Death of worker at height serves as warning to employers

Date:

21 September 2009

Release No:

HSE/WM/335/2009

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning employers to ensure their workers are well trained and supervised when working at height, after a man was killed when installing a temporary office unit in West Bromwich.

The supplier of the office unit, Stockton-on-Tees-based Mobile Mini UK Ltd, was today (21 Sept) fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,000. It had pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how on 30 January 2008, employee David Boulton was unloading a temporary accommodation unit from a lorry on Halford's Lane, West Bromwich. He was standing on top of the unit in order to attach a sling from a crane when he fell on to the road, suffering fatal head injuries.

HSE inspector Tony Woodward said:

"Our investigation showed the company's systems were fundamentally flawed. There were safety procedures that were not followed, and those systems that were in place were so cumbersome that employees found them difficult to follow.

"To make matters worse, the company wasn't even checking to see if the staff were following the procedures they had put in place, with workers being allowed to use sub-standard equipment. For example, a ladder used in this incident was one of the worst I have ever seen.

"This case should be used as an example to others to introduce easy to understand systems and ensure staff members adhere to them. This begins with training and continues with regular monitoring and refresher courses where necessary."

Notes to editors

1. Section 2(1) of the Health & 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. Further information on risk assessments can be found on HSE's website at www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm .

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