Unsecured granite slabs fell on workers

A Bournemouth company has admitted failing to create a safe system of work or provide adequate training prior to an incident in which two workers were crushed by granite slabs.

Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court heard the incident took place at Modular Granite Ltd’s factory on Durrant Road in the city, on 12 April last year. Agency worker Chris Thurston, 34, and Modular Granite employee Gary Avery, 24, were part of a team of four workers moving granite slabs at the site.

Mr Thurston and Mr Avery took the weight of four slabs, which were stacked inside an A-frame, while the other workers tried to remove a separate slab. However, the two me were unable to hold the weight and the slabs fell on top of them.

Mr Thurston suffered a cut to his neck, a broken leg and damaged veins, and is still unable to return to work owing to his injuries. Mr Avery suffered bruising to his leg and a compact nerve syndrome in his foot.

The HSE visited the site the day after the incident and found the company had failed to provide proper training for the workers on safe ways of removing the slabs, or ensuring they could not topple over.€

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

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Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

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