Egg supplier prosecuted for health and safety at work
An employee at a Shropshire egg company fell through a hole in the barn floor. She sustained serious injuries to her foot due to the hole and thus the company was brought to court. The employee was 43 at the time of the 2011 incident. She suffered from a fractured ankle and heel bone fractures in the left ankle and right ankle. The injuries have created an issue for her to return to work. She was at the factory for six years.
Staveley’s Eggs underwent health and safety audits when the incident occurred. The HSE found issues with the safety and health because the floorboards were allowed to get into a condition where a hole formed. The offending boards were removed immediately and replaced, but given that no warning signs were posted and no one told the worker that work was going to be started on the area, the incident was deemed a health and safety at work issue. The employee fell two metres to a concrete floor beneath. This is what caused the fractures. The court heard about the eight days in the hospital for the operation that involved two plates being inserted in her ankles.
Given the need for proper signage and communication, the factory has been fined £25,000 and must pay £2,400 in additional court costs. The employee has not returned to work due to limited mobility and may not be able to do so in future.
