13th June 2019
Company Fined After Woman Crushed To Death By Roller Shutter door
What’s Happened?
An electrical company has been fined £25,000 after a woman was fatally crushed by a roller shutter door in a horrific incident.
Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard how the injured person had pressed the button to open the roller-shutter door a site in Cambridge. She then held onto the grille as it raised but unfortunately became trapped, and as the door continued to wind around the roller, it fatally crushed her body.
A subsequent investigation undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the sensors at the top of the door were incorrectly wired and were no longer functioning as the door opened.
What Went Wrong?
Electrical Contractors – B.S. Graves (Electrical) Limited had carried out work on the roller shutter door since 2012, including an inspection only a month before the incident. However, the company did not check the operation of the safety sensors and therefore failed to identify the fault.
B.S. Graves (Electrical) Limited of Rushmere Close, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,500.
Speaking after the hearing, the HSE inspector involved in the case commented: “This tragic and distressing incident has had an untold impact on all those who knew Heidi. It could have been avoided if the company had ensured employees were suitably trained to inspect the doors and the functioning of the safety sensors.”
If you need help with any aspect of Health & Safety for your business, call us on 0845 459 1724 or contact us through the website and we’ll be happy to help.
