Worker suffers life changing injuries after roof fall

A construction company has been fined after a worker fell through a roof and suffered multiple fractures to his ribs and spine.

On 22 October 2015, the self-employed joiner was working on the construction site at Claremont Terrace, Glasgow, when he fell approximately 3.6 metres onto a pile of timber cut-offs.

The HSE’s investigation found that although the company had a risk assessment in place, there were no sufficient measures in place to prevent falls through a void in the roof of the building.

Fleming Buildings Limited of Auchinloch Road, Lenzie, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £9,335.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Graham Mitchell said: “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known. This incident might have been prevented if suitable and sufficient measures had been in place such as a crash desk or safety net.”

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.

Listen now!