Drax Power Ltd. has been fined two thousand pounds after a man was seriously injured due to the absence of hazard signs at their power station. The Selby Magistrates Court has also ordered the company to pay costs of £2,800.20 after the company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) and Regulation 11(b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Post the incident, the Health and Safety Executive has cautioned the employers and has emphasized the importance of placing hazard-warning signs and of not leaving holes open in the walkways. The incident took place when the employee was on his way for routine checking of plant and equipment.
A floor plate had been taken off for a cleaning routine and scaffolding had been erected to discourage entry in that area. However, there was no warning sign to indicate the danger because of which the employee entered through the entry gate, and fell into the basement ten feet below, through the hole. The fall injured the man seriously, and he has been unable to attend work since then.
HSE Inspector, Jacqueline Ferguson commented that the employee could have been saved from injury had adequate safety precautions been taken around the risky area.
Falls from heights result in most workplace deaths and injuries, and they are on the priority list for the Health and Safety Executive. Ferguson said that any work involving heights should be considered dangerous. It should be properly assessed for the risks and subsequently sufficient safety measures should be implemented to prevent accidents.
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