Friday, November 2, 2012

2 companies sentenced over worker's permanent injuries

A building company and a decorating firm have been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he plummeted more than 7m through a skylight.

The incident happened when the worker was painting the roof on an industrial unit. He stepped on to a fragile skylight which shattered and he fell through to the concrete floor below.

The 36-year-old broke his leg, hip, pelvis, wrist and elbow. He also sustained head injuries and lacerations to his face. The father-of-five was in hospital for 3 weeks where he underwent extensive surgery.

The sub-contractor failed to properly assess the risks involved in doing the job. As a result it didn't get a safe system of work in place. The principal contractor made very little effort to ensure the sub-contractors were competent and monitor the work being undertaken.

The injured worker said: "This has turned my life upside down. All of a sudden everyday things that you take for granted can't be done any more.”

Health and Safety Executive inspector Sam Russell said: "Work at height is a high risk activity and steps should have been taken to identify those risks and mitigate against them.”

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Slips Trips and Falls
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Source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-em-16212.htm

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