Granite worktop manufacturer Grantech Ltd of Spencer’s Industrial Estate in Buckley, north Wales, has been fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,906 for failing to ensure that lifting equipment was examined and maintained.

The law requires all lifting equipment to be professionally checked at least once a year, and at six-monthly intervals for some of it. But Mold Magistrates’ Court heard when the company appeared before it this month (20 May) how Grantech had not only failed to have regular statutory examinations carried out, it had not even carried out repairs when defects had been found.

Following an inspection on 18 June 2018 by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) it was discovered that the examinations were not carried out at the required six monthly intervals and when they were carried out the same faults were reported, as the company were not taking action to effect the repairs.

Grantech pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and Regulation 9 (3) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. 

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Mhairi Duffy said: "This prosecution could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those who fall below the required standards."