Halifax firm fined £120k for employee's battery fall injuries

The man suffered fractures to both legs after the batteries fell on him at Wastecare's premises in Halifax

A recycling company has been fined £120,000 after batteries weighing at least 300kg (660lb) fell onto an employee, leaving him badly injured.

The man was stacking items at Wastecare Limited, Halifax, on 22 March 2019 when the containers ripped open and the batteries fell out.

He suffered fractured legs, a fractured collarbone and bruised ribs.

On 21 February at Leeds Magistrates' Court, the firm admitted breaching the Health & Safety at Work Act.

The court had heard that the man and two of his colleagues had been restacking the batteries at Wastecare's site on North Dean Business Park when the incident happened.

The batteries, stored in what are known as flexible intermediate bulk containers, had previously toppled over.

However, as they worked, the containers started to rip and the batteries fell on top of one of the Wastecare employees.

As a result, he suffered a double compound fracture to his lower right leg, a fracture to the left tibia, a fractured right collar bone, some bruising to his ribs and a cut on his forehead, the court was told.

'Could have been avoided'

A subsequent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Wastecare, whose registered HQ is at Selby Road, Garforth, had failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees at work.

It was found that the Halifax site was overstocked, bags of batteries had been stacked in an unsafe manner and there were no specific documented risk assessments or safe systems of work for the correct stacking and storage of batteries.

It was also found not to have been an isolated incident.

As well as the £120,000 fine, Wastecare was also ordered to pay £4,937.39 in costs.

HSE inspector Jackie Ferguson said: "This incident could so easily have been avoided by implementing simple control measures and safe working practices to ensure the batteries were stacked safely and securely.

"The industry should be aware that the HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards."