Nichol McKay Limited fined after load fell and struck supervisor on the head

Nichol McKay Limited, a manufacturer of engineering products, was fined £12,000 after an employee was struck on the head by a falling load.

The circumstances were:

• An automatic shot blaster was being loaded.
• The Profile Shed Supervisor helped a colleague load components into a suspended basket.
• The components weighed 60 kg each.
• There was no safety catch on the hooks used to hold the basket to prevent it becoming detached.
• A loaded basket and its contents became detached and fell, striking the supervisor on the head and rendering him unconscious.
• The HSE served a Notice of Contravention and an Improvement Notice which required a review of the company’s management of lifting operations. 
• The notice was complied with when the company confirmed a new lifting operations procedure and safe system of work.

The HSE inspector  said:
“This incident could easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standard.”