Heathrow Airport Ltd fined after worker fell off terminal roof

HSE/LON/306/2009 5 June 2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging employers to ensure proper safety procedures are in place to prevent workers falling from height.

The call follows the prosecution of Heathrow Airport Ltd at City of London Magistrates Court on 3 June, after a contractor fell into a 2.2 metre deep gully whilst working from height on the roof of Terminal 1 at Heathrow Airport.

Heathrow Airport Ltd, based in London, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The court fined the company £10,000 and ordered them to pay costs of £3,130.

The investigation followed an incident in Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport, North West London on 7 March 2007, where a contractor maintenance worker was walking from one part of the terminal roof to another. The contractor fell into the gully and received serious injuries to his leg. There was no edge protection around the gully and local lighting was not working. The injured worker suffered life changing injuries and is now unable to do the work that he used to do.

Prosecuting HSE Inspector, Steve Kirton, said: "Falls from height remain one of the most significant causes of serious injury reported to HSE, yet simple precautions can prevent these falls.  Edge protection, or other fall protection, should always be provided where people are working at height".

Notes to editors

1. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not exposed to risks to their health and safety."
2. HSE information and guidance on preventing falls from height can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/falls/index.htm

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR (London and South East)