Serious injury at glass manufacturing company

A glass company and a ventilation system engineer have both been fined after a contractor sustained life threatening injuries.

The injured person was one of three contractors who had started to dismantle an industrial box oven at the premises when the incident took place.

The injured person was standing on the roof of the oven when he stumbled and fell from the top of the oven, landing on the ground. His injuries were so severe he was put in an induced coma by paramedics at the scene. He sustained a number of injuries, namely a fractured neck, sternum, skull, and collarbone and has permanently lost the sight in his right eye. He has not returned to work since the accident.

The injured person was an employee of Neil Shield (trading as Shield Ventilation Services) who was contracted to undertake the work at Peterlee Glass Company Limited, UK..

An investigation by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the dismantling work had not been properly planned by the contractor and the control of contractors by the glass company was inadequate.

Peterlee Glass Company Limited, of Lister Road, North West Industrial Estate, Peterlee, pleaded guilty to Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and were fined £1500 with costs of £1131 at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court, UK

Neil Shield of Dumpling Hall, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £3500 with costs of £1080.