Southport building firm fined £15,000 after employee broke back in fall

A Southport building firm has been fined over £15,000 after an employee broke several vertebrae falling from a first story housing extension.

An employee of Grayton Building Contractors Ltd of Botanic Road, Churchtown, was fitting scaffolding boards on a building site in Aughton in 2018, in preparation for roofing work to be conducted by roofing contractor Thomas Dean, who had arrived at the site a week early.

Liverpool Magistrates Court heard that the employee stepped across a gap to an unsecured ladder, causing the fall.

An investigation from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that both Grayton Building Contractors and Thomas Dean failed to properly plan the work, assess risk and ensure any work was properly supervised.

Grayton Building Contractors Ltd pleaded guilty to the charges and was fined £15,000, along with costs of £3,742.

Thomas Dean of Merseyside also pleaded guilty and was fined £400 with costs of £3,000

HSE inspector Andy McGrory said: “The risks from working at height are well known. Those in control of the work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working, which should include ensuring the use of suitable work equipment and adequate supervision.

“The incident could have easily been prevented with simple precautions including properly planning the work, undertaking a suitable risk assessment and by selecting, erecting and using suitable work at height equipment for the job.”