Scaffolder fined after worker fell 10 metres through roof

Date:

20 November 2009

Release No:

COILDN/0311

A scaffolding busuiness was today fined for health and safety breaches after a worker fell more than 10 metres through a roof.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Mark Wilson, trading as MWS Scaffolding Services, in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, after uncovering breaches of health and safety law on a site in Waltham Forest, north east London.

Mr Wilson was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,566.80 at City of London Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

On 21 November 2008 a scaffolding employee, working under the direct supervision and instruction of Mr Wilson was attempting to fix scaffolding at Mothercare World in Argon Road, Edmonton when he fell.

MWS Scaffolding Services was contracted to provide frame scaffolding protection at the store to allow a roofing contractor to gain access to repair leaking roof lights.

The court heard that the employee fell through the unprotected fragile roof light and landed more than 10 metres below in the open store. The employee suffered a broken leg, cuts and was unable to work for more than three months.

HSE Construction Inspector, Dominic Elliss, said:

"Mr. Wilson's failure to properly assess these works and then ensure that suitable and sufficient health and safety measures were in place resulted in the serious injury of one of his employees.

"The risks and precautions for work near to fragile material are well known with 15 deaths at work in 2005/06 resulting from similar falls. A failure to adequately assess the risks in this case meant that simple measures such as the provision of sufficient boarding and clear and robust instruction and supervision of his employees were not undertaken."

Note 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 reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR (London & South East)