Workers injured after being struck by three stone slabs, manufacturer to pay £12K
An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, has determined that Bespoke Stone Ltd could have prevented an accident involving two workers at its workshop in Ipswich. The incident occurred in June 2022 when two employees, Steven Constable and Struan Dunsmore, were preparing to lift a quartz slab onto a saw bed. Unfortunately, three slabs of quartz stone fell from a stillage and onto the workers. Constable suffered multiple bone fractures and soft tissue damage, including fractures to his right femur, hip, left tibia and foot. He endured a number of operations and spent 12 weeks in the hospital. Dunsmore sustained bruising to his body and had to take time off of work
During its investigation, the HSE learned that Bespoke Stone Ltd was not safely handling and storing stone slabs. Additionally, the restraint system provided did not fit around larger sizes of material. According to the HSE, slabs should always remain restrained during loading/unloading operations, especially when people are present. Finally, Bespoke Stone Ltd failed to accurately report the workers’ injuries and time off under RIDDOR regulations.
Bespoke Stone Ltd, of Dales Road, Ipswich, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £6,600 and ordered to pay £4,875.40 in costs at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on 17 January 2025.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, HSE inspector Jessica Flint said, “Bespoke Stone Ltd failed to grasp the importance of safe handling and storage of stone materials in stone masonry, with employees regularly working within the hazard zone of slabs during operations within its workshop. The CCTV footage makes clear how serious this incident was, with one of the employees sustaining a number of horrific injuries which have affected his ability to return to work. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
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