Food manufacturing company, Karro Foods, has been fined more than £1.8 million after two workers suffered serious injuries when they fell over 4m through a roof light.
Leeds Magistrates’ Court heard how, on April 13, 2016, the two workers were investigating a leak from the roof at the firm’s Malton site in Yorkshire, which the workers did not realise contained several roof lights.
The workers were walking closely together and both stood on the same roof light which consequently fell through due to the weight.
One worker suffered four fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and muscular contusions to his outer right thigh. The other suffered a fractured skull, muscular injuries to his right leg and injuries inside his ear which cause ongoing problems with his balance, memory and mental health.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the roof was made of asbestos cement and had several roof lights situated along it but they were not visible due to the build-up of moss and dirt which had accumulated over the years. Employees had also not been made aware of them.
Karro Foods Ltd of Hugden Way, Norton Grove Industrial Estate, Malton, Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company has been fined £1,866,000 and ordered to pay £8,019 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Mark Slater said: “This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to provide adequate controls against the risks arising from working at height.
“Consideration of roof fragility and roof lights, visible or not, should be made, especially on older buildings.”
