Independent garage ordered to pay £20k after employee fell into pit

Technician suffered life-changing injuries when he fell into a vehicle inspection pit over two years ago

Independent garage ordered to pay £20k after employee fell into pit
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An independent garage has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay a further £10,000 in costs after an employee suffered life-changing injuries when he fell into a vehicle inspection pit over two years ago.

Earlier this month, Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard how on 3 September 2018, an employee of GP Motors Works Ltd on the Isle of Wight fell into a vehicle inspection pit more than 5ft deep whilst carrying out mechanical repairs to a nearby vehicle.

The vehicle inspection pit was partially covered with a small vehicle leaving around 7ft of the pit uncovered and without any other measures in place to prevent any risk of falls.

The employee sustained serious head and shoulder injuries, which required surgery.

The employee was flown to a mainland hospital by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Multiple emergency services were involved in the rescue operation to lift the casualty from the bottom of the pit on a stretcher.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to ensure the pit had any physical measures, such as barriers or pit covers, in place to prevent a person falling into it.

GP Motor Works Ltd of Embankment Road, Bembridge pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Kate Clark said: “Serious injuries or death can be prevented if basic safeguards such as barriers or pit covers are put in place.

“There is clear guidance for garages about vehicle inspection pits.”

Home Page Forums Independent garage ordered to pay £20k after employee fell into pit

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  • #210796 Reply

    An independent garage has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay a further £10,000 in costs after an employee suffered life-changing injuries when he f
    [See the full post at: Independent garage ordered to pay £20k after employee fell into pit]

    #210815 Reply
    Darren Blunt
    Guest

    If you are running a busy garage and a vehicle is on the pit being worked on how are you supposed to either chain or cover it, unless there is a lot more information not included in this article this is health and safety gone mad.

    #210816 Reply
    a r ROE
    Guest

    If you read the article it does say 5 ft of the pit was still exposed But if the mechanic had a brain cell he should have moved the car up to where he was working so the area where he was working near the pitt was not exposed or a risk to him.
    He obviously forgot where he was or on his phone to the misses or even talking about a private job and walked into the pitt, we know how our techies love taking on private jobs and in our work time at that.
    The company are at fault as well for not paying attention

    #210817 Reply
    bill greg
    Guest

    why not print the guidance for others , a hole in the ground is allways going to be an accident waiting to happen

    #210819 Reply
    Thomas helm
    Guest

    I think I’ll go to work tomorrow & trip over my trolley jack because there’s no barrier around it. Garages are dangerous places but you should be aware of your surroundings . Maybe someone moved the pit when he wasn’t looking. Hope the guys ok but he needs to keep his eyes open

    #211284 Reply
    Taz
    Guest

    In all honesty it’s not the garages fault the tech should have known of the danger needs to get off his phone and start paying more attention of his surroundings hope he’s recovered!

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

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