RHS ordered to pay £30,000 after worker loses toes in lift accident (04/12/2007)

An accident in which a man lost four and a half toes when a goods lift crushed his foot has cost the Royal Horticultural Society £30,000 for breaching health and safety rules.

Westminster City Council brought the charges against the RHS after an investigation revealed a number of serious problems at the society’s Lawrence Hall in Greycoat Street, London.

Investigators found members of staff were riding a “goods-only” hoist designed to carry goods from the basement to the ground floor and were wedging a heavy metal bar in the hoist to override the power button.

The 19-year-old injured man, who was a casual member of staff who helped build flower stands, lost four toes and half his big toe as a result of travelling on the goods hoist on March 16, 2006.

The society was fined £7,000 for failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work in relation to operating the “goods-only” hoist.

It was fined another £7,000 for failing to provide information, instruction and supervision about the hoist. Both these failures breached Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The society was fined a further £1,000 for failing to have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. This breached the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999. The society was also ordered to pay £15,000 costs to Westminster City Council towards costs of the case, which totalled £20,000.

Councillor Audrey Lewis, the cabinet member for community protection and licensing, said:

"This tragic accident was entirely avoidable and as a consequence the life of a young person with a promising future football career has been permanently affected.

"This case sends an important message to employers that proper management of health and safety is paramount."

Since the accident, the RHS has changed the way the hoist is used. Only permanent staff can use it and it can only be operated using a key from the ground floor.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The RHS pleaded guilty at Horsferry magistrates’ court last week (Nov 29) to three offences of breaching health and safety rules.