Unite has stated that it ‘welcomes’ the decision to fine British Airways following injuries caused to two union members at Heathrow in 2022 and 2023.
The airline has been fined 3.2 million GBP following two ‘near-identical’ incidents at Heathrow Airport in which baggage handlers were injured whilst using televators to load luggage onto aircraft.
An investigation has found that the machines had not been fitted with adequate safety protection to prevent falls, leading to staff member Ravinder Teji suffering back injuries and a cut to his head following a 1.5m fall in August 2022 and Shahjahan Malik suffering a bleed on the brain after falling 3m in March 2023, leaving him with long-term health problems.
British Airways was ruled culpable at Southwark Crown Court last week as a result of a prosecution brought forward by the Health and Safety Executive.
Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said:Nobody should be seriously injured while at work and Unite welcomes the decision to convict British Airways for its failure to protect staff.
British Airways must ensure that lessons have been learnt from these devastating incidents. Unite is committed to holding employers like BA to its legal obligations to always provide a safe working environment for airport workers through our army of health and safety reps.
