In Court

Worker struck on head by heavy object

Alison Fava

Halifax Rack and Screw Cutting Co Ltd has been sentenced  for safety breaches after a worker was struck on the head and suffered temporary blindness and longer term vision problems.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 10 August 2016, the worker was hit by a heavy object falling from racking. The HSE’s investigation found that the employee was using an overhead travelling crane to move an item within the factory. The crane was positioned above an area of storage racking. The travelling crane’s “festoon” power cables displaced a heavy object stored on the top level of the racking, which fell and struck him on the head.

Halifax Rack and Screw Cutting Co Ltd of Coronation works Armytage Road Brighouse pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 10(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £48,024 with £2,051 costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Sally Gay commented: “Being struck by a falling object is a major cause of death and injury, which can be easily prevented by taking simple steps.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”

A round -up of the biggest health and safety court cases from December 2018.

Related Topics