A relocation and refurbishment firm has been fined £1.1 million and ordered to pay costs of £68,116 following an incident in 2016 where a worker sustained serious injuries following a fall from height.
The engineer in question had been testing a sprinkler system for leaks onsite, climbing onto an internal roof to inspect it from an extension ladder. The ladder slipped and he fell nearly 3m into the space between the internal roof and the external wall, suffering severe blood loss as a result.
He needed a blood transfusion and 14 stitches to his head, also suffering a fractured vertebrae and soft tissue damage.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that reasonably practicable measures weren’t in place to prevent a fall and the principal contractor had failed to make sure those not in their employment weren’t exposed to risks, particularly that of falling from height.
HSE inspector John Berezansky commented: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and injuries in this country and the risks and control measures associated with working at height are well known.
“The engineer’s injuries were life changing and he could have easily been killed. This serious incident and devastation could have been avoided if basic safety measures had been put in place.”
Common cases of falls from height include from ladders and through fragile surfaces, but simple measures can be taken to reduce the risks. All work should be properly planned and supervised, and carried out by competent people with the necessary skills and experience to do the work.
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