Two teenagers injured in health and safety oversight

Posted on June 20^th 2012

For most liability insurance customers it's enough of a headache when one worker is injured in the workplace. In the case of one Derbyshire manufacturing firm, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a fine after TWO workers fell from a lifting platform and were injured.

Storetec Limited was prosecuted after a nasty accident in which an 18-year-old agency worker Leon Payne fell and broke his back. His colleague, also aged 18, broke both of his heels and needed pins and a metal plate in his feet. Liability insurance claims are often straightforward but this was a pretty extreme case in that two workers were seriously hurt.

The accident occurred when the workers used a 'makeshift' lifting platform designed by the director of Storetec Limited, Brian Crossan, to fit a forklift truck. Not designed to correct legal standards, the platform didn't fit and wasn't correctly secured.

When it became caught with the two victims on top, they both fell over four metres to the hard ground where they were injured. The HSE investigation concluded that Storetec hadn't properly ensured the health and safety of its employees, and that company director Brian Crossan had not followed guidelines and standards in the design of the platform.

Storetec Limited pleaded guilty and was fined £22,000 with costs of £12,134 and a £15 victim surcharge. Brian Crossan also pleaded guilty and was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay costs of £7,866 and a £15 victim surcharge. Liability insurance, assuming Storetec have it, is likely to be worth it's weight in gold.

Related links

HSE press release covering the court case

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