Contractor fined after worker suffers serious injury

Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates Court heard how, on 2 February 2016, an employee at Instrument and Control Services was injured when a top heavy 650-750kg electrical control panel which he was moving fell, trapping him to the ground. He suffered life changing injuries including a fracture that split the left and right side of his lower pelvis apart.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Instrument and Control Services, which provides electrical engineering and refurbishment services, failed to properly assess the risks involved and to provide both a safe system of work and the proper instructions and training needed for moving the panel.

Instrument and Control Services pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £60,000 and was ordered to pay costs of £2923.62 and a Victim Surcharge of £120.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Marie-Louise Riley-Roberts said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to assess risk and to devise safe methods of working which their employees should then be trained in.

“If Instrument and Control Services Ltd had ensured that their employees were following to a safe system of work, based upon proper planning, then the life changing injuries sustained by this worker could have been prevented."