Two potato processors have been fined a combined £80,000 after workers were seriously injured in separate incidents.
In the first case, which relates back to an accident on 24 October 2017, CH Cole and Sons (Mill House) of West Tilbury was found not to have employed safe systems at work after a 34 year-old agency worker was seriously injured when he fell onto the cleaning rollers of a potato grading machine. He had been clearing potatoes off the rollers but the machine had not been isolated from its power source, and was restarted while the worker was still in a dangerous area. He fell on the rotating rollers and his arm was drawn in up to the shoulder before the machine could be stopped.
CH Cole & Sons (Mill House) was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £6,000 costs at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaching two sections of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
Health & Safety Executive inspector Saffron Turnell said: “The worker involved in this incident sustained a serious and potentially life-changing injury, but the outcome could have been much worse. This investigation highlights and consolidates the important and consistent guidance HSE provides to the agricultural industry about the safe stop of machinery and plant, and companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those that fall below the required standards.
“As farms start to plan for the holiday season, this case is also a timely reminder of ensuring casual workers are adequately shown how to operate in a safe system of working and the importance of safe stop procedures.”
Telehandler accident
In a separate incident, potato processor Braegate Produce was sentenced for safety breaches after a worker was struck by a telehandler load.
Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 5 January 2018, 62 year-old Colin Smith was walking across the middle yard to the maintenance workshop when he was struck by three potato boxes loaded on the tines of a telehandler being operated by another employee. The impact knocked him to the ground and caused a fracture to his left leg.
An HSE investigation found the company had insufficient measures in place to prevent people being struck by a vehicle and that a protected walkway was provided to only two sides of the yard, but not to the right side between the production sheds and the engineers workshop, a well-used pedestrian route. The investigation also found a large number of boxes had been stored in the yard which meant there was less room resulting in pedestrians, including Smith, having to take a route further into the transport area than was necessary.
The company also failed to ensure forklift truck and telehandler operators were clear what the site rules were around the transportation of potato boxes and to effectively enforce these.
Braegate Produce pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Workplace (Health and Safety Welfare) Regulations 1991 and was fined £50,000, with £962 in costs.
HSE inspector Kate Dixon said: “Companies need to organise transport operations to reduce the risk it poses to pedestrians. This should include consideration of the site, driver and vehicles. There are some quick, easy and inexpensive steps that can be implemented.'
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