The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fined Michael Wilson, who trades as the Lancashire-based CV repairer M Wilson Commercials, after one of his employees broke his back after falling off a ladder, reports Laurie Dealer.
The incident took place at Roadferry Transport Yard on Carr Lane, Farington, Leyland, on 3 March 2010, when an unnamed employee climbed a ladder at the CV garage to reach the release mechanism for a lorry cab.
HSE says the employee fell to the ground when the ladder slipped, causing him to break a vertebrae in his spine. He is still unable to return to work, nearly a year after the incident.
An investigation found the ladder had missing feet at both ends, the bottom rung was damaged and it appeared to have been cut off at the top. Wilson admitted breaching Regulation 5(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 by failing to make sure the ladder was well maintained, and was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £2,000.
HSE says on average 12 people a year die after falling from ladders in British workplaces and more than 1,200 suffer major injuries.
