County Antrim engineering firm fined after an employee was seriously injured at work
Date published:
Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), County Antrim engineering company, Maine Surface Finishing Ltd has been fined for failing to ensure the safety of employees during lifting operations.
Today at Laganside Crown Court, Belfast, Maine Surface Finishing Ltd was fined £10,000 after earlier pleading guilty to a single health and safety offence.
The Court heard that on 29 August 2023, an employee sustained serious foot injuries while attempting to move a large metal frame with an overhead crane at its Coleraine premises. The frame was being moved from one area of the workshop to another, with a fabric sling connecting the frame to the overhead crane. During this move, the fabric sling sheared against the edge of the 700kg metal frame, causing the frame to fall onto the left foot of the operator. The operator was brought to hospital where it was discovered that the damage was so severe that it resulted in partial amputation of four toes.
Prosecutors in the PPS’s Fraud & Departmental Section worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to build a robust prosecution case.
HSENI Inspector, Kevin Campbell said: “Employers have a legal duty to ensure employees and others are not put at risk during lifting operations, when components are being transferred and moved about the workplace.”
The investigation established that the company did not provide crane or slinging training to the team involved in selecting and securing an appropriate sling to the metal frame. It further established that the Company did not have a supervisor on the night shift who was trained and competent in crane/sling arrangements, or the planning of the lift.
Mr Campbell added: “Employers must ensure they complete an adequate risk assessment of the work process and implement proper controls to prevent harm to their workers. Workers must be adequately and appropriately trained to ensure they are competent to perform the range of tasks they are required to do.
“The law requires that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment needs to be properly planned by a competent person, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.
“HSENI will not hesitate to recommend the prosecution of businesses and individuals who are found to have failed in the provision of safe working conditions for their employees.”
The relevant HSE Approved Code of Practice Safe Use of Lifting Equipment contains information and guidance on the safe procedures for lifting operations including its planning, equipment selection and maintenance, and supervision. This document is readily available to view and free to download via www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/l113.pdf
Notes to editors :
Breach and fine for Maine Surface Finishing Ltd is as follows:
a) Article 4(1) of the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, fine £10,000.
- For media enquiries please contact: HSENI Press Office on 028 90243249 or email media@hseni.gov.uk. For out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.