Firm fined £16,000 over hurt worker
A firm was fined a total of £16,000 after a self-employed worker was severely injured falling five metres at a building site.
ECH Ltd was prosecuted over the accident in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on November 18 2008 in which the frame erector subcontracted to the firm fell to the bottom of an inadequately covered stairwell.
The victim suffered multiple fractures including ones to his skull.
ECH Ltd, trading as Maple Timber Frames, was also ordered to pay £5,000 in investigation costs of the Health and Safety Executive.
The company admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in the case at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court.
"These were reckless breaches of the law," said Melvyn Stancliffe, Inspector of Health and Safety. "The injured man is extremely lucky - despite the severity of his injuries. This sort of fall could easily have killed him. It is all the sadder because it should have been prevented if ECH Ltd had heeded simple safety advice."