Boss fined £5k for liability in causing a worker partial blindness

A breach of health and safety regulations which resulted in a worker suffering blindness and eye injuries has caused the manager of a fireworks company to be fined £5,000.

According to the Bristol Evening Post, Jason Edgecombe, boss of JWP Fireworks, was liable for an incident in May 2008 in which employee Chris Hignell was left blind in his left eye and needing 19 operations on the affected area.

Mr Edgecombe pleaded guilty to breaking conditions under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 during a hearing at Bristol Crown Court and was also given a suspended prison sentence of 36 weeks as well as being banned form organising or conducting such pyrotechnic displays for two years, the news source continued.

The incident occurred when Mr Hignell and another employee were helping Mr Edgecombe at a wedding reception in Keynsham, a town situated between Bristol and Bath.

It was found that the victim was conducting work with high-level fireworks for which he was not qualified.

Posted by Helen Jones
 

22/09/2010 16:41