HSE | A horticultural company has been fined after an employee suffered serious injuries after falling from a ladder.
The employee had been tasked to check irrigation that was watering plants contained in hanging baskets at the site in Banbury on 7 June 2023.
As the man climbed the ladder, it fell and collapsed under him, resulting in five broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Ball Colegrave Ltd failed to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety, and welfare at work of all their employees. In this instance, there was a failure to ensure that work at height was planned and carried out in a manner which was so far as is reasonably practicable safe.
Working at height remains one of the leading causes of workplace injury and death and HSE has detailed guidance on working safely at height.
Ball Colegrave Limited of Milton Road, West Adderbury, Banbury pleaded guilty to contravening a requirement of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The company was fined £80,000 and was ordered to pay £7,061 costs at a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court.
