Employers fined after worker suffers personal injury

Posted 01/06/2009

Two companies in Northumberland have been fined more than £8,000 after an employee suffered a personal injury at work.

North East Concrete Limited and North East Plant Sales were prosecuted as a result of an incident in which a worker tripped and fell into some machinery at a quarry.

Magistrates decided that they had failed to adhere to strict legislation regarding the protection of employees in the workplace.

The Health and Safety Executive has therefore urged plant operators to ensure they comply with the law and meet the minimum safety guidelines.

Bruno Porter, an inspector at the regulator, commented: “In quarries and other hard environments, the machines are powerful and unforgiving.

“The guarding and other safety arrangements must be checked regularly to make sure workers remain protected.”

According to official figures, more than 200 people in the UK were killed as a result of workplace accidents last year.