Council prosecutes business for health and safety breaches

The incident, which involved an employee sustaining a fall from a faulty lift, was found to be due to a failure for the company to follow basic Health and Safety practices. Breckland Councils investigation found that there were unsafe systems of work.

The company did not contest the findings and were ordered to pay a total of £29,000 at a court hearing in August. The money will be used to cover court and officer time in the investigations as well as being used to help fund further enforcement and education to businesses on how to comply with health and safety legislation.

Cllr Helen Crane, executive member for waste, environmental health, licensing and sustainability at Breckland Council, said: "This incident was totally avoidable, and we would urge businesses to ensure they adopt robust safe systems of work to protect employees, contractors and the public. Breckland Council's health and safety Inspectors will not hesitate to take enforcement action, including prosecution in the most serious of cases. We hope that this sends a clear message to businesses, to ensure that they adequately assess risks to health and safety and implement suitable and sufficient control measures."

Breckland Council carries out regular checks on offices, shops, warehouses, places used for leisure activities and other non-industrial premises, focusing on high-risk work activities and business sectors. This ensures that safe and healthy working conditions are provided for all employees, the self-employed and members of the public visiting these premises.