Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court heard how 27-year-old Felix Trefas, a welder at F. Brazil Reinforcements Ltd, was making large steel reinforcing cages on 10 June 2015, which were moved by overhead travelling cranes.
One of the cranes broke down and Mr Trefas was asked to climb up the crane supports to reset the controls, but as he was resetting the faulty crane his left leg was crushed when he came into contact with another overhead crane. It was later amputated below the knee.
The District Judge was told how the overhead cranes were poorly maintained. The court also heard the toilet and washing facilities for workers were in an extremely poor condition despite having been the subject of previous enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
HSE Inspector Sue Matthew, said: “It is essential that lifting equipment is properly maintained and that safe systems of work are in place for work at height. Employers have a duty to ensure that welfare facilities are kept clean.”
F. Brazil Reinforcements Ltd of Romainville Way, Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey Island, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and to two separate breaches of Regulation 4 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.
It was fined £277,000 in relation to the Section 3(1) charge, a single penalty of £5,000 in relation to the two breaches of Regulation 4, and ordered to pay £11,904 costs and £120 victim surcharge.
