Safety Matters: The 16-Foot Fall
In our mission to emphasise the essential nature of height safety and workplace safety, we bring you another case in our 'Safety Matters' series. This post discusses an incident that took place on a commercial property's rooftop in North London, resulting in a worker’s death.
Outreach Rescue presents Safety Matters, a blog series focussed on workplace safety and accident prevention. In this series of posts, we look at real-life incidents to highlight their causes and consequences. Most importantly, we feel it is important to spotlight stories that provide safety lessons we can learn to prevent similar tragedies.
The purpose of sharing these case studies is to raise awareness, promote best practices, provide valuable resources and encourage a safety-centric culture within workplaces.
Safety Matters: The 16-Foot Fall and the Importance of Workplace Safety
In our mission to emphasise the essential nature of height safety and workplace safety, we bring you another case in our 'Safety Matters' series. This post discusses an incident that took place on a commercial property's rooftop in North London, resulting in a worker’s death.
The Incident
A worker lost his life following a fall from the roof he was repairing. The worker was part of a team working at a commercial premises. Whilst one worker was assigned to remove building materials from a flat roof, another worker was assigned to perform repair work on a pitched, tiled roof.
Whilst carrying out his tasks on the pitched roof from a roofing ladder, the worker fell approximately 16 feet onto a concrete alleyway below. He suffered serious head injuries and a fractured neck. Despite being airlifted to hospital, he died a week later.
The Investigation and Its Findings
A thorough investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed a grave disregard for regulations. The employer failed to install scaffolding or take any other measures to prevent falls from the roof. This negligence resulted in a loss of life.
The Legal Consequences
The employer was held accountable for this negligent act. He pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was handed a 14-month custodial sentence.
A Word from the HSE Inspector
An HSE Inspector reflected on the incident, saying, "This tragic incident could have been easily avoided. Assessing and planning work at height is essential to ensuring that suitable and sufficient measures are in place to prevent falls from height."
Comment
This event brings to light the consequences of disregarding The Work at Height Regulations. It underscores the importance of risk assessment, planning, and the use of appropriate safety equipment. It also reiterates the need for comprehensive safety training to prevent such incidents.
Safety Matters : A Fatal Fall At The Station
This case is a solemn reminder that neglecting these responsibilities can have devastating consequences. This case highlights the necessity for increased recognition within the construction industry to do more to mitigate the risks associated with working at height.
Outreach Rescue presents Safety Matters, a blog series focussed on workplace safety and accident prevention. In this series of posts, we look at real-life incidents to highlight their causes and consequences. Most importantly, we feel it is important to spotlight stories that provide safety lessons we can learn to prevent similar tragedies.
The purpose of sharing these case studies is to raise awareness, promote best practices, provide valuable resources and encourage a safety-centric culture within workplaces.
Matthew’s story
In June 2018, a devastating incident happened at a train station in East Dunbartonshire. A young worker died due to safety negligence by his employer. The fatal event occurred as 20-year-old electrical engineer Matthew worked on overhead cabling connected to the station PA system. Almost five years after the incident, following a 14-day trial, the Sheffield-based construction and telecommunications company he worked for was found guilty of three offences regarding safety and fined £550,000.
Construction Company Safety Failures
Matthew was working at height when he fell from a step ladder. The fall tragically left him impaled on a metal pipe. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Matthew's employer had failed to assess risks adequately. The court found that the stepladders provided were unsuitable, and there had been insufficient measures to prevent falls and ensure a hazard-free work environment.
A Foreseeable and Avoidable Death
The health and safety investigations team at The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service stressed that Matthew's death was foreseeable and avoidable, highlighting the urgent need for companies to implement appropriate planning, supervision, and protective measures to manage the risks when working at height. Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry, making it crucial for the sector to acknowledge and address the risks.
As a warning to all employers, the investigations team told the court:
"This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to fulfil their obligations can have fatal consequences, and they will be held accountable for this failure."
This case is a solemn reminder that neglecting these responsibilities can have devastating consequences. This case highlights the necessity for increased recognition within the construction industry to do more to mitigate the risks associated with working at height.
The Importance of Work At Height Safety Training
Whether in construction or maintenance, any industry involving working at height must adhere to the guidelines set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). All businesses are responsible for providing a safe work environment to reduce the risk of accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.
Please use the following resources to learn more about Working At Height Safety:
HSE - Working At Height, a brief guide.
The Work At Height Regulations 2005
Risk Assessment. A brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace.