Construction firm fined after employee’s fall from staircase
A Wolverhampton-based construction firm has been in court after one of its employees was seriously injured when he fell from a staircase during the construction of a new cinema.
What happened?
The employee was sub-contracted by Ereconomic Construction Limited to install the balustrades on a staircase within a new Odeon cinema complex.
Due to a delay in the installation of the balustrades, temporary edge protection was still in place at the side of the staircase. To allow the installation of the floor, the protection had been removed, but no measures had been put in place to prevent falls over the side of the staircase.
While attempting to retrieve some tools, the 52-year-old fell one metre over the side of the staircase, breaking his collarbone on the concrete below. His injuries prevented him from returning to work for three months.
What was the outcome?
Ereconomic Construction Limited was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £1,033 in costs, after pleading guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
HSE inspector Amy Kalay said:
who sustained a serious injury in a wholly preventable incident.
“Falls are the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, and
it is imperative that all work at height activity is subject
to a high degree of management and control.
“This is one fall that could have been avoided had the edge protection been
left in place, or had alternative safety measures been provided.”
If you have been affected by an accident at work, and you would like expert advice, contact Hampson Hughes Solicitors today on 0800 888 6888 or email
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