Will firms seek to improve health and safety after textile company's fine?
October 6th 15:18 Health and Safety
A number of UK businesses could be inspired to seek facilities management assistance to improve their health and safety processes following an incident in Clayton West.
Worker Dennis Hunter suffered a broken leg and crushed ankle after falling eight feet from a shelving unit onto the concrete floor.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that Mr Hunter and other workers were unsupervised and had not been given the correct training or equipment to dismantle the unit.
Subsequently, Huddersfield-based Phoenox Textiles was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,056 costs after pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
HSE inspector Jackie Ferguson commented: "Six workers were put at risk during the dismantling of this racking - they had absolutely no protection against falls from working at heights of up to 30 feet.
"Falls from height remain the biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of injury. Working at height without the right equipment, training or systems is wholly unacceptable and extremely dangerous."
