Man Suffers Broken Pelvis in Accident at Work
A construction company based in Bedfordshire has been fined £400,000 after a worker suffered a broken pelvis in an accident at work.
Accident at work incident
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of Kier Construction Limited (Kier) was carrying out work at a site in Uxbridge, Middlesex at the time of the incident. The worker, Jair Morales, was installing plywood boards over holes on the third floor of a building when he fell around 3.9 meters to the floor below. He suffered a fractured pelvis and broken arm during the accident at work incident. Mr Morales has been unable to work since.
HSE investiagtion
Health and Safety Executives’ investigation into the incident found that the firm did not ensure the work was carried out in a safe manner and that it hadn’t been properly planned. Furthermore, the court heard how Kier hadn’t taken any steps to prevent Mr Morales from falling through the opening as he installed the boards.
Sentencing and fines
Kier Construction Limited of Tempsford Hall, Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching section 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The firm has been fined £400,000 and was ordered to pay costs of £1,534.
HSE inspector Owen Rowley said after the hearing:
“This incident could have been a lot worse. The system that Kier Construction Ltd has in place to control the risk from installing the protection for openings was not implemented on site, ultimately resulting in the accident.
“The risks of working at height are widely recognised throughout the construction industry. This case highlights the importance of ensuring that all work at height is properly planned and carried out safely.”
Accident at work – expert advice
Compensation may be available if you have been injured in an accident at work that wasn’t your fault. More information can be found via our ‘Accidents at Work’ page.
To begin your accident at work claim, contact us today. Remember, we offer you a FREE no obligation-consultation. Call 0800 888 6 888 or email .
Source: Health & Safety Executive
