An Essex firm making precast concrete stairs has been fined for safety failings after four employees fell when a stair mould collapsed beneath them at the company’s premises.
The workers suffered injuries including bruising, a dislocated shoulder, a fractured right arm, a twisted ankle, plus knee and back pain following the incident on 7 August 2013. All have since returned to work.
Milbank Concrete Products Ltd was prosecuted at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on 4 June by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an investigation found that the stair mould was inadequately supported during the work.
The court was told that the employees were working on a new precast concrete staircase and standing on a supporting frame – known as a ski-slope – that can be adjusted for height and angle, depending on the specification of stairs.
As concrete was poured into the mould to create the stairs, five props supporting the ski-slope collapsed, causing the four men to fall from heights ranging from one metre to three metres.
Milbank Concrete Products Ltd was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £1,357 in costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Keith Waller said: “This incident could have been more serious. It could also have been easily prevented if it had been properly planned, assessed for risks, and sufficient training given”.
“Having not carried out a proper risk assessment, Milbank Concrete Products therefore failed to have a safe system of work in place for the job and four workers were injured as a result”.
For more information on how Palmers can assist employers with health and safety compliance issues, including general workplace risk assessments, please contact Lara Murray or if you are facing investigation or prosecution on a health and safety matter, please contact Jeremy Sirrell.