Two Plymouth companies fined after worker fractures pelvis
Following a work accident in which an employee suffered a fractured pelvis, two companies based in Plymouth have been fined for breaching health and safety regulations.
Both CL Electrical solutions Ltd and HT Gardner Distribution Ltd were brought before Plymouth Crown Court after worker Tom Davis suffered a work accident.
Davis, a trainee electrician, was working at HT Gardner’s Plympton site at the time of the incident. He was asked to replace lightbulbs on the ceiling of the warehouse, and was lifted in a cage attached to a forklift vehicle, which was driven by one of Davis colleagues. The cage fell, and Mr Davis sustained injuries to his pelvis.
The court heard that neither employee had received the proper health and safety training on how to operate the forklift and carry out their work safely. Therefore, both companies were found liable for the incident and were charged with breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
As a result, HT Gardner Distribution Ltd was fined £20,000, plus costs of £11,300. CL Electrical Solutions Ltd was ordered to pay a fine of £7,000 in addition to £5,000 in legal costs.