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A worker who fell from a ladder suffered a broken back and is now confined to a wheel chair. Yet the punishment for the company concerned was minimal! Barrington McDonnell Ltd was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,888 costs for breaching health and safety legislation. The prosecution, at West Berkshire Magistrates Court, followed an investigation by the HSE after a worker was injured whilst using a ladder. The incident happened on 21 January 2005 at a construction site during extension of the English Provender Company Ltd factory premises, Buchner Croke Way, New Greenham Park, Newbury. Robin Annetts, 54, from Lambourn in Berkshire was working alone on a long ladder at a height of 5.7 metres. As the ladder slipped back on the smooth concrete floor Mr Annetts fell to the ground and broke his back. He is now confined to a wheel chair HM Inspector for Health and Safety, Meurig Williams, said: "It is vital that companies undertake effective risk assessment and planning in cases where employees are working at height, as Mr Annetts' accident shows. Falls from 3m or over are often fatal and the degree of injury is a mater of chance. A third of all reported incidents involving falls from height involve ladders and stepladders. On average this accounts for 14 deaths and 1200 major injuries to workers each year. A sensible system of work with better planning and supervision could have prevented Mr Annetts' accident". Barrington McDonnell Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching of health and safety legislation. They were fined £2,500 for breaching Section 2(1) HSWA 1974. The company was also ordered to pay £1,888 costs to the HSE. source: HSE News release |
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