Firm fined £20,000 after worker's three-metre fall

Date:

09 October 2009

Release No:

SCO/172/09

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has again warned of the dangers of working at height without the proper safety precautions after a worker's potentially life-threatening fall.

Superglass Insulation Ltd of Thistle Industrial Estate, Kerse Road, Stirling, was fined £20,000 after a worker fell more than three metres from a platform, while carrying out maintenance work on a machine.

The incident, on 10 September 2008, happened because the platform the worker had been using did not have robust edge protection.

As a result of the fall the worker sustained torn ligaments and cuts and bruising.

At Stirling Sheriff Court yesterday (8 October) Superglass Insulation Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

HSE Inspector Harris Cooper said:

"Falls from this height are often fatal, and it was down to chance alone that this incident did not result in a death or permanent injury. This accident was entirely foreseeable and preventable.

"It was clear that the company had not put in place a safe system for working at height and had failed to do enough about the risks associated with working at height."

For more information on working at height go to www.hse.gov.uk/falls

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 reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
2. Section 2(2) (a) and (c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 state: "Without prejudice to the generality of an employer's duty under the preceding subsection, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular - (a) the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health; (c) the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees"

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