A builder has been fined after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he fell six metres while repairing a second floor window.
The 50-year-old worker from Leicester, who has asked not to be named, had been sub-contracted by builder Peter Steans to repair wooden window frames at a house in Leicestershire on 14 September 2012.
Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard that the worker, who did not have a background in construction, was repairing a window on a second floor gable wall when he dropped a piece of window bead. He climbed down the ladder to retrieve it and as he did so, fell to the patio below, breaking his workbench on the way.
He was airlifted to hospital with head injuries, five fractures to his spine, and a fractured pelvis and wrist. He has not yet been able to return to work.
An investigation into the incident by the HSE found that there was a suitable tower scaffold on site, which could have been used to remove the risk of working from a ladder. The court heard that there were insufficient arrangements made for this scaffold to be erected, something the untrained worker was unable to undertake.
Peter Steans, 61, of Lubbesthorpe Road, Leicester, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was fined £4,000, ordered to pay costs of £353, and a victim surcharge of £120.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tony Mitchell said: “There was suitable equipment on site and Mr Steans, as the contractor in control of the work, had a duty to make sure it was put in place for use. Builders should not think that just because they use casual workers, they are not responsible for their own safety.
“The injured man will never be able to return to his normal job, yet the incident and life-changing injuries it caused could have been prevented.”
In mitigation the company pleaded guilty and expressed regret at the incident in court. They also had no previous convictions and completed the work safely.
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