Two companies have been fined a total of £46,000 after a worker fractured his skull falling through a stairwell.
Bolton firm Challenger Building Services was fined £30,000 following the incident at a construction site in March 2021, while Total Brickwork, based in Runcorn, Cheshire, was made to pay £16,000.
The worker, who was 43 at the time, was attempting to clear debris and mortar on the first floor of a new-build terraced house at the site on Okell Street, Runcorn.
He had climbed up to the first floor using a ladder at the stairwell opening, which had been covered with temporary boards, parted to allow access to the first floor.
Intending to sweep the debris down the stairwell opening, the man lifted up one of the temporary boards and stepped forward as he was going to lean it against a wall.
However, he fell through the stairwell opening onto the ground floor below as there were no floorboards underneath the temporary boards.
He fractured his skull, sustained multiple broken ribs and had to have a plate inserted into his collarbone as a result of the fall.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found both principal contractor Challenger Building Services and Total Brickwork, the contractor in control of the work activity, had failed to plan, manage and monitor work at the site to ensure it could be carried out safely.
The two companies pleaded guilty to breaching provisions of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Monday (23 October).
HSE inspector David Brassington said the incident would not have happened had appropriate safety measures been taken.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided had the risks associated with working on the upper floors been adequately assessed and measures been taken to protect the stairwell openings,” he said.
“Companies should be aware that the HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
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