£50,000 fine for skip accident

Mr Waters still suffers memory loss after the accident, the court heard

A Port Talbot company has been fined £50,000 after a worker fell into a skip of glass.

Ricky Waters, 38, from Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot suffered a fractured skull and severe eye damage in the accident at Vizor Tempered Glass last year.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the company had been prosecuted in 2001 for a similar incident when two other employees were injured.

The glassmaker pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws.

The prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive, who are urging firms to stamp out dangerous working practices.

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Alan Strawbridge said the consequences could have been much worse.

"Companies, especially those dealing with potentially hazardous materials such as glass, need to ensure that they implement and maintain safe systems in work to avoid accidents like this occurring," he said.

The consequences of this case could have easily been much worse HSE Inspector Alan Strawbridge

The court heard that Mr Waters was working with a forklift truck carrying glass to be disposed in a skip when the accident happened in October 2006..

A pane of glass was caught by a gust of wind, tipping Mr Waters into the container, with the glass landing on top of him.

He needed major reconstructive surgery on his face and lost the sight in one eye.

He also suffered a fractured skull, and the court was told he still suffers from memory loss.

Outside court Mr Strawbridge added: "The company has admitted a failure to carry out proper risk assessments and a failure to have safe systems of working in place, which ultimately resulted in this incident.

"In spite of the terrible injuries suffered by Mr Waters, the consequences of this case could have easily been much worse."

Vizor Tempered Glass was also ordered to pay costs of more than £11,000.