Risk, Health and Safety Information

Bedford company in court over worker's broken leg

A nationwide removals firm has been fined for safety failings after a worker broke his leg whilst moving machinery at a site in Bedford.

Ian Barnard , 28, was part of a three-man team working for White & Co plc removing equipment from Bedford to Wellingborough in Northampton on behalf of a local motor spares company when a steel fly press weighing 75kg fell on him.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors, who investigated the incident in Murdock Road, Bedford, found that White & Co plc had failed to assess the risks to its employees whilst carrying out the work. Nor had the company provided Mr Barnard with adequate training in manual handling.

As a result of the HSE investigation, two Improvement Notices were served on the company.

Bedford Magistrates heard that on 3 October 2011 Mr Barnard was helping to carry the steel fly press out of the building when it fell on him, breaking his left leg and causing lacerations to his right leg. He was in plaster for three months after being treated in hospital. Mr Barnard was made redundant by the company shortly after the incident.

White & Co plc of Ashton House, The Precinct, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £3,524 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

After sentencing, HSE Inspector Karl Howes said:

"Manual handling is everyday practice in the removals industry. Each job should be adequately assessed, employees should have sufficient manual handling training and there should be appropriate health and safety management arrangements in place."