I read today in the ‘Hartlepool Mail’ that Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil have been fined £120,000 and been forced to pay costs of £81,927 having pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety regulations after a man was paralysed having been involved in an accident at work. The horrific accident happened in Crawley back in January 2007 when an employee who was installing cable was working on a scissor lift when the trays supporting him collapsed: he fell 24ft.
As a result of the accident, the unfortunate man, who does not wish to be named, was unsurprisingly knocked unconscious and suffered paralysis from the waist downwards, as well as horrendous spinal injuries. The Health and Safety Executive have since found that Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil failed in their duty to ensure the safety of its employees. In particular, Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil admitted breaching section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety Act 1974.
The HSE inspector who carried out the investigation had the following to say:
“This tragic incident would have been avoided if the company had ensured all parts of the cable tray system had been properly designed and installed, including how it was attached to the building…During installation, when components were failing or showing signs of failure, Skanska took no action…When construction work is subcontracted, whether it’s design or installation work, it is essential companies have adequate systems in place to manage this effectively…The fine reflects the seriousness of the omissions by this company. Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil employed people to do highly hazardous work and yet failed to take the appropriate steps to ensure their safety…It is essential that employers consider all aspects of difficult and dangerous work; health and safety is not just a phrase, it is a considered approach to protecting people in the workplace.”
Your employer is under a strict duty of care to you, their employee. What this means is that they must ensure that your working environment is safe and does not pose a risk to your health. It also means that your working equipment has to be in proper working order, and that you are supplied with the correct equipment with which to undertake the role. If you have had an accident at work through no fault of your own, and you believe this may be because your employer has breached their duty of care for you, the best thing to do is to get in touch with a quality injury lawyer who can provide you with free legal advice. They are best placed, having behind them years of experience, to let you know whether you have a claim, and to help you go about making it.
At The Injury Lawyers, we work on a genuine no win, no fee agreement which means that you never get charged a penny for our work. We update you every two weeks and always look to effectively progress your case. We believe that these are truly high service levels.
