Could injury inspire use of facilities management health and safety process in food packing firms?
August 23rd 14:16 Health and Safety
An injury caused when an employee fell from a ladder could inspire a number of businesses to adopt facilities management health and safety processes.
Moulton Bulb Company, an onion packing firm based near Spalding, was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £2,188 in costs after a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that Richard Webster's injury could have been avoided.
The firm pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 after Mr Webster fell three meters, broke a shoulder and needed three months off work.
HSE inspector Jo Anderson commented: "Falls from height are the biggest cause of workplace deaths and it is crucial employers make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and sufficient measures are put in place to protect staff from these risks.
"As a result of this, the company has changed its procedures to eliminate the need to work at height by applying polythene sheeting at floor level and then lifting the boxes up."
