HSE Warns Of Dangers Of Working At Heights After Construction Worker Breaks Two Bones In Back

A firm has been sentenced after one of its employees broke two bones in his back following an incident at a domestic property in Broughton.

The roofing company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the employee, who was working on the removal and replacement of a garage roof, fell more than two metres to the ground below. He suffered whiplash and two broken bones in his lower back, and has been unable to return to work due to persistent back pain.

From 2009/10, 42 workers died while working in construction and nearly three quarters of these deaths occurred during refurbishment, repair and maintenance activities. Falls from height are the biggest cause of fatal injuries within the industry.

The court heard the company failed to notify the HSE of the incident and therefore an inspector did not visit the site to ensure work was being carried out in a safe manner. Had the incident been reported to the HSE, an immediate Prohibition Notice would have been served on the site and all work stopped until the correct and reasonably practicable measures put in place.

HSE was eventually made aware of the incident and a subsequent investigation was launched. It found the company had failed to properly plan and supervise work at height activities, and ensure that appropriate measures were in place to control the associated risks.

The Flintshire company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £3,000. It also pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(1)(b) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 and was fined a further £1,000, in addition to paying costs of £2,500.95.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector, Will Gretton said, "Falls from height continue to be the biggest cause of fatal injuries within the construction industry. The type of injuries for people who fall from height while at work, and survive, can be life-changing, ranging from debilitating back injuries to paralysis.

Although Britain has one of the best Health and Safety records in Europe, the construction (173.2 major injuries per 100,000 employees) and agricultural (221.9 major injuries per 100,000 employees) industries continue to report the highest levels of work-related injuries.