Stoke firm fined after steeplejack fall

Date:

28 February 2011

Release No:

WM358/11

A Stoke-on-Trent building maintenance firm was fined when a steeplejack suffered serious injuries after falling eight metres from a church roof.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Alliance Technical Services Ltd, of Hampton Street, Hanley, after the 40-year-old employee, who did not wish to be named, fell from the roof of Holy Trinity Church, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on 21 October 2009.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates' Court heard the man was repairing tiles on the church roof when an anchor securing his ladders to the church masonry suddenly gave way.

He fell about eight metres to the ground, suffering serious injuries including a spinal fracture, two broken ankles and a broken wrist. He spent three weeks in hospital and has not been able to return to work since the incident.

Alliance Technical Services pleaded guilty today to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £3,334 and ordered to pay £4,000 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Keiron Jones said:

"When carrying out building repairs at height, companies should always ensure the work is properly planned and that ladders are properly secured.

"In this case Alliance Technical Services failed to provide the necessary training and instruction to their workforce to allow them to install and test the anchors correctly.

"This resulted in a completely avoidable and very serious disabling injury to one of their workers."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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 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."
3. HSE guidance on working safely with ladders is available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg402.pdf

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