A manufacturing firm has been fined following an incident in which two employees were struck by falling stone slabs, leaving one with severe injuries. The accident occurred on 17 June 2022 at a workshop in Ipswich, where the workers were handling slabs of quartz stone.
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Bespoke Stone Ltd, based on Dales Road, was found to have unsafe handling and storage practices. The slabs were not properly secured, and the restraint system used did not accommodate larger pieces of material. As a result, three slabs fell from a stillage onto the two employees.
One of the workers, Steven Constable, sustained multiple fractures, including to his right femur, hip, left tibia, and foot, requiring several operations. He has been unable to work for over two years and spent a total of 12 weeks in hospital. The other worker, Struan Dunsmore, suffered bruising and needed time off work.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company had also failed to properly report Mr Constable's injuries and Mr Dunsmore's absence under RIDDOR regulations. HSE guidance states that slabs must remain restrained during loading and unloading operations to prevent such incidents.
Bespoke Stone Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The firm was fined £6,600 and ordered to pay £4,875.40 in costs by Peterborough Magistrates' Court on 17 January 2025.
HSE inspector Jessica Flint stated that the company 'failed to grasp the importance of safe handling and storage,' adding that CCTV footage highlighted the severity of the incident. She warned that HSE would not hesitate to take enforcement action against businesses failing to meet safety standards.
Source: www.bigfurnituregroup.com