A scaffolding company has been fined after a worker fell over four metres from an unguarded structure.

SP Scaffolding (East Anglia) Limited of Gosbecks Road, Colchester, Essex pleaded guilty to breaching Work at height Regulations 2005, regulation 6(3).

It was fined £8,000 with over £3,000 in costs.

Colchester Magistrates' Court heard how Mr Hemphill, 39, fell from the second lift of the scaffold while it was being dismantled on 23 February 2015.

It is understood he collided with the scaffolding twice before hitting the ground.

Mr Hemphill's injuries included nine broken ribs (left side), a punctured lung, fractured skull and a fractured spleen. He spent five days in hospital and at the time of the accident was expected to have at least three to four months off work.

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An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there were no guard rails on the area which Mr Hemphill was working.

In addition, he was not provided with a harness or lanyard to clip on, resulting in nothing to stop him from falling.

HSE Inspector Julie Rayner said: "This incident could easily have been avoided had a guard rail been in place or if Mr Hemphill had been provided with a harness & lanyard to wear which was clipped on when he was working.

"The guidance relating to scaffolding is very clear – no person working on a scaffold, whether putting it up or taking it down should be in any area unless it has a guard rail or they are wearing suitable fall arrest harnesses which are clipped on.

"This case clearly highlights the need to ensure that all people working for you, employees or not are suitably trained and that they know the required standards and implement them."

(LM/MH)