CEVA Logistics sentenced over falls from height 26 March 2014

CEVA Logistics has been fined £10,000 with £1,491 costs after two Margate employees were left badly injured when they were knocked nearly five metres to the ground.

One of the two suffered a broken jaw, 11 broken teeth, a fractured elbow and a broken pelvis. The other gashed his leg, suffered whiplash and required 10 stitches for a head wound.

The two had been working at a site in Manston, Kent, painting lines on the floor of CEVA Logistics despatch area.

They had used a truck to raise them so they could photograph the improvements, but the machine was hit by an overhead crane and the two fell to the floor below.

HSE found CEVA Logistics had not planned the job effectively and so failed to provide its employees with a safe method of work for the job and clear supervision. The firm admitted a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

"CEVA Logistics should have made sure their employees were fully aware of the safe methods to be used to carry out the job and that there was effective supervision on site. But they didn't and two workers were badly injured as a result," comments HSE Inspector Robert Hassell:

"Falls from height were the most common cause of fatalities last year, accounting for almost a third of deaths among workers. Regardless of the size and duration of tasks undertaken, it is essential companies have suitable systems of work to safeguard their employees."

Brian Tinham

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Health & Safety Executive

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