Workers seriously injured after eight metre fall

Date:

6 February 2012

Release No:

HSE/SW/9

Two workers fell eight metres from a temporary structure that collapsed while they were upon it, Cheltenham Magistrates Court heard.

Spencer Gosney from Yeovil, and Matthew Brewer from Nottingham, had been sub-contracted to build a concrete core as part of a new factory building at GlaxoSmithKline's premises in Coleford, Forest of Dean. Chalcroft Ltd was the principal contractor on site.

On 12 August 2009, the two men were building the core using a large piece of climbing form work, a type of frame used to set the concrete in place. As the tower got higher, the form work was lifted up and fixed in place enabling the men to work at the top to set more concrete.

However, one of the anchor points holding the section of form work where the men were standing came out of alignment before the concrete was poured in. The men used a bolt not suited for this use in its place, but fixed it at an acute angle. The bolt was unable to withstand the weight of the concrete and broke, tipping the platform upon which the men were standing, sending them falling to the ground.

Mr Gosney suffered a laceration to his head and severe bruising to his internal organs and leg. Mr Brewer fractured his hip and pelvis. Mr Brewer's injuries were so severe that he has still not returned to work.

Sue Adsett, the HSE inspector who investigated the incident said:

"Work at height is inherently dangerous and if not managed properly can result in serious injury or even death. It is vital all work is properly planned and checked in order to prevent or reduce the impact of falls. Safety-critical parts of temporary work equipment should be checked before use.

"This incident occurred because neither of these things was done. Crucially, Chalcroft Ltd had no formal procedures in place to make safety-critical checks. These checks would have revealed that the working platform was not secure, and this failing has caused serious injury to two men."

Chalcroft Ltd, of Keytec 7 Business Park, Pershore, Worcestershire, admitted breaching Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Reg 22 (1)(a) and was fined £14,000 with £23,236.28 in costs.

For more information about working at height go to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/ and http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/cis56.pdf regarding temporary works procedures.

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. Regulation 22 (1)(a) Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 states: "The principal contractor for a project shall plan, manage and monitor the construction phase in a way which ensures that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health or safety."

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