Repair work in the home 'should take safety into account'

Categories: General Health and Safety |


Repair work in the home 'should take safety into account' Those who are responsible for health and safety provisions in the workplace have been warned not to leave repair work uncovered or unsafe by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

It comes after an elderly woman died following her fall into an access hole in her council home's hallway floor which had been left uncovered.

The 90-year-old suffered major injuries when she fell through the floorboards, which had been left up because workers were upgrading the gas system in her home.

HSE inspector Garry Stimpson commented that the accident was avoidable.

"The council employees should have covered the access hole or erected a barrier around it - this would have ensured the safety of [the woman]," he pointed out.

"Those working on central heating systems in a residential property must ensure that suitable and sufficient measures are taken to protect the residents.

"Every year thousands of projects involving central heating installation and upgrading are carried out across Scotland. Every time work is carried out contractors must take positive steps to prevent incidents - otherwise this type of incident will happen again."

To avoid this kind of accident in the workplace, businesses could invest in safety signs.
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