First Aid Training Associates (Harlow) First Aid Firm Failure

A Rochdale plastics manufacturer has been fined £140,000 after a cleaner was crushed by a 1.5 tonne pallet load of 55 bags of polypropylene, trapping him beneath and causing his death at the scene. The company was fined at Manchester Crown Court on 7 July 2010 and ordered to pay an additional £10,588 towards the cost of the prosecution.

HSE principle inspector John McGrellis said: "Mr Lages died because TS (UK) Ltd didn't treat the health and safety of it's workers as a priority. The company didn't provide guidance about how to stack the pallets, and no one trained in first aid was on duty to help try to resuscitate Mr Lages when the pallet fell on him."

TS (UK) Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 3(2) of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare

at work of all his employees."

2. Regulation 3(2) of the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 states: "An employer shall provide, or ensure that there is provided, such number of suitable persons as is adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for rendering first-aid to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work."