Apprentice falls from height
Taylor Wimpey UK have been fined £800,000 after a 17 year old apprentice fell through a temporary stairwell covering.
What happened?
The apprentice was loading concrete blocks on the first floor of a new plot – one block of which, wasloaded near / on to the temporary stairwell covering.
The temporary stairwell covering consisted of timber sheeting laid over joists (which is then later removed to install the staircase).
This temporary area collapsed, causing the apprentice (and around 20kg of concrete blocks) to fall more than 2 metres to the ground.
What was the result?
The apprentice sustained injuries to his fingers, hand, wrist and shoulder.
Taylor Wimpey UK pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Taylor Wimpey UK were fined £800,000, were ordered to pay £6,240.25 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
Lessons Learned
1. Design out sacrificial joists where possible or schedule the installation of permanent stairs early.
2. Temporary protection of stairwells must be back-propped to support the structure.
3. Consider spraying the temporary protection area with warning signage such as ‘No loading’ or ‘Do not step’.
4. Fix temporary covers and edge protection around stairwells and openings, ensuring secure fall prevention.
5. Make sure the operatives working in this area are understanding of temporary stairwell protection and how to work safely in this area.
6. Ensure safe systems of work are identified, implemented and maintained on projects that include structural works such as stairwells.
Further guidance on this can be found below:
1. Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Regulation 19 ‘stability of structures’
2. Home Builders Federation Stairwell Protection Guidance Document
Further information on this case can be found here.