Fencing company fined £53,000 after worker injured

A Sussex-based fencing company has been sentenced after a worker suffered serious injuries to his hand when installing a vehicle crash barrier.

Folkestone Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 15 September 2016, an employee of Littlewood Fencing Limited was using a post-driver to install a post as part of a crash barrier when an extension post came out of position and the hammer head fell, crushing his hand. The worker lost his index finger, broke his ring finger, and severed nerves and tendons in his little finger. The worker also suffered lacerations to his palm and thumb of his left hand.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company failed to implement a safe system of work for using the post-driver. This included a failure to ensure those using this particular post-driver had the necessary information, instruction and training to do so.

Littlewood Fencing Ltd of North Trade Road, Battle, East Sussex pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £53,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,010.72.

Speaking after the hearing, inspector Ross Carter said, “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working”.