Blog Archives
Posts with the 'Falls' tag
Construction: Falls From Height Still a Common Occurence
We have noticed that there are still a lot of 'falls from height' being reported within the construction industry. Much of this occurs because of bad planning and lack of proper and detailed risk assessments.
Is this lack of risk asessments because we are all being too lazy, or that due to a lack of resources at the HSE, we think we can 'get away with it'? We would hope not!
Even so, the fact that someone can, and does, get injured should make us realise how the 'good practice' of doing a risk assessment actually means less accidents and potentially saves lives. Cut backs should not mean lack of assessment nor should it mean lessening of standards. Lets look after our employees!
The HSE's web site gives out guidance on risk assessments.
HSE - Falls From Height Prosecutions
The HSE has prosecuted two companies after three workers fell through skylights on three separate occasions at an industrial unit in Warrington. The SHP reported that, on three separate occasions, three similar incidents were allowed to happen.
An astonished HSE officer stated that "A man was sent on to a roof without safety equipment, despite two caretakers falling through skylights less than a month earlier"
As we all know, more workplace deaths are caused by falls from height than anything else but companies continue to allow workers to balance dangerously on roofs. It is vital that lessons are learnt from this tragic case.
-- Click to read the full article on the SHP website
Firm fined £25,000 after worker fell to death
RTAL Ltd of Purley, Surrey - which manufactures items such as handrails and security fencing - has been fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs after a man fell to his death because a protective guard rail had been removed.
Andrew Taylor, aged 29, died on 24 January 2003 when he fell eight metres from a platform whilst installing a kiln.
Managing director of the firm Terry Green was also handed a £2,500 fine and ordered to pay costs of £500, after charges were brought under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Health and Safety Executive Inspector Sandy Carmichael said: "This was a serious breach of obligation to both its own staff and visiting workers, indicative of failure by the company to appreciate the risks from such complex work. Andrew Taylor's tragic and wasteful death could and should have been avoided by straightforward safety precautions."
Source: South Yorkshire Star
Safety warning - fixed rail vertical fall arrest system
The HSE advises against using the HACA fixed rail vertical fall arrest system type 0529.7102 which has recently failed the BS test that represents the appropriate standard for this type of equipment. The device is typically used when climbing ladders or rungs attached to fixed structures.
Further information is in the HSE website, http://www.hse.gov.uk/falls/fixedrail011007.htm
Source: HSE Website
Prison sentence expected for skylight manslaughter
A supervisor has been told that prison is inevitable when he appears for sentencing for manslaughter on 29 November.
Paul Alker, 34, died in June, after falling through a skylight at a Wrexham store. Steven Smith, 36, from Rhostyllen, near Wrexham, admitted manslaughter, intending to pervert the course of justice and health and safety breaches.
The charge stated that Smith failed to ensure Mr Alker had sufficient training, knowledge or experience to carry out work at dangerous heights, or to carry out roofing works. He also failed to ensure people working on the roof had safety harnesses.
Smith admitted a second charge of failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of Mr Alker and his colleague Aaron Pugh under the Health and Safety at Work Act. He also admitted a third charge of doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice - by installing safety harnesses after the accident and pretending they had been present.
Source: BBC
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