HSE Investigation Reveals Safety Failings

A company in Evesham has been fined after pleading guilty to breaching safety regulations in relation to an incident in which a worker suffered serious head injuries and a fractured hand.

The unnamed 21-year-old sustained the injuries when he fell three metres through the roof of a glasshouse and landed on a concrete floor at Westland Nurseries in December 2009.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that the firm had not put any measures in place to prevent workers from falling off roofs, while there was evidence that the company did not understand the risks of working at height.

Westland Nurseries was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,835 in relation to the incident.

Stephen Nye, a Partner and workplace injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell, said the case highlights the very serious consequences of falls from height.

He outlined: “Employers always need to provide comprehensive guidance to staff that are involved in working at height and this work accident demonstrates why.

“As this shows, falls from height can have a significant impact on victims, leaving them with long-term injuries which often require regular care and rehabilitation.

“We have repeatedly called for employers to ensure they are meeting all of their responsibilities when it comes to health and safety, but sadly this shows in some cases there is still a long way to go. Lessons need to be learned from cases like this if other workers are going to be protected in the future.”