Two companies and a managing director have been fined a total of £170,000 after a 23-year old worker from Kettering fell more than nine metres, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted SDI Group UK Ltd of Main Street, Hardwick, Cambridge, Steel Construction Ltd of Bodmin Road, Coventry, and Richard Mark Berwick, the managing director of RM Berwick Steel Erection Services Ltd of Fairfield Road, Isham, Northamptonshire, after the incident on 8 February 2007 in Glossop, Derbyshire.

-- Advertisement --

SDI Group UK Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and today at Lincoln Crown Court were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Steel Construction Ltd pleaded guilty to the same offence and were fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £22,000 costs.

Richard Mark Berwick pleaded guilty to breaching section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000. He was also disqualified as a director for four years commencing today.

The court heard that Wayne Simpson, now 26, from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was working at a construction site off Waterside, Hadfield in Glossop on the day of the incident. He was installing a new racking system when he fell more than nine metres to the concrete floor below.

The incident has left Mr Simpson paralysed from the chest down and he is likely to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Almost three years on, he relies on family and friends for assistance. He has not been able to return to work.

(CD/GK)