Firm prosecuted after employee suffers “horrific injuries”
A building firm has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following a work accident where a worker suffered “horrific” personal injuries when he fell from a height when working with an untrained employee, it has been revealed.
The 68 year old worker had fallen from 7.5 metres high through a gap between a building and scaffolding when he had been working on a barn conversion with an untrained employee who was responsible to hold the scaffolding up.
He suffered fractures to his skull and neck, bleeding on the brain and other injuries.
The employers, James and Patricia Smith, a husband and wife had both admitted liability and were fined £2,000 each along with £2,000 court fees.
Inspector Lisa Bailey, of the HSE said, "This man is lucky to be alive after suffering horrific injuries as a result of this incident, which would not have occurred if the scaffolding had been erected properly.
The couple relied on an employee without training to erect the scaffolding and, as a result, put the safety of people using it at risk.”
Bailey also warned that "scaffolding can be very dangerous if it hasn't been properly constructed.”
She said: “It is therefore vital that employers make sure staff are fully trained and competent.
I'd urge companies to make sure their staff have the correct training, or risk putting lives in danger."
Updated on 2/26/2009