Quarry Workers Endangered by Unsafe Equipment

A quarry owner has been fined £7,500 for operating unsafe machinery.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had ordered the employer not to use machinery until a guard was installed to protect employees. Although a guard was fitted, a subsequent inspection revealed that it had been removed.

The employer was found to have breached Regulation 11(1)(a) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The HSE pointed out after the hearing that; “If someone had fallen into the machine they could easily have been killed or had a limb amputated or severely crushed. Preventing access to dangerous parts of moving machinery is a basic and vital safety precaution to ensure the welfare of a company’s workforce.”

In the last ten years over 3000 quarry workers have suffered an injury reportable to HSE, 24 of those being fatal.

In addition to a fine, Employer’s are strictly liable for any losses suffered by employees as a result of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. This means that employees are entitled to pursue their employer for damages if they have been injured as a result of the breach.

If you have had an accident at work as a result of dangerous or inadequate equipment, Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors can provide specialist advice.