A labourer is ‘lucky to be alive’ after part of a Victorian building fell on him during demolition work.
The firm contracted to carry out the works, has been fined £60,000 after the labourer was left with life changing injuries. The individual had been employed on the site as a labourer for three months before the incident.
The company had been contracted to carry out soft stripping works on the Victorian property as well as the demolition of its roof.
On the morning of the incident, the labourer had been tasked with clearing bricks for reclamation. He was working at the corner of the building when a large piece of masonry fell from the unstable roof, landing on top of him and as a result was left with significant long term injuries including a broken shoulder and 12 broken ribs, as well as spinal and internal injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to adequately assess the risk of falling objects during demolition and failed to implement and enforce adequate exclusion zones.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 20 of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. They were fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £3,229 in costs at a hearing.
After the hearing, the HSE’s inspector said: “[the individual’s] injuries were life changing and he is lucky to be alive.
“This serious incident and the devastation it caused could have been avoided if basic, industry standard control measures had been put in place.
“Companies need be aware that we will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
Source: HSE