Recycling company, PG Skips Limited of The Lowe, Wem, Shropshire, has been prosecuted following an employee sustaining injuries.
On 9 October 2017, an 18 year old employee of the company was injured when he fell through a four metre chute when clearing a blockage. A fellow employee who was waiting in a telescopic handler to collect the waste metal in the machine bucket, saw him fall and moved the machine to try and catch him and avoid him falling onto the concrete ground below. The employee was hit by the bucket and sustained injuries including several broken bones.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out a full investigation and found there was no risk assessment or safe system of work in place for clearing blockages. Furthermore the company had failed to consider the risk of employees falling through the chute from that height.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court, the company were found guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at work Act 1974 and were fined £17,500.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Sarah Baldwin-Jones said: "This significant injury to an 18-year-old employee in his first employment could have been easily prevented. The remedial action taken to prevent future blockages implemented after the incident had no cost implication for the company. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise risks from clearing blockages."
