GNN332/W/07 28 June 2007

Companies fined after fatal fall from height

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today warned companies to ensure employees are properly trained and precautions are taken when working at height. The warning comes after a worker died following a fall through a fragile roof on a farm in West Wales.

HSE prosecuted Enidvale Ltd trading as B.K. Grain Handling Engineers, of Marlborough, Wiltshire, and Mansel Raymond, trading as Raymond Bros of Jordanston Hall, Letterston, Pembrokeshire following the death of Alan Ellison from Swindon in June 2004.

Mr Ellison’s employer, Enidvale Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 3(1) and 7(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs in excess of £8,000.

Raymond Bros was found guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, in relation to risks to safety of their employees, and was fined £10,000 and order to pay costs of £15,000.

HSE Inspector Wayne Williams said: "Working at height is extremely dangerous, as this case has so tragically demonstrated, and it is imperative that employers carry out proper risk assessments, and ensure their staff are adequately trained to work at height.

"Unfortunately, this remains something that too many employers fail to take into consideration, and I hope the fines in this case will serve as a warning to employers to put into place proper systems and safeguards to prevent death or injury to their workers."

Mr Ellison was employed to help install a new grain drying system at Mr Raymond’s farm when the incident took place. He died after falling around eight metres onto the concrete floor below.

Latest figures show that 46 people died from a fall from height at work in 2005/06, while 3351 were injured. Falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries.

Notes to Editors:

1. Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states, “It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”
2. Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states, “Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of -
   • The risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and
   • The risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking.”
3. Regulation 7(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states, ”Every employer shall, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in his undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions and by part II of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997.
4. More information on preventing falls from height can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/falls

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by Government News Network Wales. For further information, please contact on 0844 800 6823 or out of hours 020 7928 8382.