Scaffolding fall leads to better workstation risk management
Two firms have been prosecuted for health and safety failings. A fall wherein an employee was seriously injured sparked the HSE health and safety audits conducted on the construction company.
The incident happened two years ago at a job located in Hitchin, but it has taken up to now for the court to hear the case. The individual sustained numerous fractures while working on a refurbishment project. During the work the employee fell five metres. Unfortunately, he has not recovered enough to return to work. One company was fined 20,000 pounds and 7,400 pounds in court costs. The HSE and court agreed that the company failed to provide proper workstation risk assessment protocol for the job.
Since a fall from heights is commonplace the scaffold should have been in better shape. There are plenty of guideline booklets and tools available for a company to make certain they do not put their employees at risk when working at height, but no known plans were in the works to ensure safety at the site. The company was fined due to negligence of their duty of care.
Another firm has also been fined due to mismanagement of safety protocols. The other firm had several reports of employee injuries and some quite serious, yet they did not attempt to fix the issue. It is things such as this that make the HSE take note and wonder if more regulation is needed for UK industries. Given that numerous people continue to get hurt on the job there is a definite need for better training of the employees and individuals who will see to the risk assessments and management. Winter and Company wants to make certain that any business has the education and training they need for workstation risk assessments. Taking one of their courses will ensure you are not in the same position as other companies.
