Amber Precast fined after worker’s injury

Sheffield firm fined after worker’s life-changing injury

Sheffield-based manufacturer Amber Precast has been fined £60,000 after a steel pallet fell on a worker, leaving him permanently disabled. The incident occurred on 14 January 2021 during a night shift at the company’s factory in Davy Business Park.

Wayne Hatton, a supervisor who had recently joined the company, was removing a pallet from a reinforced concrete cast when it fell, crushing his legs. The 800 kg load resulted in the amputation of Mr Hatton’s right lower leg and the loss of two toes on his left foot.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the pallet had not been properly secured to the overhead crane’s lifting chains before being moved. This failure meant the pallet was unsupported and posed a severe risk during the task.

HSE also discovered that Amber Precast had no consistent system in place to ensure the pallet could be safely removed. Mr Hatton and his team had not received adequate training or instructions on the task.

“This incident could so easily have been avoided with the correct instruction and implementation of an agreed safe working procedure,” said Jane Fox, an HSE inspector. “Amber Precast Ltd left its employees to work out their own methods of completing the pallet removal task, instead of providing them with suitable training and equipment so it could be done safely every time.”

Amber Precast pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £5,406.31 in costs by Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on 9 January 2025.

Mr Hatton, now 50, spent seven weeks in hospital after the incident and now uses a prosthetic leg. Speaking about the impact on his life, his family highlighted the long-term challenges he has faced since the injury.

For more information on HSE guidance related to safe working practices, visit HSE’s website.