A successful prosecution of three men by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has resulted in fines totalling £5,000 for failing to provide adequate protection to an employee.
David Pass of Droylsden, Greater Manchester, “could easily have been killed when he fell through a fragile roof panel,” according to HSE Construction Inspector, Ian Betley. Mr Pass fell eight metres, seriously injuring his head and back, and was in a coma following the accident at work. He continues to suffer partial blindness in one eye. He is one of thousands of employees seriously injured every year in work accidents involving a fall from height.
Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr. Pass had been working on a fragile barn roof, removing corrugated sheets, when the accident happened. There had been no provision of scaffolding or a mobile work platform that would have ensured adequate safety for workers who, instead, had to climb up and balance on the roof.
The responsibility for health and safety at the site was jointly borne by John Long, who was the owner of the barn, and contractors Andrew Oliver and Adrian Evans. These three men pleaded guilty to breaching sections of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 which requires employers and self employed individuals to ensure the health and safety of workers as far as is practicably possible. Each of them was fined in excess of £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of a total of £5,500 in addition to the fines.
According to the HSE “Shattered Lives” campaign, in 2008/09 over 4,000 employees suffered a major injury and there were 15 deaths as a result of a fall from height at work. Ian Betley hoped that highlighting this case would:
“act as a warning to construction companies about the dangers their employees and contractors face when they carry out work at height.”
Related Personal Injury News
- Company fined after man broke his back in accident at work
- Construction – Health and Safety at Work
- Complaining about health and safety
- Builder earns £270,000 personal injury compensation after fall at Heathrow
- Employer’s top tips to avoid accidents at work