Farmer fined for fall injuries

A Nottinghamshire farm business has been prosecuted for safety failings after an employee suffered serious injuries in a roof fall.

Newark and Southwell magistrates heard today that two workers were dismantling a farm building at Manor Farm on Broadgate Lane in Kelham, near Newark, on 13 May 2009 when one of them stepped onto a fragile roof panel and fell approximately four metres to the ground. He suffered a broken pelvis, four broken ribs and a broken shoulder blade.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that James Miller (Kelham) Ltd failed to properly plan the dismantling work, which then exposed the workers to unnecessary danger.

HSE Inspector David Butter said:

"The worker was extremely lucky to survive. The work on the roof should not have been carried out in the way it was, with just a ladder and some plywood boards. The fall could have been avoided had the work been properly planned and appropriate safety measures taken such as using scaffolding or a cherry-picker.

Falls from height are the biggest causes of workplace deaths and it's crucial that employers make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and that sufficient measures are put in place to protect staff from these risks."

James Miller (Kelham) Ltd admitted contravening regulations 29(1) and 29(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The company was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,114

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Item sourced from   http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-em-17011.htm