The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned businesses to ensure they carry out a suitable risk assessment before undertaking work. This follows an incident where a worker suffered serious head injuries leaving him needing 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

At Aylesbury Magistrates' Court today, Trak Build Ltd, (the principal contractor) from Hemel Hempstead was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,278.92 and a victim surcharge of £15. Midland Steel Structures Ltd, (a subcontracted firm) from Coventry was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,278.92 and a victim surcharge of £15.

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Trak Build Ltd and Midland Steel Structures Ltd were contracted to build a series of industrial units on a site in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. On 11 October 2006 a worker suffered massive head injuries following a fall down a concrete staircase while it was being installed. He has remained in hospital since the incident.

HSE inspector Trevor Tollervey said: "This is a very tragic case. The worker suffered extremely serious injuries that will affect him and his family for the rest of his life.

"The companies involved failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the installation of the concrete stairways on the building site. They also failed to ensure that work involving lifting equipment was carried out safely. Had this been done properly this incident should never have happened."

Both companies were found guilty of breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

(JM)