Ravinder Teji and Shahjahan Malik were seriously injured in “near-identical” incidents in August 2022 and March 2023, respectively, when they fell from televators at the west London airport.
Last Thursday (15 May), London’s Southwark Crown Court heard that the loading equipment used by the baggage handlers lacked adequate protection, notably the guard rails, which did not “extend far enough".
The court also heard that there were three previous employee slip incidents before Teji’s fall.
The airline, which has since spent £7m on its televator systems, was ordered to pay a £3,208,333 fine within 28 days, legal costs of £20,935 and a victim surcharge of £120.
Health and safety practices should be part of the culture, according to Sheila Flavell, COO of FDM Group.
“HR teams need to weave safety awareness into the entire employee lifecycle, from day one to leadership development. That includes scenario-based learning, regular check-ins, and giving managers the confidence to spot and address risks early,” she told HR magazine.
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British Airways previously pleaded guilty to two breaches of safety regulations, following a criminal prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
In court, British Airways expressed “deep regret” over the incidents. James Leonard KC, representing the airline, said that both men had returned to work in different roles in the company and BA had made an effort to support their rehabilitation.
A BA spokesman said: “Safety is always our highest priority, and we deeply regret that despite the measures we had in place, these incidents occurred.”
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Flavell explained that HR teams often focus on incident reporting, but prevention comes from “understanding the early signals” like feedback trends, absence patterns or exit interview themes.
She said: “There’s real power in using data to uncover hidden risks before they escalate, and to ensure safety measures are genuinely working across different teams, departments and geographies.”
Cate Walter, director of health and safety consultancy Rhino Safety, also stressed the importance of revisiting safety management after initial training.
She told HR magazine: “The biggest misconception that we come across is that once [safety training] has been done, the box is ticked and it never needs to be revisited.
“I have spoken to new employees who have said that because they had manual handling training in a previous role, they don’t need to do it again.
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“In reality, although the theory and underlying legislative requirements may be the same, every workplace will have different considerations, so it is important to refresh the knowledge and apply it to the specific environment they are now working in.”
Although many think that health and safety training is only relevant in physical or manual jobs, in today’s hybrid and digital work environments, it can take many forms.
Flavell explained: “One of the most common risks we see overlooked is psychological safety. While physical safety protocols are rightly prioritised, mental health and emotional wellbeing can often be neglected.
“Creating a safe environment means ensuring people feel empowered to speak up about stress, burnout, or unsafe practices, without fear of judgment or repercussion.”
