Mining Company Guilty of Breaching Safety Rules after Crush Accident

A mining company has been found guilty of breaching health and safety laws after an employee was badly injured in a crush accident, according to reports. The accident happened after cheap wooden roof supports gave way.

The director of the company, Three D’s Mining Ltd previously dismissed the miners’ concerns over the use of untested pallet boards to support the roof. The jury at Swansea Crown Court found the company guilty of failing to ensure the safety and welfare of employees and failing to carry out adequate risk assessments of the structure.

The roof should have been supported by horizontal bars no less than 2.4in (63.5mm) thick, but that in the summer of 2017 the company had started using pre-cut pallet boards which were as thin as 0.78in (20mm) in some places.

 A worker was injured after the structure collapsed. He was trapped by a lump of rock that fell and has been unable to work since. He also has health issues after suffering three fractures to his back.

crush accident in mine

Falling Objects Crush Accident

Crush injuries can occur in any situation. However, they are most common in workplaces.

Crush injuries can occur when a heavy load collapses trapping someone beneath. For example, materials falling from a warehouse shelf or collapsed structures on a building site. The object does not have to fall very far to cause serious injury.

Employers are responsible for keeping the work environment as safe as possible. They must also supply Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect workers from this type of injury. An employer may be liable for injuries you sustain if they fail to supply hard hats, steel toe-capped boots, and so on. They may also be liable if they fail to carry out risk assessments of the working environment, which is what happened in the case involving the miner.

Your Employers Responsibility

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure you are safe at work. This means that they must follow correct health and safety guidelines to minimise the risk of accidents and to keep all their employees safe. They must carry out adequate and frequent risk assessments on the machinery and equipment. They must also make sure that staff training is always up to date.

If your employer does not follow the correct health and safety guidelines, such as the Manual Handling Regulations and the Health and Safety at work regulations, and you have an accident whilst at work, then you may be able to make a claim. All employers must have Employer’s Liability insurance. This covers the business in case accidents at work happen. If you have had an accident and make a claim, then it is the insurance that pays the compensation.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes accidents at work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable advisors.