Grain firm fined over worker fall

East Coast Viners Grain LLP has been fined  £4,000 after one of its workers suffered head injuries after falling five feet onto a concrete floor.

Mill worker Douglas Mortimer had been preparing animal feed in his role for East Coast Viners Grain LLP, of Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, when the incident happened on 9 December 2009.

Stonehaven Sheriff Court heard that Mr Mortimer lost his balance while climbing into an excavator bucket to shake the contents of a tote bag to allow an even spread of feed. He was unconscious for five minutes and had a cut to his head stapled at hospital.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that there was no safe system of work in place for preparing the specialist mix.

No control measures were in place to prevent Mr Mortimer from falling as a suitable assessment of the risks involved in the work from height had never been carried out, HSE officials said.

East Coast Viners Grain LLP, Broadwood, Drumlithie, Stonehaven, received the fine after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc 1974 Act