Cowes boatyard admits blame for worker's fall

Date:

7 June 2012

Release No:

LSE/111/12

An internationally-known Isle of Wight boat builder has been prosecuted for neglecting safety precautions after a worker fell from wooden staging set up around a boat while it was being refurbished.

The employee, who had worked at the yard for 16 years, was attempting to pick up a linisher - a specialist sanding/polishing machine - while working on a vessel when he fell 1.4m from the staging, breaking his arm.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident at the Cowes site of yacht and boat builders Clare Lallow Ltd and brought a prosecution for safety failings under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Isle of Wight Magistrates were told the employee, who has asked not to be named, was off work for five months following his fall on 4 August 2011. The staging had no measures in place at all to prevent falls.

During a visit to the boatyard after the incident, HSE found the company had added rope guard rails but they were not robust enough to prevent further falls from the high staging, where work was still taking place. A Prohibition Notice was served preventing any further work at height and Clare Lallow Ltd complied by constructing a scaffolding and guard rail system.

Clare Lallow Ltd, established in 1867 and registered at Pyle Street, Newport, is noted for building Morning Cloud, and subsequent yachts, for the-then Prime Minister Edward Heath.

It admitted a breach of Section 2(1) of the Act and was fined £1,000 with £1,000 in costs.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Craig Varian said:

"The company's failings left an individual injured for a significant period of time. Yet the incident was avoidable. Clare Lallow Ltd should have recognised the risks and installed simple, low-cost solutions to prevent the employees falling from this staging around the boat.

"You don't have to fall from a great height to lose your life. It's wrong that workers like the one in this case suffer preventable injuries because simple steps have not been taken to manage obvious workplace risks. It is vital all work is properly planned, assessed and then implemented.

"Work at height is inherently dangerous and if not managed properly can result in serious injury or even death. I hope this hearing serves as a further reminder of the serious risks posed when employees are carrying out jobs at height."

The most common kinds of accident involve slipping or tripping (40%) and falls from height (16%). HSE figures for 2010/11 show there were 38 deaths, 4,327 major injuries and a further 5,867 over-three-day injuries because of a fall from height. More information on preventing falls at work 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 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.

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network