Safetyshop: Link back to the Homepage
Shop by Product Code

Add product codes and quantities into the Quickshop for express purchasing

Quickshop
Email Address
Password
Forgotten your password?
Register
You are here: Home > News > HSE issues work at height warning

HSE issues work at height warning


By Craig Townend - 06/01/2012

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said firms must understand the dangers associated with working at height.

The call follows an incident at Westland Nurseries in Evesham, Worcestershire, where a 21-year-old man was left seriously injured after falling through a glass roof. The worker was cleaning a gutter when he fell three metres and landed on a concrete floor, fracturing his hand and sustaining serious head injuries.

According to the HSE, the man's employer had taken no measures to prevent him falling through the roof and was unaware of the risks of working at height. Westland Nurseries yesterday pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates' Court to breaching health and safety legislation and was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £6,835 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Chris Gregory said: "Companies must make sure they understand the risks involved in working at height and take suitable measures to prevent workers from falling, such as installing lightweight balancing frames.

"It is unacceptable that Westland Nurseries (Offenham) Ltd failed to do this and a man was seriously injured as a result."

Back..