Company and contractor sentenced in fall case

The Lundy Company Limited and Justin Courtney Ford have both been fined after a self-employed worker fell more than three metres through a fragile roof.

Exeter Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 11 August 2015, the self-employed worker was working to remove a roof when he fell more than three metres onto concrete flooring. The worker suffered multiple injuries including a broken collar bone, broken ribs, a partial collapsed lung, and a head injury, as a result of the fall.

Not properly planned

The Health and Safety Executive found the work was not properly planned, appropriately supervised or carried out in a safe manner over a period ranging from February 2015 to August 2015.

One of the defendants, The Lundy Company, failed to ensure they nominated a competent contractor to carry out the work. The work was then carried out under the control of Mr Ford without any scaffolding or safety precautions to prevent falls from height.

The Lundy Company Limited of Shottesbrooke Park, Maidenhead, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,800.

Justin Courtney Ford of Carnyorth, Cornwall pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was given a three month sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay costs of £2,500.

Correct control measures needed

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Nicole Buchanan said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company simply carried out correct control measures and safe working practices.

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

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