Building firm fined after construction worker falls from height

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has given a warning to employers to ensure they take appropriate measures to protect employees from falls, after a Sunderland building firm was fined following an incident in which a worker was injured after falling from height.

Three employees of the Construction firm were working on the construction of a new house and moving one of the rafters to accommodate a roof window. One man was standing on a joiner's stool to do this and lost his balance; he fell through a gap onto the concrete floor 2.8 metres below him. He suffered serious injuries and has been unable to return to work since the incident.

The HSE Inspector, who investigated the incident, said:
"Companies must assess the risks from work that they are undertaking at height and make sure that suitable measures to prevent a fall are in place. All work at height should be planned, organised, supervised and carried out by competent persons.

The HSE is currently running a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the devastating consequences of falls, slips and trips in the workplace. Called "Shattered Lives" the construction industry is one of the main areas being targeted. The figures are alarming - every week, one person dies from a slip, trip or fall at work with another 3,750 people seriously injured last year alone.

If you would like to seek expert legal advice relating to this case study or any other injury claim please complete the online enquiry form or call 0800 915 4650

This news section contains information of interest to our visitors from publicly available sources. Where we are linked to a story or are representing the person"s referred to we will say so. Where we do not represent individuals or bodies mentioned or quoted, the inclusion of the news story in our news section is not intended nor should it be taken to imply that we act for the individual or body concerned.