Prosecution of two firms depicts need for health and safety at work
MB Air Systems and GT Precision Products were prosecuted by the Peterlee Magistrates Court regarding employee injuries after a health and safety at work incident. The worker, who does not wish to be named, was injured on 13 December 2010 while installing a pipe and then falling from a stepladder.
The man worked at MB Air Systems as a pipe work installation engineer at the time of the incident. MB Air Systems was hired to conduct the work by GT Precision Products. The employee was installing pipe work for a compressed air distribution system. The original pipe work needed to be altered, so the worker used a step ladder to reach three metres above the floor. Unfortunately, the employee lost his balance catching a level valve that opened releasing compressed air. This then caused the open pipe to swing around and strike the man in the head.
The incident resulted in 14 fractures to his skull, a fractured eye socket, and internal bruising to his brain and lower back. The worker has been able to return to work after an extended recovery period. The HSE conducted health and safety audits to determine how the incident occurred and what might have been done differently. It was revealed that access to a powered platform such as a scissor lift would have protected the worker from injury. MB Air Systems was fined 5,000 pounds and an additional 3,200 pounds in court costs. GT Precision Products was fined the same amount and also paid the same in court costs.
