Telford engineering firm fined £12K after worker suffers crush injuries

A lifting company based in Telford has been fined after a beam weighing two tonnes fell onto an employee causing severe injuries. The incident on 21 August 2014 occurred at Pelloby Engineering Limited’s site at Halesfield 19, Telford.
A team of two employees were working in the company’s ‘finishing shop’ moving a seven metre long beam (weighing approximately two tonnes) across the shop floor. The beam was connected to an overhead crane using a single five tonne fabric round sling. During lifting, the sling snapped dropping the load to the floor. It landed on one of the employees pinning him down and crushing his leg and lower torso.
Telford Magistrates Court heard today the workers were steadying the load by hand and not using ‘tag lines’ to keep them out of the danger zone. The employee using the overhead crane had not been formally trained to use it. The sling was also found to be in a poor state of repair and lacked the required LOLER statutory examination report.
Pelloby Engineering Limited of Telford was fined £12,000 with costs of £1057 after pleading guilty of breaching Regulation 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Lyn Mizen said: “This employee has suffered some horrendous injuries as a result of an entirely preventable incident. The employee leading the lifting operation was not trained to use the equipment or to recognise when it was unsafe to use. They were also not informed about the use of ‘tag lines’ which are designed to keep workers out of dangerous areas. Pelloby Engineering Limited fell far below the standards expected of a competent employer, standards which are well publicised and accepted within the industry.”
Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited (HIBL) is determined to ensure that its clients are well-informed on H&S risks such as this one, and are familiar with the legal requirements. Our specialist teams at Corporate Risk Systems Limited and Henderson Risk Management Limited provide expert advice and training to engineering and other companies. Contact Ian Cliffen on 01283 509175 or advice@crsrisk.com if you or your clients would like a no-obligation discussion on health and safety. We provide audits and reviews, H&S training and qualifications, and our popular retained consultant service. See www.crsrisk.com for further information.