Industry News » Stourbridge Glazing Firm Fined

17-12-2007

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Stourbridge glazing company following an incident in which an employee was injured in a fall.

On 5 February 2007, Michael Norton was working as part of a three-man team replacing vandalised windows in the Next Generation Leisure Centre at Brierley Hill.

He was using half of a double ladder set that had been split to allow two men to work at height. The ladders were not secured and the one being used by Mr Norton slid sideways, causing him to fall approximately two metres to the ground.

He fractured his wrist and received a puncture wound to the back of his hand when part of the glazing unit that he was carrying up the ladder fell onto the back of his hand.

The ladder in use was damaged, the feet were missing and it was being used without stability devices.

Jaysee Glass and Glazing Ltd of Lye, Stourbridge, was fined £4500 and ordered to pay costs of £1278 at Dudley Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to breaching regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, regulation 13 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and regulation 8(e) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Regulation 5(1) of the 1998 Regulations covers the duty of the employer to ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.

Regulation 8(e) of the 2005 Regulations requires every employer to ensure that a ladder is used for work at height only if a risk assessment has demonstrated that the use of more suitable work equipment is not justified.

Regulation 13 of the 1999 Regulations covers the duty of the employer to consider the capabilities and training of employees, as regards health and safety.