A carpenter working on a house refurbishment project at Tregaron, Ceredigion, in August 2011 fell more than seven metres from the top of an unsecured ladder causing severe back injuries from which he has yet to fully recover.

The incident prompted an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) which concluded a prosecution against his employer, Richard Morgan, of Davies and Morgan Carpenters, at Swansea Crown Court.

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Whilst the fall was not a factor in the sentencing, the court heard Morgan had not received training in the management of health and safety on construction sites and had not appointed a competent person to manage or supervise the work. He had not undertaken a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to his employees and had allowed them to alter and work on unsafe scaffolding.

Richard Morgan, of Cwmann, Lampeter pleaded guilty to a breach of Regulation 13 (2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. He was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

(CD/GK)