A fire service has been prosecuted and fined after two firefighters experienced serious head injuries and one was left with life-altering complications after a training exercise.
The team of 4 firefighters were carrying out a rope rescue training exercise in a disused quarry where rocks fell from the cliff and hit 2 of the team members. One was left paralysed from the chest down.
The HSE found that their risk assessment failed to have any health and safety guidance for off-site training events meaning they lacked sufficient information, instruction, training, and supervision. In addition, the risk assessment did not consider the risk of falling rocks or the integrity of the rock’s stability following heavy rainfall.
The fire service pleaded guilty to failing to discharge the duties imposed upon it by Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,808.40.
