Recycling company fined over worker fall in Chichester

Worthing Magistrates’ Court heard that on June 17, 2014, the worker fell approximately 2.5 metres from the bin at the waste and Chichester recycling centre in Jury Lane, Sidlesham Common, a statement from Health & Safety Executive (HSE) said.

The employee suffered a broken collar bone and wrist as well as a blow to the head.

On Friday, June 12, the man’s employer Southern Plastic Recycling Limited pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court to breaching of Section 3(1) of Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and a breach of Section 6 (3) of Work at Height Regulations 2005, the statement said.

The company was ordered to pay £2,543 in total, including costs of £1043.

HSE Inspector Suzanne Matthews said: “Had the company carried out a proper risk assessment of the work, they would have identified both the foreseeable work at height risk involved and how that risk could have been avoided by choosing a system of work which eliminated the need for employees to work at height altogether.”