A gardening company has been fined £80,000 after a worker was seriously injured when a ladder fell while working at height.
The incident took place in June 2023 at Ball Colegrave’s premises in Banbury, Oxfordshire, when employees were inspecting hanging irrigation baskets.
As he was climbing the ladder, the ladder collapsed and threw him to the ground. He suffered severe injuries, including five broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees as far as was reasonably practicable.
Inspectors concluded that the work was not properly planned or carried out safely as required by workplace safety laws.
The HSE said the incident was a reminder that working at height remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and death on farms and other workplaces.
At a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 14 October 2025, Ball Colegrave pled guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £7,061.
Speaking after the incident, Detective Inspector Rebecca Gibson from the HSE said: “This incident highlights the duty of employers to ensure they do everything possible to minimize the risks associated with working at height.
“If work at height is not properly planned and inappropriate work equipment is used, people can fall and sustain serious injuries.”
He added that “falls from height remain the leading cause of injury and death in the workplace” and called on all employers to review their procedures to ensure workers are adequately protected.
The prosecution was assisted by HSE enforcement solicitor Alahuq Nabi and paralegal officer Gabriel O’Sullivan.
Ball Colegrave has reviewed its safety procedures following the incident.
