Access Company Fined After Worker Breaks Back

A CRANE COMPANY has been fined after an employee broke two vertebrae when the podium steps he was working on toppled over

Cambridge Magistrates’ Court heard that, in November 2017, a worker was welding metal components while working at height on a set of podium steps which had been taken from another factory.

The steps toppled over, causing the employee to fall approximately two metres to the floor and fracture two vertebrae.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that London Tower Crane Hire & Sales had failed to follow its internal procedures, and did not carry out a risk assessment nor determine a safe system of work.

The company, of Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £54,000.00 and ordered to pay costs of £1,544.00.

After the hearing, HSE inspector, Parmjit Gahir, said: “This was a wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to adequately plan its work, and put basic safeguards in place.

“The case highlights the importance of following industry guidance in order to select and correctly assemble access equipment, along with implementing the necessary training, instruction and supervision to prevent such falls occurring. Podium steps are a recognised safe solution for working at height however, if they are used incorrectly, they can become a danger themselves.”

Low level dangers

According to the Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (PASMA), the case demonstrates the dangers of working at height, even at relatively low levels of under 2.5m.

PASMA Chairman and Managing Director of Euro Towers, Roger Verallo, said “This accident emphasises the fact that you don’t need to be very far off the ground to be seriously injured by a fall. As the HSE inspector noted, podiums are a safe way to work at height – but of course, only when they’re used properly.

“Always choose podiums that are certified to design standard BS 8620, follow the instruction manual carefully and please, send your workers on the PASMA Low Level Access training course. Accidents like this don’t need to happen.”

PASMA’s Low Level Access course trains people on the safe use of access equipment where the working platform is under 2.5m of height, such as folding step units and folding tower units. PASMA Approved Training Centres can provide more information.