
![]() |
Mark Sennett
Managing Editor |
![]() |
Kelly Rose
Editor |
Home> | Slips, Trips & Falls | >Fall Prevention | >Fall from ladder lands six figure fine |
Home> | Slips, Trips & Falls | >Fall Protection | >Fall from ladder lands six figure fine |
Fall from ladder lands six figure fine
30 September 2019
VERTELLUS SPECIALTIES UK Limited has been fined after an employee fell two metres from a ladder and suffered a serious elbow injury.
Carlisle Magistrates’ Court heard that on 6 June 2018, at the company’s site in Northside, Workington, an employee was using a ladder to inspect a steam leak at height when the ladder failed and the employee fell to the ground.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to ensure that work at height was properly planned and managed. The company also failed to ensure that equipment provided for use at height was inspected at regular intervals and was fit for use.
Vertellus Specialties UK Limited of St Ann’s Wharf, Newcastle-upon-Tyne pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £120,000 with £5155.80 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Carol Forster said: “Work at height accidents are one of the main causes of occupational injury and death. Employers should consider if working at height can be avoided and, if work at height is undertaken, it should be properly planned and managed appropriately and all equipment should be fit for purpose.”
- Vital campaign uncovers scale of impaired driving
- AIF confirms conference speaker line-up
- Company fined after quarry fatality
- Safety body warns of non-compliant PPE
- Worker fractures back and ribs following fall
- Coordinated action needed to remediate unsafe buildings, says NFCC
- Call for MPs to oppose REUL Bill
- BSIF tests unveil non-compliant safety footwear
- Global fire toxicity conference
- Fire Safety Scotland 2018 Preview