Another Fall Whilst Working at Height

We wrote last week of how a company had been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after an employee fell at work and was left paralysed.

In a separate case, the HSE have also succesfully prosecuted owners of a farm in Bishop’s Stortford after an employee fell through a fragile barn roof and suffered multiple fractures.

The employee was instructed by his employers to stand on scaffold boards placed over a roof to brush the area. As he did so, the asbestos cement roof cracked and he fell five metres onto the concrete floor below, suffering multiple fractures to his pelvis and ribs. He was unable to walk for several months.

After the hearing the HSE stressed that working at height without any safety precautions in place will always put employees at risk. Standards for working on fragile roofs are well-established and extensive guidance is available on the HSE’s website.

Last year, more than 4,000 workers suffered major injuries as the result of falls from height and 12 lost their lives. Such accidents can be avoided if employers follow the HSE’s guidance and comply with the health and safety laws and regulations which are in place to protect the safety of employees.

At Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors we specialise in acting for the victims of accidents at work and can advise you in relation to any type of injury you have suffered.