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Steel erection fall leaves workman paralysed

Two contractors have been prosecuted after a workman was paralysed from the waist down when he fell two storeys on a London construction site in January 2007. T. J. Myles & Co (Contractors) Ltd of Ickenham, Hillingdon, was found guilty of breaching HSW Act 1974 Section 2(1) and Crispin & Borst Ltd, of Watford, was found guilty of breaching Section 3 (1) of the same statute. The companies were ordered to pay a total of £45k.

The work involved two buildings being converted into one and a steel structure was being erected. Whilst part of the structure was being moved it jammed and when suddenly freed it struck and dragged the injured man through an opening in the floor. He fell over 7m  to the ground floor below.

HSE Inspector Lisa Chappell said: “This case again highlights the absolute necessity for the creation and implementation of a site-specific assessment of work at height that is fit for purpose in order to identify appropriate measures to prevent injury.”

This article was posted on 20th October 2008 in ALL LATEST NEWS.
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