Adderbury company fined £80,000 after employee suffers serious injuries
29/10/2025
The employee suffered broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung after a ladder he was climbing collapsed
A horticultural company in Adderbury has been fined £80,000 after an employee suffered serious injuries when he fell from a ladder.
The employee at Ball Colegrave Ltd had been tasked with checking an irrigation system that was watering plants in hanging baskets.
As the man climbed a ladder it fell and collapsed under him, resulting in five broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.
Following the incident on June 7, 2023 an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that Ball Colegrave Ltd had “failed to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare at work of all their employees”. In this instance, they found that there was a failure to ensure that work at height was planned and carried out in a manner which was, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe.
At Oxford Magistrates Court on October 14 this year, Ball Colegrave pleaded guilty to contravening a requirement within the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. In addition to the £80,000 fine imposed the company was also ordered to pay £7,061 costs.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Rebecca Gibson said: “This incident highlights the duty on employers to ensure that should do all they can to minimise the risk from working at height.
“If work at height isn’t properly planned and unsuitable work equipment is used, people can fall and sustain serious injuries.
“Falls from height remains a leading cause of workplace injury and death.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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