Staff safety is your concern

We have written previously about the need to ensure the safety of your domestic and household staff and, once again, although the circumstances differ, the same lesson can be learnt.

Penalties for not ensuring their safety are rising and costs can be crippling. In this instance we look at how a young worker, on their very first day of work experience was seriously injured.

At peak load times, many of you hire extra staff, who are very often young and inexperienced.

In this instance, the male youngster was asked to help unload an electrical panel from a lorry. The panel had been placed on a pallet and he was asked to steady it.The panel toppled over and he was trapped across the forks of a fork lift truck which was being used. He suffered five compression fractures to his pelvis and sustained a head injury.

On investigation, the Health and Safety Executive found the company had failed to carry out: suitable risk assessement, training, supervision and communication.

After pleading to breaching Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the company was fined ￡86.666 and ordered to pay costs of ￡12,143.

We have written previously about the need to ensure the safety of your domestic and household staff and, once again, although the circumstances differ, the same lesson can be learnt.

Penalties for not ensuring their safety are rising and costs can be crippling. In this instance we look at how a young worker, on their very first day of work experience was seriously injured.

At peak load times, many of you hire extra staff, who are very often young and inexperienced.

In this instance, the male youngster was asked to help unload an electrical panel from a lorry. The panel had been placed on a pallet and he was asked to steady it.The panel toppled over and he was trapped across the forks of a fork lift truck which was being used. He suffered five compression fractures to his pelvis and sustained a head injury.

On investigation, the Health and Safety Executive found the company had failed to carry out: suitable risk assessement, training, supervision and communication.

After pleading to breaching Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the company was fined ￡86.666 and ordered to pay costs of ￡12,143.

The message is clear, whether your staff are permanent, or hired for peak periods, as their employer you are responsible for their safety.