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Broughton Astley
Firm fined after fall breaks worker's back
Andrew Bannister plunged almost 39 feet from a fragile barn roof onto a concrete floor
hinckleytimes
Karen HambridgeReporter
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A logistics firm has been slapped with more than £100,000 in fines and costs after a worker broke his back in a fall.
Andrew Bannister, who had worked for Broughton Astley based PK & IF Cobley Limited for 15 years, plunged almost 39 feet from a fragile barn roof onto a concrete floor.
He had been asked to repair the leaking rook at Misterton Farm, Great Poultney, on August 31 2012, despite his concerns about the task.
Although he had a crawl ladder there was no offer of other safety equipment, such as scaffolding, hand rails, working platform, net or harness.
When Mr Bannister, then 48, fell he suffered a broken back, fractured and shattered vertebrae in his neck, three broken ribs and gashes to his head.
He spent eight days in hospital and had to wear a support collar 24 hours a day for four months. The injuries mean his back is permanently damaged and he is likely to be on painkillers for the rest of his life.
A prosecution, brought by the Health and Safety Executive at Leicester Crown Court, ended with PK and IF Cobley being fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £29,351.88.
The firm, which has operated for 25 years, employing 118 people and running 75 vehicles, pleaded guilty to breaching regulations of the Work at Height Act 2005.
The judge hearing the case said the work at height was obviously a dangerous job and that it was a miracle that Mr Bannister was not killed.
In mitigation the court heard the business had no previous health and safety convictions and since the incident new safety measures had been adopted.
Mr Bannister said: "After the accident I had to use a walking stick permanently. I will be on pain killers for the rest of my life. The injury has changed my life completely."
Alison Cook, the HSE inspector who investigated and prosecuted the case, said: "The risk of falls through fragile roofs is well-known and the precautions required are simple and effective. This sentence will serve as a warning to firms that knowingly risking employees' lives in the course of their work will not be tolerated."
It is understood the firm has also accepted liability in a civil action with the settlement figure to be agreed.
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