SCAFFOLDING FIRM FINED £75,000 FOLLOWING FALL FROM HEIGHT DEATH

HSE press release: E075:03 - 8 May 2003

One of UK's largest steel erection companies, William Hare Limited, were today fined a total of £75,000 following an incident when two workers fell from height, resulting in the death of one of them, while undertaking construction work at the Imperial War Museum in London.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution followed the accident which occurred on 2 April 1998 during the construction of an extension to the Imperial War Museum at Lambeth Road, London.

Norwich man Mr Brian Knights - a steel erector employed by William Hare Limited, fell from the steelwork of the new extension to the ground outside the structure and was killed. Mr Richard Bartram, another steel erector, also fell in the same incident but landed on the decked-out floor below and escaped serious injury.

Mr Knights and Mr Bartram had been standing on a wooden staging board that was resting on two horizontal steel beams, at a height of 13 metres above the ground. They were retrieving a ladder that was footed on the staging board, and giving access to the top of a column, where steel channels had been bolted into position a few days earlier. The board became unbalanced and tipped both men off.

William Hare Limited pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act), for failing to ensure the safety of its employees at the City of London Magistrates' Court, on Wednesday 12 March. Today William Hare Limited were fined a total of £75,000 and ordered to plan £9,162.80 at the Old Bailey.

HSE Inspector Alec Ferguson said: "The method statement for the scaffolding work being undertaken at the Imperial War Museum was not sufficiently detailed to cover the erection of the steel channels, which led to an improvised system being developed on site.

"This dreadful accident has highlighted the need for the most detailed planning and preparation for all high-risk activities such as steel erection. This accident could have been avoided if the company had specified a safe system of work undertaken with suitable supervision."

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSW Act) states:

"It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."

2. William Hare Limited are one of the largest steel erection companies in the UK, and are based at Brandlesholme House, Brandlesholme Road, Bury, Lancashire, BL8 1JJ.

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