Safety Signs News

Construction signs importance highlighted after worker's roof fall

18th March 2011 | Construction Signs

Posted by Nicole Stevens.

The importance of construction site signs has been highlighted after a man fell more than five metres through a fragile skylight at a building site in Worcester.

Worcester Magistrates' Court heard that the man was attaching scaffolding to a section of roof at a commercial premises in the Trow Way area of the city in October 2009.

As the 29-year-old stood on the skylight it gave way and he plunged almost five and a half metres to the floor, breaking his pelvis, elbow and wrist. He has not been able to return to work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the man had not been told by his employer that the roof was fragile.

The firm had also failed to implement training on how to recognise fragile roofs or the risks involved with working on them. It was fined £8,000.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Paul Humphries said any business planning to carry out work at height needs to take proper precautions to prevent incidents.

"When falling from height remains the biggest cause of deaths within the construction industry, it is unforgivable that this firm failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment or method statement for the work," he said.

Recently, a vehicle repair firm was fined after one of its employees fell from height. He had been attempting to change a light at the back of a vehicle and placed a metal cage on a fork lift truck in order to complete the job.

When a colleague raised the forks he fell, fracturing his elbow.ADNFCR-2754-ID-800467545-ADNFCR

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