Despite the very obvious dangers posed by working at height, some companies continue to flout health and safety regulations relating to the erection of scaffolding. This puts not only their employees but also anyone working on the scaffolding at risk of injury. In the latest such case an East Sussex scaffolding firm were fined £20,000 for failing to follow the regulations.
The case revolved around an accident in which a construction worker fell 3 metres from a mobile scaffolding platform that he was working on. A later inspection revealed the platform to have been improperly erected, and a claim was brought against the company responsible for its construction and maintenance. The firm in question plead guilty to breaching regulations and paid out a £20,000 and £11,500 in costs.
The accident has again drawn attention to the requirements to provide protection for workers on scaffolding to prevent them from falling off the edges. Health and Safety Executive inspector Helen Donnelly spoke about this accident, saying, “Companies involved in refurbishment, building or maintenance should ensure that the work is planned properly and sensible measures taken so that workers are not exposed to risk.”
The accident in East Sussex is not the only accident involving a fall from height to be in the press in recent days. The case of a man from Bradford who broke both his heels in a 4 metre fall has also led to fines of £5000 for the contractor and the company on whose premises he was working. The accident happened near the Yorkshire town of Halifax when a ladder the man was using became detached from a roof ridge, causing him to fall.
When the case went to court, magistrates heard how all employees of the roofing contractor had been at risk because of its unsafe working practices, including not fitting guard rails and dismantling scaffolding before the work was complete. In this particular case there had also been a risk of falling through the glass in the roof of the building and onto the concrete floor below. Another Health and Safety inspector, David Welsh, said:
”This incident caused serious injuries and could have been life-threatening. There were problems with this work from the start of the job and none of them were dealt with in a suitable way. The incident need never have happened if the correct systems had been planned and put in place. I hope other businesses can learn from this incident and appreciate the high risk involved with work at height on roofs. Injuries caused by falls from heights are the biggest cause of death at work in Great Britain. Work at height must always be properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner.”
If you have been injured in a fall from height, Camps Solicitors could help you to make a No-Win No-Fee compensation claim. Our specialist work accident lawyers are well versed in workplace health and safety law and will be able to tell you if you have the grounds to make a claim; we will examine the circumstances of the accident, consult with experts, and gather testimonies from witnesses to ensure you have a strong claim. Once we have taken on your claim, we will build a strong case for you to receive compensation that reflects the level of your injuries, and there impact on your life.
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