The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a further warning to employers of the need to protect workers from falling from height, after a contractor fell from the first floor of a building he was working on.

In October 2008, the employee was working at Barnfields Industrial Estate in Leek, Staffordshire. He was using a power saw when he fell through the side of the building onto the ground, sustaining potentially life threatening injuries.

The HSE investigation showed the walls of the building had been removed and there was an inadequately positioned steel girder around the sides.

On Friday (16/10/09) at Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates’ Court, G. Baskerville Ltd, of Cobridge in Stoke-on-Trent pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £6,000 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Guy Dale said:

‘Although there was a horizontal steel girder around the sides of the building, there were still substantial gaps – and there was a significant risk that other workers could also have fallen four metres to the ground below.

‘The injured party sustained serious injuries from the fall. He had to be sedated for three weeks and spent a further three weeks in hospital. At one stage his injuries were believed to be life threatening.’

Mr Dale added:

‘It is vital that if workers have to work at height there are adequate barriers erected to prevent them from falling.’

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