HSE Calls for Safe Working at Height
The HSE Calls for Safe Working at Height after a number of recent incidents.
20 July 2009
HSE is reminding construction companies of their duties to employees after a worker was paralysed in a fall.
Harold Roach fell ten feet through roof joists at a refurbishment site in Birkenhead while he was working for Property People (NW) Ltd.
Property People (NW) Ltd admitted contravening Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of its employees. It also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 by failing to report the injury to HSE. The company was fined £92,000 and ordered to pay costs of £11,404.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coinw01709.htm?ebul=cons/aug09&cr=3
23 July 2009
Small companies warned to take health and safety responsibilities seriously after roofer's death
HSE has warned small companies to take their responsibilities seriously, after a man fell through the roof of a DIY superstore in Wigan and later died.
David Battisson from CRN Contracts Ltd in Birkenhead (formerly Concrete Repairs NW Ltd) was working on the roof of the store when he fell ten metres to the floor through a PVC light.
HSE prosecuted CRN Contracts Ltd for failing to follow proper safety procedures. The company pleaded guilty to two charges under health and safety legislation, and was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,086.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coinw00309.htm?ebul=cons/aug09&cr=4
24 July 2009
Greater Manchester roofing companies urged to put safety first after worker falls through roof
HSE prosecuted Tower Roofing Ltd following an incident at Magnesium Elektron Ltd's premises in Swinton. Lee Bridge was cleaning guttering at the factory on 6 March 2008 when the fragile roof gave way. He landed on a stack of pallets more than two metres below him, before bouncing off them and falling a further two metres to the concrete floor.
Tower Roofing pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 for failing to take suitable precautions to prevent the incident from occurring. It was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,976.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2009/coinw02009.htm?ebul=cons/aug09&cr=5
1 September, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive has called for construction workers and employers to ensure their safety when working at height, after a man fell to his death from scaffolding earlier this month.
The 31-year-old died in the Hastings area on Monday 10 August, and the Health and Safety Executive has drawn attention to the fact that more people die in the construction industry every year than any of the other main UK industry groups.
It said the number of accidents would drop if companies followed proper procedures designed to protect building site workers.
In 2007/08, 72 people in the construction sector died, with nearly half (32) losing their life after falling from height.
HSE inspector Melvyn Stancliffe said: “The entire construction industry needs to make sure that workers are properly trained and supervised for the tasks they are given and that they follow accepted industry practices - such as taking measures to prevent falls.
“Falls remain the biggest cause of serious and fatal accidents in the construction sector and everybody must play their part if this toll of avoidable accidents is to stop. It is simple - work to the recognised industry standards and working practices and falls can be prevented.”
Further information
Working at height - http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm?ebul=cons/aug09&cr=6 Shattered Lives campaign - http://www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives/construction/index.htm?ebul=cons/aug09&cr=7 - http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/roof.htm?ebul=cons/aug09&cr=8
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