Companies and director fined over worker fall

Categories: General Health and Safety |


Companies and director fined over worker fall Two companies and a managing director have been fined a total of £170,000 after a 23-year old was left paralysed from the chest down when he fell more than nine metres.

The worker, who is likely to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life, fell on a concrete floor while installing a racking system on a site in Glossop, Derbyshire.

Both companies and the director pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety regulations and were fined £80,000, £50,000 and £40,000 respectively, in addition to costs of £47,000.

Further to this, the director was disqualified from his continuing in the role for a period of four years.

Kevin Wilson, inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Employers must understand the importance of protecting their workforce.

"Companies should adequately plan for working at height and ensure fall protection and mitigation measures are in place so incidents like this do not happen."

According to official HSE figures, the construction industry witnesses a disproportionately high volume of injuries and fatalities each year.

As a result, the safety authority urges people employed within the sector to use the correct workwear, which may include the use of safety helmets.ADNFCR-1200-ID-19776055-ADNFCR

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