A Tyneside house builder has been fined after a worker was seriously injured in a fall when a temporary handrail gave way as she leant on it.

The 23-year-old, from Gateshead, who does not want to be named, was working for Bellway Homes Ltd at a site in Earsdon View, Shiremoor, when the incident happened on 4 December 2012.

The agency worker broke her right wrist, fractured her forehead, jaw and cheekbone, and sustained a hairline fracture to her right hip. She also severed tendons in her left hand and suffered extensive bruising to her face, neck and back.

She had to have a metal plate inserted into her right arm and required further surgery to ease later complications.

She was unable to return to work as a labourer for six months and still suffers constant pain. It is unlikely she will ever return to her usual trade working as a plasterer.

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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Bellway Homes Ltd for safety failings after investigating the incident.

North Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard how the worker had been clearing rubbish on the first floor of a property nearing completion and was on the landing talking to another worker in the ground floor hallway. As she leant on a temporary handrail on the landing it gave way, causing her to fall around 2.6 metres to the floor below.

The HSE investigation found that the temporary handrail was a single piece of timber fixed to the protective cover of an upright post at one side and nailed with one nail into a timber door frame at the other side, which was where it gave way. There was no mid-rail to provide additional support.

The court was told that the company had failed to provide suitable and sufficient measures to prevent the fall, and that had a more robust handrail been in place the incident could have been avoided.

Bellway Homes Limited, of Seaton Burn House, Dudley Lane, Seaton Burn, Newcastle, was fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The company was also ordered to pay £904.70 costs.

(CD)