A media company has been fined \u00a345,000 and its director given a suspended prison sentence after an employee suffered life-changing brain injuries falling from the back of a moving car during filming.<\/p>\n
The employee was working for Paignton-based Superhub Ltd on 14 May 2021, filming a video review of an electric motorbike at Broadsands car park in Devon.<\/p>\n
After completing planned drone footage, the decision was made to capture additional shots from a moving vehicle with the motorbike following behind.<\/p>\n
The employee climbed into the boot of a car driven by company director James Foster and they completed several laps of the car park.<\/p>\n
As the car began to move the boot liner slipped, causing the employee to fall onto the tarmac.<\/p>\n
He sustained serious head and brain injuries requiring long-term care and has been unable to return to work since.<\/p>\n
A joint investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that no risk assessment had been carried out for the filming activity.<\/p>\n
Investigators also found that the car was unsuitable for the task, as there was no provision to secure the employee or his filming equipment safely while the vehicle was moving.<\/p>\n
HSE inspector Emma O’Hara said: “An employee suffered life-changing injuries as a result of an incident that should never have happened and could easily have been prevented.<\/p>\n
“Those responsible for filming activities must properly assess the risks and ensure that suitable equipment and safety measures are in place before work begins.<\/p>\n
“No film, photo, or piece of content is ever worth risking someone’s life.”<\/p>\n
Superhub Ltd, of Business Hub, Marine Parade, Paignton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.<\/p>\n
Director James Foster pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and to causing injury by wanton and furious driving.<\/p>\n
Superhub Ltd was fined \u00a345,000 and ordered to pay \u00a33,000 in costs.<\/p>\n
Foster was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay \u00a32,500 in costs at Exeter Crown Court.<\/p>\n
O’Hara added: “The sentences imposed today should serve as a reminder that HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies and individuals who fail to meet their responsibilities to protect people from harm.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Worker fell from moving car boot during electric motorbike review shoot<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":29680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[137119,120783],"coauthors":[160],"class_list":["post-47771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-courts","category-media","tag-devon","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\n