News

Fruit packing company Cross & Wells was fined £3,000 yesterday (23 June) for worker injury after an employee sustained injuries at its Sittingbourne premises in October 2006.

The company was also ordered to pay £3,422 in costs after employee Magdalena Osuchowska fell from a platform, which in turn fell from the forks of a forklift truck that was being driven by an unauthorised driver.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector David Fussell said it is "essential for employees to have safe working procedures for working at height" and that we must "learn from the experiences of others".

The HSE has "always been available to give advice", he added, so there is "simply no excuse for employers to plead ignorance of good health and safety practice".

John Counsell, managing director designate of Cross & Wells, told Packaging News: "All staff at Cross & Wells undergo an extensive induction training programme when joining the company and ongoing training is provided throughout their time with the company.

"This means that all staff are fully aware of the correct procedures to follow when carrying out maintenance tasks or working with any equipment or machinery, although unfortunately the company's procedures were not followed on this occasion."