Hereford company fined after worker injury
The employee suffered head injuries and says they have ongoing health issues
Last updated 17th Mar 2023
Wyman-Gordon Limited, a company based in Hereford, has been fined £190,000 and ordered to pay £35,000 in costs after an employee was seriously injured in a workplace accident. The incident occurred on 25 November 2018, when the employee fell into a pit while working on the company’s premises on Spa Road, Lincoln. The man sustained deep cuts to his head that required eight stitches, and the incident had a lasting impact on his physical and emotional wellbeing.
The company produces forgings for the aerospace industry, and the man was working on a counterblow hammer when a lifting sling containing a 169kg load broke. The load fell and broke the board that the worker was standing on, causing him to fall into the bottom of the pit. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of its employees during the ram seal replacement. There was no safe system of work that properly addressed work at height and lifting operations.
In his victim impact statement, the worker described how the incident left him feeling anxious and unable to perform high-risk work. He also suffered ongoing physical issues, including back problems and frequent headaches. The accident had a partial impact on his ability to care for his wife, as he was unable to lean forward or bend down for several weeks after the incident.
HSE inspector Stacey Gamwell commented on the case, saying: “Employers have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working that properly address the risks. Had one been in place prior to the incident, the injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented. There is guidance freely available on the HSE Website regarding the safe planning, organisation, and undertaking of lifting operations. Guidance is also freely available in relation to working at height safely.”
Wyman-Gordon Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £190,000 and ordered to pay £35,000 in costs at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 16 March 2023. The case serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of implementing safe systems of work and ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of their employees.