HSE safety warning to sole traders after labourer receives fatal blow from steel joist
16:26 - 02/11/2009
HSE safety warning to sole traders af...
A London-based plumber and sole trader was recently fined £10,000 plus court costs after one of his employees suffered a fatal injury at work.
Ajet Krasniqi, 24, was helping four other workers to lift a reinforced steel joist when it fell and hit him on the head. He was rushed to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead on arrival.
His employer, Leonard Gibson of Old Park Ridings, London, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Harlow Magistrate’s Court on 22nd September this year. He was forced to pay a total of £13,230.
In London alone, 9 people in the construction industry died between 2001 and 2008 as a result of accidents related to a falling object. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who brought the case against Mr Gibson, have warned that employers must do everything in their power to reduce the risks to labourers working with heavy materials.
HSE Inspector Nicola Surrey explained: “This tragic accident could have been prevented if the employer had made sure his workers were not left exposed to unnecessary risks.” She warned that “the HSE will not hesitate to take action” against employers who failed to comply with the law.
Agreeing with the HSE, Perry Leeks, Operations Director at First Response Training, says: “This incident and others could and should have been avoided. Health and Safety training is an excellent way of helping employers determine what their risks are and how to manage them effectively. Training staff is a legal requirement and can help them to work safely which will save companies valuable time and money.”
First Response Training provides a range of Health and Safety training and consultancy services from as little as £495 (in-house) a day. To complement practical courses and perfect for induction or refresher training First Response now offer over 40 E-Learning titles. Contact First Response today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or e-mail info@firstresponsetraining.com to find out which courses can benefit your company.
Ajet Krasniqi, 24, was helping four other workers to lift a reinforced steel joist when it fell and hit him on the head. He was rushed to hospital but was sadly pronounced dead on arrival.
His employer, Leonard Gibson of Old Park Ridings, London, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Harlow Magistrate’s Court on 22nd September this year. He was forced to pay a total of £13,230.
In London alone, 9 people in the construction industry died between 2001 and 2008 as a result of accidents related to a falling object. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who brought the case against Mr Gibson, have warned that employers must do everything in their power to reduce the risks to labourers working with heavy materials.
HSE Inspector Nicola Surrey explained: “This tragic accident could have been prevented if the employer had made sure his workers were not left exposed to unnecessary risks.” She warned that “the HSE will not hesitate to take action” against employers who failed to comply with the law.
Agreeing with the HSE, Perry Leeks, Operations Director at First Response Training, says: “This incident and others could and should have been avoided. Health and Safety training is an excellent way of helping employers determine what their risks are and how to manage them effectively. Training staff is a legal requirement and can help them to work safely which will save companies valuable time and money.”
First Response Training provides a range of Health and Safety training and consultancy services from as little as £495 (in-house) a day. To complement practical courses and perfect for induction or refresher training First Response now offer over 40 E-Learning titles. Contact First Response today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or e-mail info@firstresponsetraining.com to find out which courses can benefit your company.
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