Worker left with long-term injuries after 21-metre fall

Date:

24 August 2010

Release No:

NE/218/10

Two UK construction companies have today been fined a total of £125,000 after a worker was seriously injured when he fell 21 metres from a hospital building under construction in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Laing O'Rourke Construction Limited and Expanded Structures Limited were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) on 20 October 2006.

The hole Mr McColgan fell through

Steven McColgan, 37, from Edinburgh, was working on the construction of the adult block of the RVI at the time. Newcastle Crown Court heard that part of an unsupported working platform broke away when he stood on it, causing him to fall 21 metres to the ground.

Mr McColgan suffered serious multiple injuries to his head and body in the fall and his injuries continue to be life-changing.

The HSE investigation revealed that sections of the falsework, acting as a temporary structure supporting the working platform, were removed before work on the concrete slab was complete.

Both companies, which are based at Bridge Place, Anchor Boulevard, Admiral's Place, Crossways in Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,756 and Expanded Structures Ltd was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,154.

After the case, HSE Inspector Victoria Wise said:

"Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd and Expanded Structures Ltd failed in their duty of care to Mr McColgan, who was lucky to survive the fall.

The Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) construction site

"Falls from height are the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain. It is imperative that such a high risk activity is subject to a high degree of overall management and control.

"In the last three years there were 142 work-related fatalities resulting from a fall from height. It is tragic that Mr McColgan's injuries could so easily have been avoided if those in a position of responsibility had effectively discharged their duties".

"Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd had a duty as principal contractor to ensure that safe systems of work were in place and were being implemented on their site. The company had received previous advice from HSE on this specific matter, at another Newcastle site only two years earlier.

"Specialist contractor Expanded Structures Ltd had a duty to ensure that the risks associated with their work had been adequately assessed and that day to day controls and systems of work were effective".

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. http://www.hse.gov.uk/
2. Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 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 thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
3. Laing O'Rourke Construction Limited was formally known as Laing O'Rourke Construction North Limited.
4. Mr McColgan was working as a post tensioner at the time of the incident, which is someone who works on pre-stressing concrete slabs.
5. Inspector Victoria Wise is available for interviews upon request.
6. For further information about working at height, please see www.hse.gov.uk/falls

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