A Kent fruit farm has been fined almost £30,000 after allowing a worker to access a roof repair by standing in an apple box raised by a fork lift truck.
Payne Stores, based in Bicknor, near Sittingbourne, had been allowing roof work to take place with no controls or training specific to the job, inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found.
After a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court, the company was fined a total of £18,600 and ordered to pay a further £9,173 in costs after pleading guilty to breaches of Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and Regulation 9(3) of the Working at Height Regulations.
“Death and serious injury following falls from the edge of roofs or through fragile materials are all too common and proper planning is vital to ensure the work is carried out safely and the correct precautions are identified and used,” said HSE inspector, Joanne Williams.
“I hope this prosecution makes it clear to employers that they need to properly manage the risks of working at height and that HSE will not hesitate to take action against those who fall short of the law in such a way.”
