Legal News
Demolition firm fined after worker falls from height (9 December 2015)
Date: 09/12/2015
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successfully prosecuted a demolition firm after a worker fell from height on an industrial estate in Glasgow.
The incident happened at the Hillington Industrial Estate in Glasgow on the 30 December 2011, when an unnamed 50-year-old worker was working on a mobile scaffolding platform during demolition of a building.
HSE’s investigation found that the worker fell because the platform was not put together correctly – and was missing guardrails and toeboards. There was also no suitable risk assessment available on site for the use of the mobile scaffolding platform – and it had not been inspected before use.
The worker was injured when a cable tray swung towards him as he was cutting it from the ceiling, hitting him in the shin and knocking him off balance.
He fell five feet off the platform, causing severe injuries including a fracture to his right elbow – he also fractured his left arm requiring surgery and also suffered bruising to his head. The employee has been unable to return to work because of the extent of his injuries.
DSR Demolition Limited was fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
HSE Inspector Graham Mitchell said:
“The injured person was at risk of falling because the tower was not put together properly. Work at Height Regulations require those in control of work at height to take sufficient measures to prevent injuries and this fall could have been easily prevented.”
Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Falls from Height Claims
Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those injured in falls from height caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:
• Accidents at work
• Balcony falls
• Children’s accidents
• Escalator, elevator and lift falls
• Falls from staircases or steps
• Holiday accidents.
Claims for falls from height have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury – children can make a claim for compensation up to the age of 21.
For expert legal advice on no win no fee Falls from Height Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.