A J Wells & Sons Ltd has been fined £200,000 after a worker on the Isle of Wight lost his lower right leg when heavy sheet metal fell on him at the company’s Newport site on 15 August 2023. The employee had been moving a trolley loaded with around 30 metal sheets, each weighing over 20kg, when it toppled and crushed his legs.
An HSE investigation found the task was unsafe due to an unsuitable trolley, unclear travel routes, and inadequate training. A similar incident had occurred in 2021, yet the company had still not carried out a proper risk assessment or introduced a safe system of work.
An overview found that:
- Worker suffered life-changing injuries.
- There had been a similar incident at the company in 2021.
A J Wells & Sons Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was ordered to pay £9,056 in costs. HSE said the injury was entirely preventable and stressed the need for proper risk assessment, suitable equipment, and effective training.
What can employers learn from this incident?
There are a number of key lessons employers can learn from this incident, including –
Learn from near misses and previous incidents
A similar incident had already happened in 2021. Failing to act on earlier warnings allowed a far more serious injury to occur.
Always carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment
The task of moving heavy metal sheets had not been properly assessed.
Use equipment that is suitable for the job
The trolley used was not designed to carry heavy sheet metal safely.
Provide clear routes and safe working areas
Unclear or cluttered factory routes made moving heavy loads more hazardous.
Train employees thoroughly
Workers had not been adequately trained to move heavy materials safely.
Guidance on the safe use of work equipment (PUWER) is available on the HSE website.
