Health and Safety Negligence Leads to Worker’s Fall
A Pembroke Dock construction company has been prosecuted after a worker suffered serious injuries following a fall. A 31-year-old worker named Karl Kraus was labouring for Preseli Construction & Maintenance Ltd when the incident occurred on March 25, 2010.
A HSE investigation found that the firm had breached regulations regarding health and safety at work locations, having not provided the appropriate scaffolding to prevent such accidents occurring. Mr Kraus had been attempting to remove a block from a doorway when he fell backwards and dropped seven metres to the ground.
“Falls from height are the single biggest cause of fatalities in the construction industry. If work is carried out at height then all appropriate measures should be put in place to reduce the risk of falling,” Health and Safety Executive Anne-Marie Orrells revealed.
The victim spent almost a week in hospital before undergoing surgery to his left heel. Mr Kraus then wore a protective plaster cast for ten months though the pain remains and he is unable to continue his career in the construction industry.
“Mr Kraus is still a young man whose life has been turned upside down after receiving significant long-term injuries in this incident. He is no longer able to do any of the simplest things that many people take for granted, like playing with his children or going for a walk in the countryside with his partner.”
Preseli Construction & Maintenance Ltd and Company Director Christopher Newell have been fined £12,000 and £4,000, respectively, after pleading guilty to breaching the 2005 Work at Height Regulations and 1974 Health and Safety at Work etc. Act.
