Resort fined after worker is crushed beneath caravan in East Mersea

Colchester Magistrates Court where the case was heard. Picture: SU ANDERSON

The company, was prosecuted by Colchester Borough Council following the incident on January 29 2016.

A 67-year-old maintenance worker was crushed underneath the rear of a caravan being moved between different areas of the site while trying to lift one of the corner legs of the vehicle.

Fortunately the caravan was quickly lifted from him and no serious injury was caused.

On September 14 the company admitted failing to follow its own safe system for moving caravans, using untrained employees to assist with the move and keeping inadequate paperwork.

This added up to a breach of the Heath & Safety Act 1974 in failing to discharge a duty under Section 2 (1) to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare of employees at work.

Summing up at Colchester Magistrates today District Judge Wollard said the company was responsible for the failures of their middle management to ensure company procedures were followed.

Tim Young, Deputy Leader of Colchester Borough Council, said: “This was a case of a company failing to take adequate precautions to protect their staff, which could easily have led to serious or fatal injury.

“The result highlights that health and safety assessments are not a mere exercise – it is vital to follow safe processes to avoid the terrible risk of accidents taking place.”

A spokesperson for Coopers Beach Holiday Park said: “We are very sorry this incident happened. We take situations such as this very seriously.

“Thankfully no severe injury was sustained as our employees responded promptly.

“We have taken action to ensure this type of incident cannot reoccur by revisiting all our processes and retraining our people. We are totally committed to ensuring our operations practice the highest standards of health and safety for the benefit of our employees, our customers and members of the public.”