Scenery Maker Fined After Worker Struck By Falling Set

A 35-year-old worker suffered leg and skull fractures in an incident involving a forklift truck.

The unnamed man from Stoke Newington was working for a company that specialises in making scenery for London's theatres and fashion shows.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the employee was struck by a piece of a mock log cabin set that had been suspended from the forks of a lifting vehicle.

The set was being placed into a lorry ready for delivery to the Adelphi Theatre in the West End.

An investigation by the HSE discovered that Souvenir Scenic Studios had failed to plan this task thoroughly enough and this resulted in the accident.

It emerged that the biggest section of the set had been successfully lifted on to the truck, but one of the smaller pieces - which weighed 300 kg - was not secured. As it was hoisted upwards, the set became unbalanced and fell on the worker.

The firm was fined £3,500 after admitting a single breach of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. It also accrued costs of £2,033.

Following the hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, HSE inspector John Crookes said this incident highlights the need for businesses to properly plan lifting work.

"This worker was fortunate to make a full recovery, but the weight of these loads - 300 to 600 kg - means that this could easily have had fatal or life-changing consequences," he remarked.

"If the need arises to lift something excessively heavy or awkwardly shaped, firms must ensure their employees don't go ahead until they have all the correct equipment they need to do it safely."

Although figures recently released by the HSE showed the number of occupational fatalities and injuries being reported in the UK has reached an all-time low, the regulator is still concerned about the frequency of transport and lifting accidents.

On average, forklift trucks are involved in nearly a quarter of all workplace transport incidents.

If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury at work, our specialist serious injury claims team could help you to claim compensation. Visit our Head Injury Compensation Claims for more information.

Expert Opinion

This is a prime example of the consequences of failing to check for potential dangers and failing to plan before executing a task. Loads that are not secured properly and left suspended at a height can present a very dangerous and even life threatening situation for workers. <br/> <br/>“This situation could easily have been fatal. Although it is pleasing to read that the occupational fatalities and injuries reported in the UK has reached an all time low, too many incidents causing serious injury are still happening. It is imperative that people and businesses take health and safety extremely seriously so that these figures continue to improve". <br/>