Sponsored by
Man almost died after fall at work
A worker was nearly killed when he tried to fix a ceiling unit and fell from a ladder, a court heard.
Prosecutors said the 57-year-old employee was lucky to be alive after he fell more than two metres from the top of a spray booth at Spray-Craft Coatings, in Irchester High Street.
He was in an induced coma for two weeks after he suffered several fractures and bleeding to the brain.
The company was yesterday fined 5,000 and ordered to pay 1,100 costs at Wellingborough Magistrates Court after the Health and Safety Executive prosecuted them for the accident on May 19 last year.
Chairman of magistrates Andrew Scarborough said: "These are very serious offences and we commend the HSE for its vigorous approach in prosecuting.
"In terms of culpability for this offence, we believe this was carried out recklessly without any regard for the safety of those involved."
HSE inspector Peter Snelgrove, prosecuting, added: "It's totally unacceptable that so many lives of employees who work from height continue to be put at risk. Falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries.
"This case illustrates why risks should always be properly assessed.
"This incident could have been avoided, and a man not seriously injured if Spray-Craft had put a safe working plan in place."
The incident happened when the unidentified worker tried to help fix the broken equipment and climbed a ladder to get near the top.
Yesterday the company, which only employs three people, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Work at Regulations 2005.
These included failing to make sure work was properly planned and failure to ensure sufficient measures were taken to prevent a person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.
Francoise Snape, representing Spray Craft Coatings in court, said the company had now reviewed safety procedures and cooperated fully with the inquiry.
She said: "The company deeply regrets this incident and the accident has had a profound effect on each and every one of them.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North west
