Two companies have been fined a total of £46,000 after a worker fractured his skull falling down a ladder.
Bolton firm Challenger Building Services was fined £30,000 following the incident at a building site in March 2021, while Total Brickwork, based in Runcorn, Cheshire, paid £16,000.
The worker, who was 43 at the time, was trying to clear debris and mortar from the first floor of a newly built terraced house on the site in Okell Street, Runcorn.
He had climbed to the first floor by a ladder in the stairwell opening, which had been covered with temporary boards, set apart to allow access to the first floor.
Intending to sweep the debris through the stair opening, the man lifted one of the makeshift planks and stepped forward as he went to lean it against a wall.
However, he fell through the opening of the staircase to the ground floor, as there were no floorboards under the temporary boards.
He fractured his skull, suffered several broken ribs and had to have a collarbone plate put in as a result of the fall.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that both main contractor Challenger Building Services and Total Brickwork, the contractor controlling the work on the site, had failed to plan, manage and supervise work on site to ensure that it could be carried out. safely
The two firms pleaded guilty to failing to comply with provisions of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Monday (October 23).
HSE inspector David Brassington said the incident would not have happened if proper safety measures had been taken.
“This incident could have been so easily avoided if the risks associated with working on upper floors had been properly assessed and measures taken to protect stairwell openings,” he said.
“Businesses should be aware that the HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those who fall below the required standards.”
