Dangers of working at height highlighted by HSE

Categories: Construction Health and Safety | General Health and Safety |


Dangers of working at height highlighted by HSE The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlighted the dangers of working at height following the prosecution of a Derbyshire firm after an employee was seriously injured.

During work on a valley gutter, the man fell over 4.5 metres through a neighbouring roof onto a concrete floor below.

An investigation by the inspectorate found that the company had not taken sufficient measures to prevent anyone falling off or through the roof and so was in breach of Section Two of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Consequently magistrates ordered it to pay £7,000 in fines and an additional £3,138 in court costs.

Tariq Khan, the HSE inspector looking into the case, commented: "Incidents could be avoided if companies ensured that they had thought through a safe way of tackling a job, provided all necessary protective equipment and ensured workers were fully trained."

Employers should ensure that suitable safety signs are set up when work is being undertaken at height or on fragile surfaces, according to the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
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