A Dorset based joinery company has been fined after a sub-contractor fell through a window opening to the floor below.
Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court heard how a self-employed carpenter of R A Winwood Limited was working on an extension to a domestic property in Upton Way, Broadstone, Poole. Part of the work included fixing plywood to the roof joists. A piece of ply was resting over a window opening in the roof, and on lifting the ply the employee fell approximately three and a half metres through the opening to the floor below.
He suffered a severe fracture to the right ankle and the right wrist, and a fracture to one of his vertebrae.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 3 December 2014 found the risk of a fall through the window openings had not been considered as part of the risk assessment for the job.
R A Winwood Limited, of Corfe View Road, Corfe, Mullen, Wimborne, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,809.
HSE inspector James Powell said after the hearing: “Any risks of falls from height should not be overlooked and should be considered as part of the risk assessment.”
For further information on working at height visit: http://www.gse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/roofwork.htm#roo
Notes to Editors:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
- More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ and guidance at
- HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk
Article source: http://press.hse.gov.uk/2016/firm-fined-after-worker-fall/