The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a builder after two of his colleagues plunged down a stairwell when a temporary work platform collapsed.

In August 2008, builders employed by Malcolm Shaun Foyle, of Malraymar, Duck Street in Salisbury were working on a property situated in High Street, Tilshead in Salisbury. The stairs in the property had been removed and a temporary platform had been built over the void to allow access to a small area above the stairwell.

One of the workers was on the makeshift platform. When a second worker joined him, when the screws holding the planks in place gave way and both men fell to the ground below. One of the men sustained a fracture injury.

On Monday (22/03/10) at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court, Malcolm Shaun Foyle pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,000.

After the hearing, principal inspector for the HSE, Andrew Kingscott, said that the two workers could have been much more seriously injured than they were.

‘Falls from height remain the largest cause of fatal and serious injuries in the construction industry,’ said Mr Kingscott.

‘All employers need to know that they have a duty to protect their employees.

‘If you are responsible for a project – as Mr Foyle was in this case – then you must ensure that you plan the work properly, take into account all the probable risks, and manage them correctly.

‘Incidents like this are easily prevented if the correct measures are taken to make sure that employees are not put at risk,’ he added.

The HSE is currently running its Shattered Lives campaign, which highlights the dangers of slip, trips and falls in the workplace – and offers advice on how to limit the risks.

More information is available at www.hse.gov.uk/shatteredlives.

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