Firm fined after safety failings leave worker with broken back
12:21 - 21/12/2010
Firm fined after safety failings leav...
A London-based firm has been fined £10,000 after the failure to implement correct safety measures resulted in a roofing contractor falling over 3-metres to the ground and breaking his back.
The injured worker, who is now 41 years old, can only walk short distances and has had to use a walking stick since the accident, which occurred on 18th December 2006. He has been advised that his condition will not improve any further and he will never be able to work in construction again.
He fell from a one-storey roof extension while trying to remove some tarpaulin. He stepped onto an insulating board which had been laid across a skylight in the extension, and it broke under his weight. As a result, he fell from the roof to the concrete floor below.
The injured man explained: “I no longer work as a result of my injuries. The incident has effectively turned my life upside down. I suffer terrible flashbacks and am currently on medication.”
James Thompson, of Wallington, Surrey, who traded as James Thompson Carpentry and Building, was supervising work on the site in Collamore Avenue, South West London at the time of the incident.
There were a number of safety measures that he could have taken to prevent this terrible accident but he failed to implement any of them. He pleaded guilty at London Central Criminal Court to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was ordered to pay costs of £7,000 in addition to his fine.
Ian Seabrook, an inspector with the HSE, commented: “This incident could easily have been avoided, and illustrates there is no room for complacency even when working on small sites.
“Work at height is the single largest safety hazard on construction sites and needs to be properly managed.”
Pete Stock, E-learning and Business Account Manager at First Response Training, says: “The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, with a high number of accidents occurring on construction sites every year. Many of these accidents involve working at height, and falls from height can have serious consequences, with the injured party often being unable to continue to work.
We offer a short and interactive online Working at Height training course, which will inform workers about the dangers involved in working at height and the safe systems of work that they should follow. It can be completed at any time and by anyone with internet access and is a cost-effective and convenient alternative to practical training courses. We have over 40 health and safety e-learning titles. To find out more about any of them, please visit our website or give me a call 0800 310 2300.”
First Response Training also offer a diverse range of practical, direct provision health and safety courses, including the IOSH-accredited Managing Safely in Construction. Call free phone 0800 310 2300 to talk to one of their sales advisors about your safety needs.
The injured worker, who is now 41 years old, can only walk short distances and has had to use a walking stick since the accident, which occurred on 18th December 2006. He has been advised that his condition will not improve any further and he will never be able to work in construction again.
He fell from a one-storey roof extension while trying to remove some tarpaulin. He stepped onto an insulating board which had been laid across a skylight in the extension, and it broke under his weight. As a result, he fell from the roof to the concrete floor below.
The injured man explained: “I no longer work as a result of my injuries. The incident has effectively turned my life upside down. I suffer terrible flashbacks and am currently on medication.”
James Thompson, of Wallington, Surrey, who traded as James Thompson Carpentry and Building, was supervising work on the site in Collamore Avenue, South West London at the time of the incident.
There were a number of safety measures that he could have taken to prevent this terrible accident but he failed to implement any of them. He pleaded guilty at London Central Criminal Court to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was ordered to pay costs of £7,000 in addition to his fine.
Ian Seabrook, an inspector with the HSE, commented: “This incident could easily have been avoided, and illustrates there is no room for complacency even when working on small sites.
“Work at height is the single largest safety hazard on construction sites and needs to be properly managed.”
Pete Stock, E-learning and Business Account Manager at First Response Training, says: “The construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries to work in, with a high number of accidents occurring on construction sites every year. Many of these accidents involve working at height, and falls from height can have serious consequences, with the injured party often being unable to continue to work.
We offer a short and interactive online Working at Height training course, which will inform workers about the dangers involved in working at height and the safe systems of work that they should follow. It can be completed at any time and by anyone with internet access and is a cost-effective and convenient alternative to practical training courses. We have over 40 health and safety e-learning titles. To find out more about any of them, please visit our website or give me a call 0800 310 2300.”
First Response Training also offer a diverse range of practical, direct provision health and safety courses, including the IOSH-accredited Managing Safely in Construction. Call free phone 0800 310 2300 to talk to one of their sales advisors about your safety needs.
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