Prosecutions

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the farm following the incident outside a poultry house at the company's site on 20 July 2009.

Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court heard how the 36-year-old agency worker, who does not want to be named, was walking on a temporary platform made from stacks of cages to move hens from the poultry house when he tripped.

He fell nearly three metres from the unprotected platform edge, fracturing his pelvis in two places and also suffering a collapsed lung.

HSE's investigation into the incident found that the farm had identified the risk of workers falling from the platform but did not fit any edge protection to it or take any other measures to reduce the risk of falls.

The farm pleaded guilty today to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £6,276 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, a HSE inspector said:

"Falling from height remains the most common cause of workplace deaths and those who survive are often seriously injured, as in this avoidable incident.

"The farm had identified the potential for workers to fall from the platform but failed to act on its own risk assessment. This dangerous system of work had been in place for around five years before the incident.

"Working at height on temporary platforms made from poultry cages is common practice in the agricultural industry. It's vital that proper measures are taken to minimise the risk of falling, such as fitting suitable guard rails and toeboards."