A chemical firm has been handed a hefty fine after a worker suffered a nasty injury following a fall off a ladder.

The incident occurred at the company’s site in Workington when the employee was attempting to inspect a steam leak at height.

While scaling a ladder to do so, the ladder failed, resulting in the worker falling two metres to the ground below, incurring a serious elbow injury in the process.

Further Investigation

The incident resulted in the firm, Vertellus Specialties UK Ltd, being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive.

Following their inquiry, the HSE soon concluded that the company had failed to ensure that the job was adequately planned and managed.

Meanwhile, the HSE also surmised that Vertellus had failed to inspect the equipment and ensure it was fit for use.

Consequences

While the incident took place back in June 2018, the verdict was only reached this past week.

The hearing saw company representatives plead guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The results left Vertellus Specialties UK Ltd with a lofty fine of £120k with over £5k in costs.

Ladder Safety Equipment

Such an incident could have been avoided if the appropriate cautionary steps had been taken in advance.

At SLG, we have a variety of ladder safety equipment to help prevent such instances from occurring and minimise the risks of injury, ranging from removable wall anchors to fall protection kits.

Meanwhile, we also offer permanent structural solutions in the form of our Rung Mounted Permanent Vertical Fall Arrest System, compatible with a demountable mobile anchorage device for additional safety and enhanced freedom of movement.

With so many options available in terms of ladder safety equipment, there’s really no excuse for placing workers at risk. Keep your employees safe when working at height and protect your business at the same time with ladder safety equipment from SLG.

For more information on precautions for working at height or ladder safety equipment, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0117 9381 600 or get in touch online by clicking the link below.

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A water storage tank manufacturing firm was recently fined thousands of pounds for failing to prevent a fall that left an employee with multiple fractures of the head, ribs, fingers and shoulder blade.

SHP Online recently reported that Braithwaite Engineers Ltd had been fined £9,400 - plus costs of £1,680.75 - after pleading guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) noted that the fall, which occurred in October 2017, might have been prevented if the company had provided suitable and clear instructions and working at height training.

HSE Inspector Will Powell stated:

"Falls from vehicles can be overlooked by employers...[but] simple measures would have prevented this accident."

Fall Protection for Lorry Beds

Working on a lorry bed can be dangerous if there's no barrier around the edges of the platform.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we sell lorry edge protection straps to help you minimise the risk to your employees while they're working on an elevated lorry bed.

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These high-visibility straps are easy to attach, and they reduce the likelihood that a worker will fall off the edge of the lorry and injure him/herself.

Our RJ200 hangman frame lorry / container access anchor is also ideal for improving worker safety on raised lorry beds.

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This frame can be used as a semi-permanent mobile anchor point for safety harnesses when working at height. It stands roughly 6.25 metres tall and allows for a working radius of 3 metres (approximately 9.84 feet).

Please call SafetyLiftinGear on 0117 9381 600 or contact us online if you'd like to discuss your height safety requirements. We're more than happy to recommend products, and we can even provide bespoke fall protection solutions for particularly demanding or unusual jobs.

The dangers of working at height have hit the headlines once again this week after two companies were heavily fined for putting their workers' safety at risk.

According to industry watchdog, Safety & Health Practitioner, an incident in April 2016 saw pipe repair workers in Bilston exposed to significant risk during a job at a warehouse owned by James Durrans & Sons Ltd.

The contractors, working for Kingswinford Engineering Co Ltd, were hired to fix pipework on the roof of the warehouse; however, the conditions provided were shockingly reckless, posing a variety of dangers for those working on the job.

No Safety System

The nature of the task required workers to be hoisted to the roof in a forklift man-cage; however, the forklift fell short of the roof, leaving a three-foot gap.

The roof was then only accessible by climbing from the cage to the roof. Worse still, the roof itself was said to be slippery and wet with no protective barrier in place to prevent a fall.

An investigation by the HSE concluded that neither the warehouse owners or the repair company had conducted a proper risk assessment and no safety system had implemented for the job.

The Price of Safety

The HSE findings highlighted that both James Durrans & Sons Ltd and Kingswinford Engineering Co Ltd had assumed the other had the safety procedures covered.

This gross negligence led both parties to plead guilty to breaching sections of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The result saw Kingswinford Engineering fined to the tune of £18k with costs of £9k, while Durrans & Sons were fined an even heftier £100k with costs of £20k.

Proper Precautions

The news story highlights the importance of worker/contractor safety on site and the financial ramifications associated with such an oversight.

Despite the lofty fines levied against both companies involved, the price could have been far steeper should an accident have occurred.

If you or your company are involved in working at height, suitable and appropriate fall protection measures are a must – it could save a life.

For more information on fall arrest and fall protection, call now on 0117 9381 600 or get in touch online using the button below.

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According to statistics published by the Health & Safety Executive, approximately 26% of UK workplace fatalities in 2018 came as a result of falling from height.

That sobering statistic highlights just how dangerous working at height can be and, moreover, just how important it is to take the correct precautions before engaging in such activities.

If working at height is a big part of your job, keep yourself and others protected by being mindful of the risks involved.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most important things to consider when working at height.

Take Note of Legislation

Laws are implemented for a reason, so it’s important to take note of the relevant legislation. When it comes to working at height, this point is extremely important.

Make sure that you fully understand what applies to you and take the appropriate actions to adhere to these rulings at all times.

For workers, knowing and following these guidelines can help ensure that the working conditions are safe and risks are kept to a minimum.

Meanwhile, for employers, it can also help ensure all actions are done by the book, protecting the workers while also protecting the company from liability claims in the event of an accident.

Assess the Risks

Like any potentially dangerous situation, a comprehensive risk assessment is vital in preparing for the task at hand and can help highlight any areas of concern.

Conducting a thorough risk assessment can not only allow you to minimise the dangers but also potentially allow you to eliminate them altogether.

Should the risks be unavoidable, the identification of these dangers allows for preventative measures to be put in place, such as a fall arrest or fall restraint system.

Knowledge is Power

It’s the employer’s responsibility to provide the worker with the relevant training for the task at hand. This point is included in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and is naturally extremely important to take into consideration.

Suitable training can prepare workers for the proposed job and allow them to carry them out safely. Only those that have the relevant level of experience and training should be authorised to carry out the corresponding task.

Prepare for the Worst

While every step should be taken to avoid a devastating accident, failure to prepare for the worst is not only foolish and short-sighted but also potentially very dangerous.

Be sure to formulate and implement an appropriate rescue plan to keep all parties covered in the event of an unfortunate mishap. This includes supplying the appropriate emergency rescue equipment.

Which leads us nicely to our next point…

Come Equipped

In order to ensure you are completely protected in the event of a fall, it’s vital that the correct equipment is used at all times. Often referred to as PPE (Personal Protection Equipment), this is the last resort standing between you and the ground in the event of a worst-case scenario.

It’s important to remember that not all fall protection equipment is universal and some protection measures will be more appropriate for a specific job than others. For more information on the different kinds of safety restraints, check out our blog on overhead and horizontal safety lines.

In addition to supplying equipment for working at height, we also provide inspection and certification of such equipment. For advice and guidance on what equipment may be best for you, get in touch today to speak with one of your specialist advisors.

For more information on precautions for working at height and general safety measures for height work, why not drop us a line today?

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A scaffolding company located in Dorset has been sentenced after a 49-year old worker fell victim to serious, life-changing injuries as a result of falling five metres through a skylight whilst working.

Paul Norris was working for Solar Scaffold Services Limited, who were contacted to erect an access tower and guard rails on the roof perimeter of industrial units in Christchurch during April 2017. On completion of the work on the access tower, Mr Norris proceeded to assist his co-workers with work on the guard rails, gaining access via the roof. As he was doing this, Mr Norris fell through a skylight which was approximately five metres above the floor and suffered a number of serious injuries to his arm, elbow, wrists, ribs and pelvis as a result. 

Following the injuries, Mr Norris remained in the hospital for three weeks, undergoing several operations with much physiotherapy still required. This has resulted in him being registered disabled, forced to move into an adapted flat, the inability to return to work and his wife having to give up work in order to provide full-time care.

Following an investigation conducted by the HSE, it was found that the employer Solar Scaffold Services Limited, failed in their duty to provide adequate safety measures, through poor planning, supervision and execution. Insufficient measures were taken to prevent the fall whilst work was carried out on the fragile roof.

This has resulted in Solar Scaffold Services Limited pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and being fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £3,000.

HSE Inspector Caroline Penwill stated after the hearing that "falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and injuries in this country. This serious incident could have been avoided if the work had been properly planned to reduce risk."

To ensure you are properly protected whilst working at height, take a look at our range of Height Safety Equipment by clicking below - if you have any questions regarding any of our products, then please contact us today!

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If working at height is a regular part of your job, you know that proper fall protection equipment is imperative when it comes to getting the job done efficiently and safely. The dangers of working at height do not stop once the worker’s fall-arrest equipment performs effectively to reduce the consequences of a fall from height. The worker may now be at risk of an equally life-threatening emergency; suspension trauma.

When carrying a heavy load, it is paramount that you are using the correct equipment to keep you, and your colleagues, safe. But when it comes to carrying heavy loads upstairs it is even more crucial that you are tackling the task with the appropriate equipment, having fully evaluated potential risks.

The added hazard of falling and/or crushing means carrying loads upstairs is something you should take very seriously. The good news is, Safety Lifting Gear offers the equipment you need to make lifting loads upstairs easier and more efficient! Read on, to find out How to Safely Carry Loads Upstairs: