London bus company fined following workers injuries

A London bus company was fined £60,000 following one of it's employees falling into a vehicle inspection pit and suffering spinal injuries  - 6th June 2008

Garage owners have been warned that they must have effective Health and Safety measures in place for preventing accidents at work by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This follows the prosecution of the London Central Bus Company Limited after an employee received injuries to the spine after falling at work into a vehicle inspection pit in October 2005.

The London Central Bus Company Limited pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974 which states that “it shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as it reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees." They were fined £60,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,347 at the Old Bailey.

This accident at work happened when a bus chassis cleaner decided to use a partial pit cover to cross a vehicle inspection pit at the New Cross Bus Garage. Sadly he fell into the pit suffering a compression of the spine. As a result of these workplace injuries his ability to work has been severely affected.

In July 2004 an employee of the company died after falling into an inspection pit in the same garage. The company had failed to manage its health and safety adequately after that incident, with hazards in the workplace identified by risk assessments not having safety measures implemented. Effective measures to prevent falls at work were not taken. The company also failed to provide adequate information to its employees on risks and prevention, or give sufficient training or supervision to prevent accidents injuring its employees, and failing to ensure that employees were working in a safe environment following the earlier incident.