Farmer fined for fall injuries

Date:

30 March 2011

Release No:

HSE/EM/170/11

A Nottinghamshire farm business has been prosecuted for safety failings after an employee suffered serious injuries in a roof fall.

Newark and Southwell magistrates heard today that two workers were dismantling a farm building at Manor Farm on Broadgate Lane in Kelham, near Newark, on 13 May 2009 when one of them stepped onto a fragile roof panel and fell approximately four metres to the ground. He suffered a broken pelvis, four broken ribs and a broken shoulder blade.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that James Miller (Kelham) Ltd failed to properly plan the dismantling work, which then exposed the workers to unnecessary danger.

HSE Inspector David Butter said:

"The worker was extremely lucky to survive. The work on the roof should not have been carried out in the way it was, with just a ladder and some plywood boards. The fall could have been avoided had the work been properly planned and appropriate safety measures taken such as using scaffolding or a cherry-picker.

"Falls from height are the biggest causes of workplace deaths and it's crucial that employers make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and that sufficient measures are put in place to protect staff from these risks."

James Miller (Kelham) Ltd admitted contravening regulations 29(1) and 29(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. The company was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £2,114.

Last year, more than 4,000 workers suffered major injuries as the result of falls from height and 12 lost their lives. Information on preventing injuries is available at www.hse.gov.uk/falls

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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 29(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states: "The demolition or dismantling of a structure, or part of a structure, shall be planned and carried out in such a manner as to prevent danger or, where it is not practicable to prevent it, to reduce danger to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.
3. Section 29(2) of the same regulations states: "The arrangements for carrying out such demolition or dismantling shall be recorded in writing before the demolition or dismantling work begins."
4. Information on safe working at height is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls

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