October 30th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must adhere to regulations regarding working at height following an accident in which a man broke his spine.
Philpott Demolition and Recycling employee Gediminas Vasiliauskas had been removing roof tiles from an aircraft hangar when the tragedy occurred in April 2007.
He was not wearing a safety harness and when he lost his footing, he fell from the roof of the building. The victim had to have a metal plate inserted into his spine and lost his sense of taste and smell.
He was also unable to work for a year after the accident.
Tim Philpott, the owner of the business, was fined for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was given a substantial fine.
HSE Inspector Nicola Surrey said: "Mr Vasiliauskas was lucky to survive this incident, which could have been avoided if his employer had taken precautions to ensure his employee’s safety."
Under Work at Height Regulations, every employer should make sure that work is not carried out at height when it can be successfully carried out at ground level.
Where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Aircraft Hangar, Demolition, Footing, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety At Work Etc Act 1974, Health And Safety Executive, Nicola, Norwich, Quot, Recycling, Roof Tiles, Safety At Work, Safety Harness, Sense Of Taste, Spine Health, Surrey, Tragedy, Working At Height
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May 27th, 2009
The family of a man who died after falling 23 metres at work have secured a compensation payout from his former employers.
The unnamed employee was working on a building site for Rafaco SA and Lentjes UK when the accident occurred.
He slipped from the platform of an industrial boiler and fell to the ground below, suffering fatal injuries.
The victim’s widow took legal action against the two firms after they were prosecuted under health and safety regulations.
"For many my husband’s death is just another statistic. For me, it is an irreversible tragedy that has changed my life forever," she commented.
The companies agreed to pay the deceased man’s family an undisclosed sum of compensation as a result of their loss.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, every employer should make sure that work is not carried out at height when it can be successfully carried out at ground level.
Where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Deceased Man, Family Man, Fatal Injuries, Health And Safety, Industrial Boiler, Safety Regulations, Statistic, Tragedy, Undisclosed Sum, Working On A Building
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May 5th, 2009
A man who had to have his leg amputated below the knee after falling from a ladder at work is to receive a six-figure sum in compensation.
William Edge, 64, was working for the building firm Ardmore Construction in September 2005 when he slipped off a wet ladder and fell three metres onto solid concrete, the Plymouth Herald reports.
He broke his right ankle, but it became infected and after eight operations, the decision was made to amputate Mr Edge’s leg 16 months later.
The victim said that the accident has left him traumatised and unable to carry on with his career, as well as being unable to participate in sports.
"I’ve worked all my life and it’s been hard adjusting to this. I’d always intended to work until I was 65," he added.
Ardmore Construction has now agreed to pay Mr Edge an undisclosed sum of compensation in an out-of-court settlement.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, every employer should make sure that work is not carried out at height when it can be successfully carried out at ground level.
Where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Amputee, Ardmore Construction, Concrete, Court Settlement, Figure Sum, Ladder, Plymouth, Sports, Undisclosed Sum, William Edge
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January 29th, 2009
A man who injured himself after falling from a ladder at work has secured a compensation settlement of £118,500.
The individual, who has not been named, was working for Portchester Plastics Decorators as a painter and decorator in Brighton at the time of the accident.
Although a scaffolding tower had been provided, the employee believed it to be unsafe and instead used a stepladder to reach high areas that he needed to paint.
However, he fell ten feet from the ladder and suffered a fractured leg, an injury which has left him reliant on a mobility scooter to leave the house. He has also undergone numerous operations.
The victim sought legal action and has now secured the payout, which his legal representative said should help to alleviate the "severe disruption and stress" the injury caused.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, every employer should make sure that work is not carried out at height when it can be successfully carried out at ground level.
Where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Brighton, Decorators, Disruption, Fractured Leg, Ladder, Legal Representative, Mobility Scooter, Painter And Decorator, Plastics, Scaffolding, Stepladder, Stress, Ten Feet
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January 27th, 2009
Company owners have been warned that they must carry out risk assessments and give their employees appropriate training after an incident in which a man was killed.
Darren Hoofe, 20, was carrying out work for IC Roofing on the roof of a factory when he fell through a skylight.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that he had not been wearing a safety harness and that he had not had safety training.
Amanda Duff, HSE inspector, said Mr Hoofe’s death should have been preventable.
"If fatal accidents are to be prevented then work must be adequately planned and appropriate measures taken before work starts," she added.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Anyone who is hurt in such an incident may be eligible to make a compensation claim and should seek legal advice.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Compensation Claim, Fatal Accidents, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Legal Advice, Measures, Quot, Risk Assessments, Roofing, Safety Harness, Safety Training, Skylight, Worker Injuries
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