Building firm fined following a worker being injured in a fall

The HSE is warning employers to take appropriate measures to prevent worker injuries following prosecution after a workers was injured in a fall  - 19th May 2008

Following successful prosecution at South Tyneside Magistrates Court the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are warning employers that they must take appropriate health and safety measures in order to protect their employees from falls at work.

The incident happened on May 22nd 2007 when three employees of Murray Construction and Development Ltd were moving a rafter to allow a roof window to be fitted during the construction of a house. One employee was using a joiners stool to stand on when he lost his balance and fell 2.8 metres through a gap onto a concrete floor. The injured employee has not been able to return to work since because of the serious injuries suffered in this unnecessary workplace accident.

His employers pleaded guilty to a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and were fined £10,000 and told to pay a compensatory award of £5,000 to the injured employee, with a further £1,414 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The HSE investigating officer said: “Companies must assess the risks from work that they are undertaking at height and make sure that suitable measures to prevent a fall are in place. All work at height should be planned, organised, supervised and carried out by competent persons.

"They should take steps to avoid, prevent or reduce risks, choose the right work equipment and take collective measures to prevent falls, such as guardrails and working platforms, before other measures which may only mitigate the distance and consequences of a fall, such as nets or airbags, or which may only provide personal protection from a fall. Had this happened this worker may not have been injured?"