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Racking installation fall leaves workman in paralysed and in wheelchair
Two companies and a managing director were fined a total of £170,000 at Lincoln Crown Court on 7 May 2010 after a 23-year old worker fell over 9m on a construction site in Glossop.
Wayne Simpson, aged 26, was installing a new racking system when he fell to the concrete floor below leaving him paralysed from the chest down.
Steel erection director fined and disqulaified
SDI Group UK Ltd failed in their HSW Act 1974 S3 duty and were fined £100k in fines and prosecution costs. Steel Construction Ltd pleaded guilty to the same offence and were ordered to pay £72k.
Richard Mark Berwick director of Steel Erection Services Ltd was prosecuted by virtue of HSW Act 37 and ordered to pat £45k.
Mr Berwick was also disqualified as a director for four years.
Company failed to implement safe system of work
The court heard that Wayne Simpson was working at a construction site off Waterside, Hadfield in Glossop on the day of the incident. He was installing a new racking system when he fell.
The incident has left him paralysed and likely to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He relies on family and friends for assistance. and has been unable to return to work.
Following the hearing, HSE inspector Kevin Wilson said:
“It is unacceptable that a young man should suffer such life-changing injuries while just trying to do his job. Mr Simpson has been left with a long-term debilitating condition because the two companies and Richard Berwick failed to ensure his health and safety.
“Employers must understand the importance of protecting their workforce. Mr Simpson should have been provided with an appropriate safe system of work to protect against falls. This could have included personal fall protection, such as a harness and work restraint lanyard fitted to a running line, and properly fitted safety nets.
“Companies should adequately plan for working at height and ensure fall protection and mitigation measures are in place so incidents like this do not happen.”