Roller door injury highlights importance of maintenance

Newport Magistrates’ Court heard how a Recresco employee was injured when the door’s roller barrel fell on him resulting in three cracked ribs and a damaged spleen, causing him to miss eight weeks of work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on the 17 April 2015, found that none of the electronically operated roller shutter doors at the company’s site had been adequately maintained to keep the equipment safe.

Recresco of Springvale Industrial Estate, Cwmbran have pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and have been fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,944.

Speaking after the case HSE inspector Lee Schilling said: “This case highlights the importance of regular pro-active maintenance and inspection of work equipment, including roller shutter doors, to ensure equipment does not deteriorate to the extent that it puts people at risk. In this case Recresco failed to effectively maintain their equipment and it could have easily resulted in a fatal injury.”