A MANUFACTURING firm in Droitwich has been fined £14,000 after an employee was crushed during work hours.
Worcester Magistrates’ Court heard how, on April 8 2017, a Global Displays Limited employee was injured when a stack of panels toppled over and crushed him.
Several small panels were untied and left upright against bigger panels which caused the whole stack to fall after it became unstable.
The worker suffered a dislocated shoulder and a fractured arm.
The Health and Safety Executive looked into the incident and discovered the company had failed to identify the risks involved in storing timber boards close to work benches.
It was found that Global Displays Limited had not provided a safe place for the boards to be stored.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Alastair Mitchell said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out a risk assessment.
“This would have identified the risks from unsafe stacking and the need for appropriate control measures, such as method for storing boards safely.”
The firm pleased guilty to breaching a section of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was ordered to pay costs of £1,179.
“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
