Breaches in working at height regulations leave worker seriously injured
An aviation company has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an accident at work that left one of its employees unable to work for more than two years.
Air Livery Plc, a Southend Airport-based firm was prosecuted for failing to take the steps necessary to prevent one of its workers from falling from the wing of an aircraft at a site near Bristol Airport back in 2007.
The accident happened as two Air Livery employees were working to wrap the wing of a plane in plastic sheeting to protect it from paint stripper. One of the employees stepped onto the wing and fell approximately 5 metres onto the concrete floor of the hangar, breaking his left elbow as well as doing severe damage to several ligaments.
In court Air Livery pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations that govern workers working at height. The investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that it had been usual practice at the company for employees to work on the wings of aircraft without scaffolding or fall protection and that the staff did not have adequate training when it came to working at height.
A Health and Safety Executive representative, speaking after the hearing, described conditions at the Bristol site as being “an accident waiting to happen.” Air Livery was fined £2,400 for the breaches and additionally had to pay the costs of the hearing, which were £9,160.
Compensation for accidents at work
If you have been injured in a fall from height following an accident at work, give Camps Solicitors a call to see if we can help you to make a personal injury claim at no cost to you. Our workplace accident lawyers will look at the circumstances of each accident, relying on expert medical evidence of your injuries as well as evaluating the scene of the accident and factors such as the working practices used and ensure that you get the compensation claim you deserve.
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5m is a damned long way to fall! Especially onto concrete. Sounds like the guy got off easily with that fall to me.