Worker Fell to His Death, Firm Prosecuted for Failings by the HSE

Health and Safety consultants will be among the first to tell you about how important it is to have safety procedures in place to protect workers when working at height.  With thousands of injuries and being the most common cause of workplace fatality it is shocking to hear about companies not doing everything in their means to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring.

Young Man Died After Fall from a Four Storey Building

Noel Corbin, aged 29, fell from the roof of a house in London on February 3^rd 2007. Mr Corbin passed way as a result of his head injuries sustained from the 13.5 metre fall.  During his work Mr Corbin had climbed through a dormer window to get onto the roof to fix a problem with a satellite dish. There was another dish on a flat roof and it is thought that it was from this location that Mr Corbin fell to his death, although it is possible he was walking on a sloped roof at the time of the accident.

Investigation Highlighted Multiple Failings

There was a complete investigation of the satellite dish company, Foxtel Ltd, after the incident.  The inspectors discovered that all of the equipment designed to keep Mr Corbin safe while working was not suitable. Furthermore the company had not sufficiently planned out the work at height, there was no organisation and the work was not monitored in anyway.

One of the issues raised at the old Bailey was the fact that Mr Corbin had no training certificates and was not given any assessments to ensure he was qualified to work in such an industry.  Foxtel Ltd did not even ask to see any references and allowed him to work unaccompanied.

The inspectors report concluded that there was a very high risk involved in Mr Corbin’s line of work. Trips, slips and falls are common safety problems when working of roofs and the work Mr Corbin carried out was often on very tall buildings.

Foxtel Ltd is no longer trading and the firm had no assets and so The Old Bailey fined them just £1. Foxtel had pleaded guilty for failing to ensure the safety, health and welfare of their employees.  This is section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act.  If you have any questions about how to make sure you do not breach this Act in any way it is best to ask Health and Safety Consultants.

Health and Safety Services Are There to Help

Veritas Health and Safety Consultants are there to help you make sure you are meeting the demands of the laws and regulations designed to protect everyone.  There are numerous health and safety services for all businesses, large or small.

If you are unsure about your procedures, or wish to talk about training, contact the health and safety consultants. Call 0800 1488 677 and start taking action today.

About David Cant

David Cant is a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner extraordinaire. He has a wealth of Industry experience and is the MD of Veritas Consulting. David also Blogs about Health and Safety here Health and Safety Consultants

His aim is to flavour Health and Safety with integrity, served with a side of humour You can find David on - Twitter and Google also Linkedin