Friday, 1st February 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding companies of their legal duties relating to manual handling after a member of staff at East End Foods plc was injured when a 50kg sack of basmati rice fell on his neck. East End Foods plc pleaded guilty on 22 January 2008 to failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of employees under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and were fined £25,000 with £28,000 costs.
Having recieved an Improvement Notice pertaining to the risks associated with the manual unloading of 45kg sacks from containers, issued by the HSE in December 2002, East End Foods plc failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for the activity and did not take appropriate steps to reduce the risk to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. They furthermore failed to act on advice given from the company’s own health and safety consultant in 2005.
Speaking after the case, HSE’s inspector Judith Lloyd said:
“It is important that employers are aware of their legal duties to take reasonable care of the health and safety of employees. In the food and drink industry, 30 per cent of all acute injuries result from bad practice in manual handling.
“Stacking and de-stacking sacks, boxes and crates are amongst the top five causes of manual handling injuries in the food and drink industry. Studies have shown that three quarters of these injuries are preventable – that’s why the HSE is vigilant in ensuring employers follow the rules and regulations set out for their industry.”
This story was issued on behalf of the HSE by Government News Network. Full details can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2008/gnnwm47208.htm
