01.03.2005

Mitie fined £40,000 for not training

In Lewes Crown court last week, Mitie South East and its customer County Hall Mall (Crawley) Ltd were found guilty by a jury after a Mitie employee, James Connell, narrowly escaped death after falling 12 metres when the platform he was using fell over.

Connell 42, was carrying out cleaning work to the façade of Crawley Hall shopping Mall, when the accident occurred. It seems that the "Spider type lift" he was using had not been properly set up, causing it tip over. Connell “rode” the basket 12 metres to the ground and nearly died from his injuries.

It tuned out that the contract had been taken by Mitie Southern which had sub contracted the job to Mitie South East.
Mite South East had four employees who were properly trained in the use of aerial work platforms. For some reason not explained, none of the four were used for this job, instead the untrained Connell was given the machine and the task.

The two defendants were charged with failing to ensure that employees were not exposed to health and safety risks and
Secondly for failing to ensure the proper training of employees.

Mitie was fined £40,000 and both companies were ordered to pay the £30,000 cost of the prosecution.

Judge Guy Anthony prior to sentencing said “I cannot say for certain that if he had been trained the accident would not have happened, however the chances are that if he had been, he would have correctly assembled the cage”