Cheshire Farm Owner Fined After Roofer Dies in Fall

  A Cheshire farm owner has been fined following the death of a man who fell from a forklift truck while attempting to repair the roof of a packing shed at Moss Hall Farm in Tarporley. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Inspector Ian Betley commented: “This was a tragic incident that could so easily have been avoided. The forklift truck and potato box were the wrong pieces of equipment for the job. A tower scaffold, scissor lift, or cherry picker should have been used. The company failed to implement proper planning and safety measures.” A joint investigation by Cheshire Constabulary and the HSE revealed that no safe system of work had been in place and that unsuitable equipment was used. The potato box lacked required safety features, was unsecured, and the forklift had not undergone proper inspection. Thornhill, who operated the forklift, was also untrained. Thornhill, of Eaton Lane, Tarporley, was found guilty of breaching Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £4,000, with an additional £4,000 in costs. D.S. Thornhill (Rushton) Limited was fined £12,000 for breaching Section 3(1) of the same act and was ordered to pay £10,000 in costs. A Prohibition Notice was issued to prevent further unsafe work until proper measures were implemented.