HSE Issues Warning to Regulation Flouting Employers
Statistics suggest that around 1000 employees are injured every month as a result of slipping or falling at their workplace. Most of these accidents are directly attributable to the negligence of the employer in maintaining a good standard of health and safety in accordance with the provisions of health and safety regulations. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has thus issued a warning to employers reminding them of their duties towards ensuring health and safety of the workers. Click on health and safety news for a complete guide to IOSH and NEBOSH training.
Recently, Dodson and Horrell Limited, a Kettering-based animal feed company was fined £2,000 and directed to make a payment of £2,255 as costs after pleading guilty to the violation of Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The company admitted to having been negligent towards the safety of workers, especially those working at heights, which led to serious injury to a 53 year old employee, who was working on oiling of machinery chains and fell from a height of six feet.
Michelle Morrison, an Inspector with the HSE, said that the injuries caused to the employee were directly attributable to the failure in ensuring proper protective measures for workers on part of the company. There were clear lapses in conducting risk assessments for the workers, mainly for those engaged in work at heights.
The accident that occurred at the Ringstead, Northamptonshire premises of the company and the subsequent fine imposed, serves as a reminder to employers who do not pay attention to the safety of their workers at the workplace.
