Accident at work news
29/07/2011

Man impaled on spikes in work accident

A Staffordshire firm has been fined following a successful prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an employee suffered serious injuries in an accident at work.

The 30-year-old worker from Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was clearing a blockage from the grill of an industrial feed hopper when he fell and impaled himself on the hopper's grid spikes.

The work accident caused the man to suffer severe personal injuries, including a fractured spine, broken pelvis, deep puncture wounds, and internal bleeding. His injuries were so severe that he could be wheelchair dependent later on in life.

An HSE investigation into the accident discovered that no safety procedures were in place at the factory and that employees were forced to come up with their own working methods.

Fenton Magistrates' Court heard the company admit to breaching Health and Safety Regulations and fined the firm £8,000, plus £5,236 in court costs.

An HSE inspector stated after the hearing that the accident could easily have been avoided had the correct risk assessments taken place and the findings been implemented.

The company has since carried out a comprehensive safety review of working procedures and has introduced measures to help prevent future accidents at work from occurring.