A builder has been prosecuted after three employees fell from a platform at a farm in Yorkshire.

Jeremy Waudby, trading as JG and GW Waudby of Lottings Farm Barmby Moor Nr. York pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £1,200 with £588 in costs.

Hull Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Waudby was hired to build a new chicken shed at Argham Fields Farm, Burton Fleming Driffield on 01 December 2015.

To carry out the work, he subcontracted a cladding company (A L Cladding) but provided his own telehandler and work platform for them to work from.


Prosecuting, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that three of the workers, including a father and son, were elevated in the platform when it became disconnected of the telehandler and fell to the ground.

The platform platform fell onto the one worker trapping his shoulder and head. He also suffered a shattered right knee cap and crushed tibia and fibula. His father suffered three fractured vertebrae and a head wound needing 12 stitches.

An investigation by HSE found the platform had not and could not have been connected to the telehandler in accordance with manufacturers' instructions, which required three separate mechanical attachments.

In addition, the necessary securing attachments were not present, and only one of the three had effectively been in place.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Alan Sheldon said: "These injuries were easily prevented and the risk should have been identified.

"This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices."

(LM)