C & R Powder Coating and Welding Fabrication Ltd., was £30,338 after worker was hit by 350kg of plastic sheeting

 Poole-based C & R Powder Coating and Welding Fabrication Ltd., was fined £30,338 (inc.costs) after polycarbonnate sheets fell from an inadequate trolley, hitting a worker.

The circumstances were:

• On 27 July 2017, the worker was checking the straps on a wheeled A-frame trolley.
• The trolley contained ten 6m long polycarbonate sheets, each weighing 35kg.
• The trolley was unsuitable for the storage and transport of the plastic sheets because it was not sufficiently long enough. 
• Also, it had no means for ensuring the straps being used would stay in place.
• The load unexpectedly slipped, hitting him and pushing him to the ground.
• Colleagues had to lift the sheets off him.
• He suffered shattered lumbar vertebrae and had to be kept in a lying down position on his back for two weeks in hospital.

The HSE Inspector said:
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out safe working practices and ensuring work equipment is suitable for the purpose for which it is to be used. Accidents like this can happen with plastic sheets but equally with wood board, steel plate or stone slabs. Any flat profile material should be secured against falling or slipping out as the consequences can be a serious injury or even a fatality.”