Building firm fined for worker ladder fall

Date:

25 October 2012

Release No:

WM/160/HSE

A Birmingham construction company has been fined for safety failings after a contractor was injured when he fell more than five metres from a ladder.

Adrian Morrow was undertaking chimney repairs at a home in Sutton Coldfield for David Hodkinson, trading as Central Construction (Midlands), when the incident occurred on 21 November last year.

The 39-year-old, from Arley, near Nuneaton, was working from a roof ladder, but as he made his way down it came away from its moorings. He fell onto a bag of sand being used to foot the ladder.

Mr Morrow suffered injuries to his foot and ankle, underwent several operations and physiotherapy, and was unable to work for more than four months.

Birmingham Magistrates' Court heard today (25 October) that an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that David Hodkinson, of Sutton Coldfield, failed to ensure the work at height was properly planned, supervised and carried out in a safe manner.

He allowed the repairs to go ahead without proper preparation; there was no safe means of roof access, and no protective measures were in place to prevent or mitigate the effects of a fall.

David Hodkinson, of Walmley Road, Sutton Coldfield, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay costs of £500.

After the hearing HSE inspector, Paul Cooper said:

"This incident was entirely preventable and had Mr Morrow not fortuitously landed on a bag of sand, his injuries could have been a lot worse.

"Scaffolding should have been used to carry out this work and had it been, then the incident could have been avoided.

"David Hodkinson had a duty to ensure that workers in his care were not exposed to unnecessary risks to their safety. Falls from height are an obvious risk in roof work and employers and those in control of such activity need to follow the proper safety guidance."

The HSE guide 'Health and Safety in roof work' offers further information about safe working. Visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg33.htm to download a copy.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive 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. Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work at height is properly planned; appropriately supervised and carried out in a manner which is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe."

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