• Health and Safety Violations

  £1.1 million pound fine after a working at height fall

  Posted by Nigel on 28 May 2020 at 2:53 pm

  A London based relocation and refurbishment company was taken to court and fined after a worker was seriously hurt when he fell whilst working at height.

  
  

  A court in the UK heard that on 5 September 2016, an engineer was testing a sprinkler system for leaks at a site. He climbed onto an internal roof and was inspecting the leak from an extension ladder. The ladder slipped away from him and he fell almost three metres into the gap between the internal roof and the external wall.

  The worker suffered severe blood loss, amounting to around half of his bloodstream. He required a blood transfusion and needed 14 stitches to his head. He also sustained a fractured vertebrae and suffered soft tissue damage.

  The UK Health and Safety Executive investigation found that reasonably practicable measures had not been taken to prevent a fall from the internal roof for both the engineer and other contractors working on the roof.

  The investigation found that Modus Workspace Limited, the principal contractor, had failed to discharge its duty to ensure those not in their employment were not exposed to risks, in particular that of falling from height.

  Modus Workspace Limited of London was found guilty after a five-week trial of breaching section 3 (1) of the health and safety at work act 1974. The company was fined £1.1 million and ordered to pay costs of £68,116.18.

  After the sentencing, a UK Health and Safety Executive Inspector commented: “This case highlights the importance of taking reasonably practicable measures when planning and managing the risks regarding work at height within the construction industry.

  “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.”

  How safe is your workplace and could this happen in your place of work? Share this information and prevent another incident like this one, the power to stop accidents is in all of our hands,

  Nigel replied 4 years, 7 months ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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