Companies are reminded to ensure that safe working procedures are in place, and training provided for all employees who work at height. The warning comes after an Evesham horticultural nursery was fined when a worker suffered serious head injuries when they fell through a glasshouse roof.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company following the incident at their premises on 4 December 2009. Worcester Magistrates' Court heard how the 21-year-old man was cleaning a valley gutter between two roofs on a glasshouse when he fell about three metres through the glass, landing on a concrete floor.
He suffered concussion with blood on the brain, fractured his hand and sustained other cuts and bruises, and could not work for three months after the incident.
HSE's investigation into the incident found that the firm had taken no measures to prevent workers falling from the glasshouse roofs and did not understand the risks involved when working at height.
In addition, the injured man had been inadequately trained, by an employee who was not trained in working at height himself.
The company pleaded guilty today to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £6,835 costs.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Chris Gregory said:
"Every year, people are seriously injured as a result of falling through glasshouse roofs onto wires, hooks, staging or the ground, and from being cut by glass. However, the vast majority of these incidents can be avoided with proper planning.
"Companies must make sure they understand the risks involved in working at height and take suitable measures to prevent workers from falling, such as installing lightweight balancing frames. It is unacceptable that the company failed to do this and a man was seriously injured as a result."
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