Firm fined by London court after failings led to man’s fall

A construction company has been fined £400,000 after one of its worker fell from height.

Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how Jair Morales was installing plywood boards on the third floor of a building in Uxbridge, Middlesex, when he plummeted almost four metres to the ground.

No steps had been taken to prevent the employee falling through the opening as he went about the work.

Mr Morales fractured his pelvis and his arm in the fall and has been unable to return to work following the accident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company involved had failed to ensure the work was properly planned and carried out in a safe manner.

Kier Construction Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005, Aside from the six-figure fine, the company was ordered to pay costs of £1,534.

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector Owen Rowley said: “This incident could have been a lot worse. The system that Kier Construction Ltd has in place to control the risk from installing the protection for openings was not implemented on site, ultimately resulting in the accident.

“The risks of working at height are widely recognised throughout the construction industry. This case highlights the importance of ensuring that all work at height is properly planned and carried out safely.”

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