Fatal Temporary Platform Fall Fine

OLIVER CONNELL and Son Ltd and Rydon Construction Ltd have been fined after a worker fell to his death when a temporary platform collapsed.

On 24 July 2015, Vasile Nichitut was working on the fifth floor of the construction site at the Green Man Lane Estate, when he walked onto a temporary platform covering a vertical shaft, which collapsed beneath him. He fell approximately 14m and died as a result of his injuries.

Temporary Platform Fall

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Oliver Connell and Son Ltd had failed to ensure that work at height was properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe and realistic manner. There were also no temporary work designs for the platform and the company’s system for installing and inspecting it was inadequate.

Rydon Construction Ltd failed to plan, manage and monitor the platform work to ensure that the job was carried out without risks to health or safety. They also failed to identify the lack of design drawings and carry out suitable checks on the platform.

Companies Fined

Oliver Connell and Son Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching Work at Height Regulations, and were fined £360,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4834.08.

Rydon Construction Ltd, pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, and were fined £500,000, with costs of £40,740.88.

HSE Inspector Owen Rowley said: “The consequences of temporary works failing can be dire. All contractors involved must ensure that an effective system for managing the temporary works on site is established and adhered to. Crucially, all temporary works require a design to ensure that they are suitable for purpose.

“In this case the failure to manage the risks associated with temporary works and work at height led to the entirely preventable death of Mr Nichitut.”

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