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Boat builder fined after man breaks leg in four places

Green Marine Ltd. has been fined after a worker suffered multiple fractures when he was knocked off some steps at a disused factory in Southampton.

Southampton Magistrates' Court heard that Green Marine Ltd, a boat builder, was closing down its factory at Spitfire Quay, Southampton, and moving to new premises.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company for a dangerous lack of planning, organisation and control of the work when closing the factory down.

On the 21 December 2010, Stephen Thompson, 59, from Southampton, was using some steps to check some work he was about to do at a height of about three metres. At the same time, a scissor lift being used nearby hit a shelf, dislodging a piece of timber which knocked the steps, and Mr Thompson, to the floor.

Mr Thompson fractured his right leg in four places and was in hospital for more than two weeks over the Christmas period. He was off work for 10 months and can no longer lead an active lifestyle because he cannot stand for long periods and is likely to have a limp for the rest of his life. He has been informed there is a strong likelihood he will suffer severe arthritis in his leg because doctors have had to remove much of the cartilage in his ankle.

The company, of Hythe Marine Park, Shore Road, Hythe, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(1) and 5(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. The firm was fined £26,666 and ordered to pay costs of £6,163.

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