A selection of recent plantrelated
investigations by the
Health & Safety Executive
FALLS FROM HEIGHT
Recent prosecutions have resulted from
cases whereby workers have fallen from
height.
Relocation and refurbishment company
Modus Workspace Ltd (of Greencoat
Place, London) was ned in June after a
worker was seriously injured when he fell
from height. Luton Crown Court heard
that an engineer was testing a sprinkler
system for leaks at a site in Hemel
Hempstead on 5 September 2016. He
climbed on to an internal roof and was
inspecting the leak from an extension
ladder, but it slipped away from him and he
fell almost three metres into the
gap between the internal roof
and the external wall.
The worker su ered
severe blood loss,
amounting to around half
of his bloodstream. He
required a blood transfusion
and needed 14 stitches to his
head. He also sustained a fractured
vertebrae and su ered soft tissue
damage.
An investigation by the Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) found that
reasonably practicable measures had
not been taken to prevent a fall from
the internal roof for both the engineer
and other contractors working on the
roof. The investigation also found that
Modus Workspace Limited, the principal
contractor, had failed to discharge its duty
partially collapsed, causing him to fall eight
metres to the ground below.
An HSE investigation found the
company had carried out a risk
assessment and method statement
for the initial work and erected an eight
metre-high tower to allow for access to
the roof, but it had been erected in the
wrong place. It was decided that, rather
than disassemble and reassemble in the
right place, a cantilever section would
be added. There was no design for the
cantilever section and due to there being
insu cient anchor ties available on site, it
was decided to support the cantilever by
splicing the frame of the sca old. There
was also no ballast/counterweight, which
meant that the top section of the tower
was unable to support the weight of the
cantilever. When an employee stood on
the cantilever section to t toeboards, the
top section of the sca old and cantilever
section collapsed.
HSE inspector Helen Diamond said:
“This incident could have been avoided if
the task was properly planned, the existing
sca old was correctly positioned and
securely attached to the tenement, and
any cantilever section properly designed
and attached correctly to the main
sca old.”
MACHINE ACCIDENTS
Also numerous recently have been cases
involving injuries sustained by machinery
and equipment, including one fatality.
to ensure those not in their employment
were not exposed to risks, in particular
that of falling from height.
HSE inspector John Berezansky
commented: “This case highlights
the importance of taking reasonably
practicable measures when planning and
managing the risks regarding work at
height within the construction industry.
Falls from height remain one of the most
common causes of work-related fatalities
and injuries in this country and the risks
and control measures associated with
working at height are well-known. The
engineer’s injuries were life-changing
and he could have easily been
killed. This serious incident
and devastation could have
been avoided if basic safety
measures had been put in
place.”
JR Sca old Services
Ltd (of Cardea House,
Sandyford Road, Paisley)
has also been ned after an
employee fell eight metres to the ground
and sustained severe injuries when the
cantilever section of a sca old he was
erecting (pictured) collapsed.
Glasgow Sheri Court heard that, on 2
September 2016, work was undertaken at
a four-storey property in Alexandra Parade
in Glasgow to erect a tower sca old to
repair a roof. An employee was tting
toeboards to a cantilever section attached
to the tower sca old and the tower
REPORT
96 www.operationsengineer.org.uk Autumn 2020
/www.operationsengineer.org.uk