Clare Lallow fined following worker’s fall from wooden staging
20/06/2012
An Isle of Wight boat builder has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs after safety failings which led to a worker suffering serious arm injuries in a fall from height.
Clare Lallow Ltd admitted to safety breaches in relation to the incident at the Cowes site in August 2011, when an employee fell 1.4 metres from wooden staging and broke his arm.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that rope guard rails were in place but were not robust enough to prevent falls from the high staging. A prohibition notice was then served to prevent further work until an improved system was put in place.
The worker involved was forced to take five months off work to recover from the injuries he suffered.
Natasha Lewis, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell’s London office who specialises in accident at work claims, said: “This kind of incident highlights how even the simplest safety failings can have a huge impact on workers, often meaning they are facing extensive time off work to recover.
“It also demonstrates why employers need to ensure they put comprehensive safety systems in place to ensure that workers are able to perform their duties free from any potential harm.
“Time and time again we are contacted about falls at work and it is vital that ever effort is made to ensure employees do not face any potential dangers while working at height.”
« Back to news articles
The sympathetic handling of my case restored my confidence
May I thank you for the way my accident claim has been handled, after my accident my confidence was very low indeed but the sympathetic handling of my case restored my confidence.