An aircraft engineering company has been fined £160,000 and order to pay costs of over £5,000 after two of its employees were injured when they fell from the tail of an aeroplane.
Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard how the two men; one an employee of Inflite Engineering Services, the other working for an agency on behalf of the company, fell 15 feet from the plane while carrying out checks on its tail section at Stansted Airport.
The men were using elevated work platforms on either side of the aeroplane when a colleague inadvertently closed a circuit breaker that caused the air brakes on the plane to move, knocking over both the platforms. The men fell around 15 feet; one suffered a broken wrist and chipped a bone in his spine, whereas the other man suffered three fractures to his pelvis, a broken back, three broken ribs, a fractured elbow and a punctured lung.
When the Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident, they found that there was no risk assessment in place and there was a lack of effective monitoring. Speaking after the case, HSE Inspector Tania Van Rixtel said: “Both of these men suffered shocking injuries after falling from height, which could easily have been a double fatality. Our investigation found the incident could have been avoided had adequate monitoring been taking place. Aircraft maintenance companies are reminded that not all risks are covered by the Aircraft Maintenance Manual and additional measures need to be introduced.”
If you or someone you care for has been injured or even killed in an accident at work, you could well be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all of their employees, and that includes making sure that adequate risk assessments are carried out and the suitable procedures are implemented. Contact one of our highly experienced solicitors today, free of charge and with no obligation, to discuss what happened to you or your loved one, and see how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.