Summary:
Greenhalgh’s Craft Bakery Limited of Bolton has been fined £16,667 after an employee fractured their hip in April 2024. The incident occurred when the employee fell from a large plastic pallet box while attempting to dispose of food waste into a skip. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company failed to conduct a suitable risk assessment for loading skips, did not provide appropriate equipment for safe working at height, and had inadequate supervision, allowing unsafe practices to become commonplace. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Analysis:
This case highlights the critical importance of employers conducting thorough risk assessments for all tasks, including seemingly routine ones like waste disposal, especially when working at height is involved. The company’s failure to provide proper equipment and supervision for working at height directly led to a serious employee injury. It serves as a reminder that relying on improvised solutions, such as standing on a pallet box, without proper safety measures and oversight, can lead to significant consequences, both for employee welfare and the company’s legal and financial standing. The HSE reiterates that working at height remains a leading cause of workplace injuries, stressing the need for employers to identify risks, ensure safe access, and monitor practices to prevent such incidents.