A window glazing firm has been prosecuted after an employee fell from a ladder during work to install a window and sustained serious injuries.

H.P.A.S. Limited. trading as Safestyle UK, of Style House, Eldon Place, Bradford, has been fined £850,000 with £1,083 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of The Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Sheffield Magistrates’ Court heard how a window installer working for the company was attempting to install a first-floor rear bedroom window at a property on Cemetery Road, Doncaster on 01 March last year.

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However, the ladder he was climbing on slipped and the employee fell over three metres to the ground, sustaining a broken knee cap which required surgery. The ladder

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Safestyle UK's system for planning work at height was inadequate in that it failed to ensure that work was carried out in a safe manner. Windows were found to be not routinely installed from the inside and ladders were used in a way that constituted serious risk. In addition, there was no system of monitoring or supervision in place and operatives were left to their own devices.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stuart Whitesmith said: "This incident could easily have been prevented had the company implemented reasonably practicable precautions.

"Such precautions include having effective and enforced safe systems of work, whereby windows are installed internally where possible, or by using suitable access solutions which provide edge protection, and having a formal system in place to ensure works are appropriately supervised."

(LM/MH)