Suffolk seed firm worker suffers serious head injury

A SUFFOLK seed producer has been fined after a worker suffered serious injury when he fell while loading a vehicle.

Peter Snowling’s injuries included a fractured skull and spinal injuries. The 49-year-old fell from a ramp while loading a shipping container with sacks of peas at High Fen Seed Store, Dead Lane in the town.

Mr Snowling’s employer, W A Church Ltd, of Bures, was fined £8,000 with £4,642 costs, by magistrates at Bury St Edmunds on Thursday (18 March).

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the company failed to take sufficient steps to identify and control risks associated with work at height.

“If Mr Snowling’s employer had taken precautions to ensure his safety, this incident could have been avoided,” said HSE Inspector, Saffron Turnell. “Working at height remains one of the most dangerous things employees can do.

The case highlighted the need for companies to do everything possible to minimise the risks employees faced when working at height.