Hedon Salads prosecuted after worker falls through glasshouse roof

The 44-year-old, who does not wish to be named, was one of a team cleaning and repainting greenhouse gutters at Hedon Salads' Burstwick site on 26 August 2010. He lost his footing and fell through the glass roof, breaking his wrist and suffering a head wound that required 20 staples.
 
HSE discovered no equipment was provided and no instruction given to protect them against a fall, and served a Prohibition Notice on the firm preventing further work on the guttering until safety measures were in place.
 
Hedon Salads was yesterday fined £12,500 with £3,921 in costs at Hull Magistrates' Court after admitting a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
 
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Andrew Gale said:
 
"This employee was extremely lucky not to have suffered more severe injuries, or even lost his life, in a fall of over four metres. It could have easily been prevented by providing the proper equipment, such as a lightweight walking frame.
 
"This case highlights how important it is for employers to identify the risks involved in working at height, particularly near fragile materials, and taking the necessary steps to reduce those risks and prevent falls."