Summary
A farm worker received head, shoulder and back injuries when he fell 3 metres from a platform gantry in a grainstore during dismantling. He fell from the catwalk when a support bracket was cut, and a weld failed. He fell to the floor and one of the platform boards landed on top of him.
Action
There was inadequate assessment of risk and failure to ensure protection
from a fall despite reasonable practicable precautions available.
The farmer was prosecuted under the management of health & safety at
work regulations 1992 S3(1) for inadequate assessment of risk - he had failed
to identify control measures and to inform employees of risk and the construction
health and safety regulations s6 (1) for failing to ensure protection from
a fall despite reasonable practical precautions available. He was fined
£5,000 plus prosecution costs of £558.
Advice
Alterations to buildings often involve working at height, and may involve a risk of structural collapse. A risk assessment should be carried out, and except in the most straightforward circumstances, a written method statement should be prepared. This should help to ensure that all involved understand exactly what they have to do.