Accidents at Work Blog | Lesley Layton | Pannone Solicitor: 2012

Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Health and safety should not jeopardise jubilee celebrations

The government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have both come forward to say that health and safety restrictions should not stop jubilee celebrations from taking place.

They are urging any event planners to challenge those who wrongly cite health and safety as a reason to cancel activities.

Further to this the HSE has published tips online in order to provide advice on staging events and dispel common misconceptions.

Unnecessary and irrelevant health and safety regulations should not be used as an excuse to prevent people to celebrate; the only red tape in sight should be the jubilee bunting hanging in the streets.

There is a move within the government at the moment to make sure that health and safety deals with real risks and is not used as an excuse to prevent other activities.

A review of much health and safety regulation is currently being undertaken in order to cut out any which are deemed unnecessary.

This has faced some criticism, but the government maintains that it will not compromise the UK's health and safety record.

The regulation which remains in place must still be adhered to in order to protect employees and prevent companies from facing prosecution and costly fines. ADNFCR-2134-ID-801368715-ADNFCR

If it you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident in the past three years call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Case Study Shows Importance of Health and Safety Training

An accident case study carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in which two employees were seriously burnt when working alongside flammable solvent fumes, is being used to promote the necessary confined space training which may have prevented the accident. The solvent fumes were ignited by an electric sander whilst the two workers removed paint from a small yacht which was under repair.

There is a very high risk of serious injury when working in such confined spaces and using such hazardous substances, and the correct health and safety training for both supervisor and workers would have assisted the employees in making the decisions that may have averted the accident.

The investigation showed that the employer failed to carry out the adequate risk assessment for entry into the yacht, which is considered to be a confined space.

There was no safe system of work in place for cleaning the paint from the surfaces, and the employees within the confined space did not have suitable work equipment for the task they were carrying out.

The overall safety of the employees when working within the confined space was severely compromised, and the case study helps to illustrate the very real dangers which come as a result of working in such conditions without the correct training.

If it you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work in the past three years call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Monday, 21 May 2012

Man's arm torn off at work in horror accident in Kent

A waste management and recycling company has been fined after a worker lost most of his arm on an unguarded conveyor system at a Kent quarry.

An agency employee was attempting to clear a blockage at Pinden Quarry, in Longfield, near Dartford, when the incident occurred on December 20, 2010.

Dartford Magistrates heard on the 17^th May 2012 that a conveyor belt used to transfer waste into a sorting shed was juddering and virbrating, making sorting difficult, after a driving roller was blocked by stones.

The Latvian national, contracted to work the company, which owns the quarry, should have stopped the machine before removing the debris. Instead he removed the stones with the power still running and his left arm became trapped and was torn with extreme force.

It was ripped from his body from between his shoulder and elbow – leaving just a quarter of the limb intact. The injured person was airlifted to hospital for an emergency operation, but surgeons were unable to reattach his arm. He has been unable to return to work since.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident and found there was no guarding in place to prevent access to dangerous moving parts on the conveyor. The employee had also received no training on how to safely clear blockages.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Andrew McGill said:

"This was a horrific accident that was entirely preventable had appropriate guarding been fitted, and had the employee been properly trained in how to clear a blockage.

"He knows to his cost that dangerous moving parts should be properly restricted when in operation, and isolated if access is required. However, it was the responsibility of the employer to ensure that happened – which it clearly didn't on this occasion. Safe systems of work must be of paramount importance at all times."

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Health and Safety Expert Warns Hoteliers: “Compromise your guests’ safety at peak times and pay the price”

Anyone in the hospitality business will put the safety and welfare of their guests at the top of their priorities.

When the hotel is packed, and all staff are run off their feet and everyone wants some of their time, do normal standards go out of the window?

Health and safety should be paramount, however busy the hotel is – the worst time for anything to go wrong is when it is already at capacity!

So, hotelier’s should ensure that simple, sensible and pragmatic are done to make sure guests have a great time and don’t end up in a hospital bed instead of one of hotels.

In summary, sensible and simple precautions will help to keep guests safe and happy – and because they’ve had a great time, they’ll want to be guests again.

Good health and safety is always good for business.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Anna Ryder Richardson in Court to deny Wildlife Park health and safety breaches

A TV presenter turned wildlife park owner who denies breaching health and safety at the animal attraction is back before a court on Monday.

Celebrity interior designer Anna Ryder Richardson, 48, is accused of serious breaches which sent a mother and son to hospital.

She appeared with husband Colin MacDougall, 46, at Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court last month where each denied two separate alleged breaches

The couple own and jointly run the Manor House Wildlife Park, in St Florence, near Tenby, west Wales. Their jointly owned company, Manor House Wildlife Park Ltd, also denies two breaches to health and safety legislation.

Ryder Richardson sobbed silently to herself as details of the case against her were set out during her last court appearance.

The decision was made after hearing how a heavy branch fell on Gruff Davies-Hughes during strong winds while visiting the park.

The three-year-old spent three days fighting for his life in intensive care after being urgently airlifted to hospital.

PE teacher mother Emma Davies-Hughes, 28, suffered a head injury and fractures to her leg, pelvis, and arm.

The prosecution is being brought by the public protection division of Pembrokeshire County Council.

The couple are expected to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court last this year.

Monday, 14 May 2012

Man jailed for illegal inspections of play equipment

Whilst this blog does not arise from an accident at work, I was shocked to read about a Chester man, who has been jailed for more than 14 months after repeatedly ignoring a legal order preventing him from inspecting inflatable play equipment.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Peter McCormack (previously known as Peter Coltilda and Peter John Morrell), of Garden Lane, Chester, for carrying out inspections of inflatables and issuing test certificates for them in contravention of a Prohibition Notice from HSE, and for carrying out unsafe seam repairs to one.

Caernarfon Crown Court heard that examples of wrongdoing by Mr McCormack, aged 77, included:

An inspection of a pool inflatable at Poynton Leisure Centre, Cheshire, on 15 July 2010 and the issuing of the certificate two days later
An inspection of a bouncy castle in Carterton, Oxfordshire, on 23 August 2010 and the issuing of the certificate a day later
Another bouncy castle inspection at Abbey Leisure Centre in Selby, Yorkshire, on 19 August 2010
One at Tadcaster, Yorkshire, on 3 August 2011
One at Selby Park, Yorkshire, on 3 August 2011
He repaired one of the bouncy castles at Selby Park poorly on 3 August 2011, so there was a risk of children's fingers and toes being trapped in the open seams.

The court also heard today that in these illegal inspections, Mr McCormack failed to spot defects, which could have caused injuries to children.

He pleaded guilty to seven breaches of Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and one of Section 3(2) of the Act and was sentenced to 62 weeks in prison. He has already served 78 days imposed at an earlier hearing for breaching bail conditions.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE principal inspector Steve Flanagan said:

"Inflatable play equipment must be properly maintained and inspected to make sure it is safe for children to use. HSE served the initial Prohibition Notice in 2008 because Peter McCormack's work was substandard and unsafe.

"By breaching that Prohibition Notice repeatedly - and even ignoring a direct order from a judge at Shrewsbury Crown Court in 2010 - Mr McCormack has shown that he never had any intention to stop illegally inspecting inflatables.

"He has shown utter disregard for the safety of children and for the law and has cheated the companies he issued the certificates for, by taking their money when he shouldn't have done the work.

"If people who carry out illicit or poor inspections of inflatables are not stopped, it's only a matter of time before a child suffers a serious injury."

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Accident at Work: Teen blinded at work offers his boss forgiveness

I have just read the inspiring story of Aaron Wilton-Jones, who has shown remarkable resilience since gaining a prosthetic eye after a workplace accident.

The accident happened in

New Zealand

but, I think the story will inspire others who have been involved in accidents at work.

Aaron Wilton-Jones was blinded in his left eye by a chisel on his second day of work but is willing to forgive his former employer who pleaded guilty over the incident.

Aaron hasn't heard from Kerry Bruce Duggan, trading as Mr Alifix, since before the operation where his damaged eye was removed. He has said that

"It'd be nice if he gave me a call or something and wanted to meet up for coffee,'' the 18-year-old said.

Aaron is prepared to forgive Mr Duggan, following in a family tradition of forgiveness.

Aaron said the incident in which he lost his eye was also an accident.

The Department of Labour said Mr Duggan taught Aaron to remove rubber seals using a screwdriver but gave him a chisel for the task when they were working at the gym. The court heard that as Aaron tried to remove the seals, he slipped and the chisel hit his eye. Aaron said Mr Duggan hadn't mentioned anything about wearing safety glasses.

Aaron had surgery and was told it was unlikely he'd keep his eye. Aaron had a second operation to remove his left eye in November and a prosthetic one was put in its place in December.

An investigation found a few simple measures could have significantly reduced the potential for harm and that Mr Duggan failed to adequately prepare his employee to carry out this work.

Aaron said that

"It took me a few months to get used to it all and get my judgment back. In the dark, walking upstairs, that's hard,'' he said.

"But I'm young and have picked up using one eye ... We only live once. You can't let anything hold you back, there's so much more out there.''

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Not an accident at work, but interesting all the same!

Kate Moss hoarding collapse on

Oxford Street

causes injuries

Four people were taken to hospital after an advertising board featuring supermodel Kate Moss collapsed on London's busiest shopping street.

The hoarding for fashion store Mango, on

Oxford Street

, fell at 16:15 GMT.

Three women and a man went to hospital, one with a suspected back injury, while others suffered minor injuries.

Part of the street was closed to traffic while emergency services attended.

Securing hoarding

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "Three fire engines, four fire rescue units and around 40 firefighters are at the scene. The police and London Ambulance Service are also at the scene.

Fortunately nobody was trapped but around four people are thought to have been injured.

Police carriers backed on to the hoarding to support it while efforts were made by workmen to secure it.

We understand that the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

Mango are under a duty to ensure that the hoarding is secure and are likely to be liable for the injuries suffered to the innocent victims.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in this accident or in similar circumstances in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting

Health and safety training: What you need to know

Why is health and safety training important?

Over 200 people are killed each year in accidents at work and over one million people are injured. Over two million suffer illnesses caused by, or made worse by, their work.

Preventing accidents and ill health caused by work is a key priority for everyone at work.

Providing health and safety information and training helps to:

ensure employees are not injured or made ill by the work they do;
develop a positive health and safety culture, where safe and healthy working becomes second nature to everyone;
find out how health and safety can be better managed;
ensure that all legal duties to protect the health and safety of employees are met.

Effective training:

will contribute towards making employees competent in health and safety;
can help avoid the distress that accidents and ill health cause;
can help avoid the financial costs of accidents and occupational ill health.

The law requires that employers provide whatever information, instruction and training is needed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees.

Thursday, 19 April 2012

Three Common Lifting Injury Causes in the Workplace

Lifting injuries are the most prevalent form of injuries in the workplace.

The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) is a brilliant resource for in-depth legislation and health & safety advice in the workplace.

1. Improper Lifting: Back injuries caused by lifting incorrectly. Remember to keep loads close to the waist and setting down a load before worrying about changing its direction. Ensure that you take sensible precautions by using access equipment. One in five workplace injuries was a back injury resulting from improper lifting.

2. Improper lifting or Access at Height: Falling Access equipment, e.g. access steps, is designed to make the process of accessing things like high garment racks safer and easier on the body. According to the HSE, around 13% of all injuries in working environments where manual handling is essential involved fall objects hitting someone as the result of improper lifting or access at height.

3. Bad risk assessments: Risk Assessments can cover everything from lifting a heavy box quickly without checking its weight to climbing onto a box without checking whether it will support your weight. Risk assessment should cover surrounding obstacles, potential problems, personal limits and emergency response i.e. is there another co-worker around in case of an accident?

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

Safety event to curb farm deaths

A rise in deaths and injuries on farms across the UK has prompted the National Farmers Union (NFU) to organise a safety and security day.

The Weston-super-Mare branch of NFU organised the safety day on the 17^th April 212 following new figures from the Health and Safety Executive which shows that 34 people were killed in accidents on farms in 2011 – over three times as many as the UK industry average.

The event at Cricklake Farm, Cocklake, near Wedmore, included demonstrations to illustrate why accidents happen when farmers are using different types of machinery.

NFU Mutual agent for Weston, Mike House, said: "As the major insurer of farmers in the Weston area we are deeply concerned to see farm accidents continuing to cause serious injuries and deaths."

Monday, 16 April 2012

Hairdressers cut up over EU rules

An award-winning hairdresser has criticised new rules going before the European Parliament that could force stylists to wear rubber gloves. The award winning hairdresser has has hit out after new guidelines emerged from Europe calling for hairdressers to be banned from wearing high heels during work and told to wear arm-length rubber gloves while working, in case of cuts.

The health and safety directives also order stylists to wear "non-slip soles" and bans some type of jewellery as unhygienic.

The deal with be submitted to Brussels to become an EU-wide directive binding on all 27 states.

However, it has been said that increasing red tape and workplace guidelines will threaten the survival of some salons.

In addition, most hairdressers would consider it utterly impractical to cut hair wearing rubber gloves.

It is alleged that these proposed rules have little or no bearing on day-to-day reality.

It is well known that health and safety is important in any industry, but so is common sense. It is also known that the vast majority of what is being recommended is, in fact, already covered by UK health and safety law. The main difference is UK Law retains enough flexibility to allow salon owners to make reasonable, risk-assessed decisions about the day-to-day running of their businesses while ensuring workers are protected.

If it you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Top 10 worst health and safety myths

There is no shortage of daft decisions being blamed on health and safety.

Over the years, the Health and Safety Executive has tackled some quite incredible myths about what health and safety bans or orders people to do.

It's hard to tell where some of these ridiculous and baffling myths originate, but they all have one crucial thing in common - they are not required by health and safety law.

To mark the launch of the new Myth Busters Challenge Panel, HSE has published its top ten worst myths.

They want people to work with them to challenge these myths. The time has come to end the madness!

1. Children being banned from playing conkers unless they are wearing goggles;

2. Office workers being banned from putting up Christmas decorations;

3. Trapeze artists being ordered to wear hard hats;

4. Pin the tail on the donkey games being deemed a health and safety risk;

5. Candy floss on a stick being banned in case people trip and impale themselves;

6. Hanging baskets being banned in case people bump their heads on them;

7. School children being ordered to wear clip on ties in case they are choked by traditional neckwear;

8. Park benches must be replaced because they are three inches too low;

9. Flip flops being banned from the workplace;

10. Graduates ordered not to throw their mortar boards in the air.

Whilst these myths make us smile, the HSE plays an important role when things really do go wrong particularly in a work environment.

If have been involved in an accident at work in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Myth: You don't need to secure your load if you're just driving down the road

The reality:

If not properly secured, vehicle loads can become unsafe, even over a short distance.

Loads that haven't been firmly tied down increase the risk of vehicle rollover and spillage.

They risk the lives of drivers and other road users, and can also cause annoying traffic disruption.

More than 1200 people a year are injured as a result of unsafe loads, and millions of pounds are lost in damaged goods.

Don't take the risk – make sure your load is restrained and contained!

If have been involved in an accident as a result of an unsafe load, whether this is at work, or not, in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Myth: Risk assessment is too complicated for me to do!

The reality:

Carrying out a risk assessment should be straightforward.

It's about focusing on real risks and hazards that cause real harm and, more importantly, taking action to control them.

How to assess the risks in your workplace

Follow the five steps below:

1. Identify the hazards;

2. Decide who might be harmed and how;

3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution;

4. Record your findings and implement them;

5. Review your assessment and update if necessary.

Don’t overcomplicate the process.

In many organisations, the risks are well known and the necessary control measures are easy to apply.

You probably already know whether, for example, you have employees who move heavy loads and so could harm their backs, or where people are most likely to slip or trip. If so, check that you have taken reasonable precautions to avoid injury.

If have been involved in an accident at work in the past three years, due to the failure of your employer to carry out an adequate risk assessment, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Be Wary of What You Post on Facebook

The practice of law has changed with the arrival of the internet.

The biggest one being postings on social media sites like Facebook.

In my experience, insurance companies are using Facebook and other social media sites to find damaging information about injured people.

A classic example of how social media postings on sites like Facebook can devastate one’s injury claim is a woman whose claim was reduced due to photos posted on her Facebook page showing her at a Chippendale's show and other events.

Some say “that would never happen to me,” yet it happens everyday.

Insurance companies that are responsible for the defence of injury claims routinely check Facebook along with other social media sites to see what an injured person has posted.

Never assume your social media postings are private regardless of what your settings are.

And only post what you want everyone in the world to see.

The reality is your Facebook page, along with other social media pages, are fair game for insurance companies if you make an injury claim, or any claim for that matter. So, be wary of what you post on Facebook.

If have been involved in an accident at work in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

Myth: There's nothing you can do about slips and trips and they don't really hurt anyone anyway

The reality:

Most slips and trips are preventable and many happen when spills aren't cleared up or clutter tidied away.

Last year, there were four fatalities and more than 10 000 employees were seriously injured when they had a slip or trip at work.

This results in broken bones and time off work, costing the economy around £800 million per year.

Simple mistakes can shatter lives … your actions could help stop them from happening.

Don't take things for granted, cut corners or wait for someone else to do it. Clear up!

If you have been involved in an accident at work, following a slip or trip, in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Myth: Health and safety has gone mad!

The reality:

There are few greater myths than that health and safety has gone mad.

During the last four years we've debunked some truly ridiculous misrepresentations of health and safety, including the banning of conkers, firemen's poles and park benches. We've scotched scare stories about excessive safety signs, rebutted rumours about onerous risk assessments and kicked back at claims that kids need to be wrapped in cotton wool.

This trivialisation concerns us.

It confuses businesses about their responsibilities and workers about their rights.

HSE publishes advice setting out the sensible and proportionate steps we can all take to deal with workplace risks properly.

Remember, health and safety is about saving lives, not stopping them.

If it is too late and you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work in the past three years, as a result of inadequate health and safety provisions, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Hurt roofer wins £70,000 payout for fall

I have just read an article about a dad-of-one, who is getting back on his feet after getting £70,000 compensation for a horrific accident at work.

The 28-year-old fell off a mill roof and landed feet first, shattering his heels and having to be confined to a wheelchair for two months.

He says the cash he was awarded as an out-of-court settlement from Halifax-based Calder Brook Estates Ltd, who owned the mill he had been working on without scaffolding, has come as “a relief” but is nothing to celebrate because it has almost all been spent on re-paying debts and family loans, taken when he was unable to work.

It highlights the difficulties caused when you are involved in an accident at work and sustain injuries.

Money was so tight for him and his family that financial problems spiralled and led to him getting depressed. Unfortunately, this is not unusual.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Health & Safety: All aboard

An interesting article came to my attention today and it got me thinking.

An employee of a main Ferry provider to the Isle of Wight has been dismissed for gross misconduct.

The Ferry provider has said "The charge related to a serious breach of health and safety involving the employee hanging on to the mezzanine deck whilst it was being lifted. The incident occurred in broad daylight and potentially in view of customers and was considered by both the Hearing Officer and the Appeal Hearing Officer to be a serious breach of Health & Safety regulations warranting dismissal for gross misconduct, especially bearing in mind the employee’s position sailing as a Chief Engineer. A secondary charge relating to wearing of PPE was also considered and would have warranted disciplinary action short of dismissal if considered in isolation."

They go on to "stress that safety is crucial to our business, our customers and our employees, and cannot be compromised. The fact that the employee is an RMT representative was not considered as part of either the original hearing, or the appeal. Currently a ballot for strike action by RMT members is pending, and the company trust that the outcome of that ballot will show that RMT members support the view, that serious breaches of Health & Safety cannot be tolerated, by rejecting any industrial action in respect of this matter."The Ferry provider has said "The charge related to a serious breach of health and safety involving the employee hanging on to the mezzanine deck whilst it was being lifted. The incident occurred in broad daylight and potentially in view of customers and was considered by both the Hearing Officer and the Appeal Hearing Officer to be a serious breach of Health & Safety regulations warranting dismissal for gross misconduct, especially bearing in mind the employee’s position sailing as a Chief Engineer. A secondary charge relating to wearing of PPE was also considered and would have warranted disciplinary action short of dismissal if considered in isolation."

Our specialised team here at Pannone work with a wide range of work accident related claims. If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

I find myself reading yet another article about a Fall from Height

I was reading an article this morning and was shocked at the number of breaches of Health & Safety in the workplace. If the Employer had taken simple safety measures, the Employee would not have sustained these injuries.Again this highlights that more attention needs to be paid to the issue of falls from height.

One thing is clear - falls from height is a serious and potentially life-threatening issue and one that nobody can afford to ignore.

Our specialised team here at Pannone work with a wide range of work accident related. If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Another fall from height! Employers need to be more aware of the risks.

Further to my blog Falls from Height, I have recently read a further article involving an employee, who was severely injured after falling more than seven metres from a roof he was working on.

He climbed a ladder onto the roof to begin replacing the sheets and capping. A short time into the work, there was a loud crack and one of his colleagues turned around to see him disappearing through a skylight. He fell approximately eight metres to the concrete floor below.

He sustained a broken arm and wrist, and needed a bone graft as well as two operations to insert three plates and six pins. He was off work for ten months and still has continuing pain in his arm with numbness and limited movement, as well as the scars left by his operations.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that at no time before work started, or while it was ongoing, had the Employer assessed any of the risks involved or put a safe system of work in place. HSE inspectors also found that none of the workers had any safety provision while on the roof. If the Employer had taken simple safety measures, the Employee would not have sustained these injuries.

Again this highlights that more attention needs to be paid to the issue of falls from height. This inevitably means looking far more carefully at the equipment available to prevent these accidents. Whether it is edge protection barriers, fall arrest systems or any other type of preventative solution, all have their part to play and there are many effective systems available on today’s market.

One thing is clear - falls from height is a serious and potentially life-threatening issue and one that nobody can afford to ignore.

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

The dangerous world of Working at Height

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work collects occupational health and safety statistics from around the world. It claims that ‘Worldwide,

construction workers are three times more likely to be killed and twice as likely to be injured as workers in other occupations’.

This problem is as prevalent in European countries as it is elsewhere. In the

, where legal safety requirements are arguably better than many other countries the picture is equally unacceptable, with 42 fatal injuries to construction workers in 2009/10, and 52 fatalities in 2008/09. Over 50% of all fatalities involve working at height incidents

Whatever the statistics though, anyone involved with working at height should give the subject of safety their full attention, irrespective of their location.

When faced with a construction project that involves the need to work at height, most contractors will give considerable thought to choosing the most effective and appropriate build methods and appropriate access whilst construction is taking place.

Surely then, people should give the same degree of thought and consideration to selecting the most appropriate edge protection equipment for the same project and ensuring that staff are properly trained on how to use it?

Unfortunately, this is far from the truth as the above statistics highlight. Clearly, more attention needs to be paid to the issue of falls from height. This inevitably means looking far more carefully at the equipment available to prevent these accidents. Whether it is edge protection barriers, fall arrest systems or any other type of preventative solution, all have their part to play and there are many effective systems available on today’s market.

One thing is clear - falls from height is a serious and potentially life-threatening issue and one that nobody can afford to ignore.

Monday, 19 March 2012

Death at work falling from a ladder

A man has died following a fall from a ladder while carrying out work at a Flintshire engineering company, it has been reported.

Alan Smith, 64, a contractor from Manchester, was working on the Deeside Industrial Park when the accident happened last week.

He was rushed to hospital but died the next day after sustaining severe injuries. An inquest has been opened and the Health & Safety Executive Wales has been informed.

Construction is one of the country's most dangerous industries.

Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of deaths and major injuries in the construction sector in Great Britain, with more than five incidents recorded every day.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work, whether it was caused by working at height or not, in the past three years, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.