Trailer manufacturing company fined after worker fell from height

Montracon Limited has been fined for safety breaches after a worker suffered head injuries after falling from a stepladder.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard that the 57-year-old worker was cleaning the cant rail of a curtain side trailer that had just been manufactured.

Whilst using stepladders positioned on top of the trailer to reach the work the employee pulled the steps further down the trailer to clean the next section. As he climbed up the steps they started to wobble causing him to fall out of the trailer onto the floor, landing on his head.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no ladder inspection regime in place and the equipment being used was not in good working order.

Montracon Limited of Carr Hill Doncaster West Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was fined £172,500.00 and ordered to pay £12,202.69 in costs

After the hearing, HSE inspector Anuja Mistry-Raval commented: “Equipment used to access work at height should be routinely inspected and checked to make sure it is in good condition and safe to use.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out a proper risk assessment, implementing appropriate control measures and adopting safe working practices

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Source HSE Website 25/11/2021