A north-east fish processing plant has been fined £10,000 after an engineer suffered a broken bone after falling 10ft through a ceiling.
International Fish Canners Ltd (IFC) was hauled to Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday for failing to take basic safety precautions against the “entirely foreseeable and preventable” accident.
Laquat Ali was working in the evening of December 29, 2015, when bosses asked him to inspect a steam valve within the facility.
He did the work and was then supposed to ask his superviser what to do next.
Instead he found a ladder and made his way into a roof cavity.
The court heard Mr Ali, who had not been trained about which parts of the roof were safe, had worked in the area before.
On this occasion however he stood on a weak section and fell through.
Fiscal depute Shona McJannett said Mr Ali suffered a broken heel in the accident and now walks with a limp as a result.
He is scheduled to undergo surgery to the damaged foot “in the near future”.
“He was unaware it was unsafe,” Ms McJannett added.
“Management were aware the roof void was fragile, but there were no warning signs.
“If access to the roof space was restricted, or it was marked as fragile, this accident could have been avoided.
“Mr Ali had not received any training or information that the roof void was a restricted space. His accident was entirely foreseeable and preventable.”
Since the accident, the firm has taken steps to shore up safety in the factory.
Ladders are now stored in a locked boiler room and a fixed ladder is in place to prevent employees from accessing areas that are restricted.
IFC was represented in court by solicitor Lynne Moss.
Branding it a “genuine misunderstanding of the risk”, she said: “IFC accepts full responsibility.
“The circumstances of this accident had not been foreseen by management.”
Fining the firm, Sheriff Annella Cowan said she was “conscious” that Mr Ali made the decision to enter the roof.
“He may or may not have known all the risks,” she added.
“It was a serious matter, but it has been dealt with and there are two sides to the argument.”
Mr Ali no longer works for the firm.
