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A company has been prosecuted after a worker fell nearly four metres at a construction site and suffered serious injuries.
Kier Construction Limited of Tempsford Hall, Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching section 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It has been fined £400,000 with £1,534 in costs.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how Jair Morales was working to install plywood boards covering holes on the third floor of a building at a construction site in Uxbridge, Middlesex, when he fell 3.95 metres to the floor below.
His injuries included fractures in his pelvis and his arm. He has been unable to return to work since the accident.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Kier failed to ensure the work was properly planned and carried out in a safe manner.
HSE inspector Owen Rowley said: "This incident could have been a lot worse. The system that Kier Construction Ltd has in place to control the risk from installing the protection for openings was not implemented on site, ultimately resulting in the accident.
"The risks of working at height are widely recognised throughout the construction industry. This case highlights the importance of ensuring that all work at height is properly planned and carried out safely."
(LM/MH)
