for failing to promptly report this serious accident at work.

“Employers have a duty, under certain circumstances, to report a work accident to the Health and Safety Executive.  This ensures that accidents can be investigated, lessons learnt and steps taken to prevent further injuries.

“Where an employer fails in their duty to promptly report an accident at work, it is right and proper that the prosecution should proceed.”