Logistics agency is fined £1million after worker plummeted 36ft fracturing his cranium, again and pelvis – in horror fall that he was ‘fortunate’ to outlive

A logistics worker was fortunate to outlive after plummeting 36ft by means of an open gap at a container terminal, struggling ‘extreme life-changing accidents’. 

Christopher Hooper fractured his cranium, again, pelvis, arm, wrist and ankle within the fall at DP World Southampton’s terminal on September 20 2022.

The 31-year-old, from Winchester, had been finishing up upkeep work when he fell by means of an open gap within the driver’s cab of a straddle service, touchdown on the concrete ground beneath. 

Now Southampton Container Terminals Restricted, buying and selling as DP World Southampton, has been fined £1million by the Well being and Security Govt (HSE).

The agency, primarily based in Palace Avenue, Westminster, central London, pleaded responsible at Southampton Magistrates’ Courtroom on August 2 to breaching Part 2(1) of the Well being and Security at Work and many others Act 1974 and was fined £1 million and ordered to pay £11,664.59 in prices.

An HSE spokesman mentioned: ‘The opening had been created by contractors that had been changing a glass ground, exposing Mr Hooper and different employees to the danger of falling from top.

‘Mr Hooper, who had labored for Southampton Container Terminals Restricted since he was 17, had been endeavor routine upkeep work and was unaware of the open gap earlier than falling on to the ground.

‘The HSE investigation discovered Southampton Container Terminals Restricted had failed to make sure there was a system of labor that ensured the substitute of the glass ground and routine upkeep work may very well be carried out safely on the identical time.

‘The corporate additionally failed to make sure there was a threat evaluation in place and didn’t implement its personal coverage for the usage of permits to work while working at top.’

HSE inspector Francesca Arnold mentioned: ‘This incident has resulted in extreme life-changing accidents for Mr Hooper, who’s fortunate to be alive.

‘His life has fully modified due to Southampton Container Terminals Restricted’s failure to provide an appropriate threat evaluation and implement easy management measures.

‘The hazards of working at top are well-known and documented, and this prosecution ought to now remind employers {that a} failure to handle and implement efficient measures can have critical penalties and they are going to be held accountable for this failure.’

Mr Hooper mentioned in his sufferer private assertion: ‘I really feel like a puppet in my life who’s being moved from remedy to remedy with no management over the place I’m going.

‘It seems like my life is in a ready room, early out of hospital I had nearer milestones that felt achievable whereas now no-one can inform me what I can do subsequent and that’s actually impacting my day-to-day life as I do not know what the remainder of my life will seem like.’