A worker was asked to sort shoes which were stored on a floor, next to an unprotected area of fragile ceiling tiles. The worker fell through the fragile ceiling tiles, approximately 2.7m to the floor below, suffering serious injuries to their pelvis which resulted in a five day stay in hospital. The incident happened on 8 January 2016.
Investigating, the HSE found the company had not implemented control measures for employees working near fragile ceiling tiles.
Indulgence Patisserie Limited of Clough Road, Colchester pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £50,000 with costs of £5,151.50.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jessica Churchyard said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.
“Working on or near fragile surfaces should be properly assessed and managed. This case highlights the importance for companies to assess and control risks created by non-routine tasks.”
The Safety Conversation with SHP (previously the Safety and Health Podcast) aims to bring you the latest news, insights and legislation updates in the form of interviews, discussions and panel debates from leading figures within the profession.
Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts, subscribe and join the conversation today!
