UK: CONSTRUCTION FIRM FINED AS WORKER DIES IN FALL

A company in the UK has been fined £285,000 A$550,6100) after a worker was fatally injured in a 10-metre fall while installing cladding. Another worker was injured in the incident – he sustained injuries to his spine and broken ribs.

The 62-year-old worker and a second contractor had been in a scissor lift while installing the cladding during the construction of a new engineering hall at the University of Birmingham on 7 January 2020.

The scissor lift was pushed over by a nearby crane and the two workers, both from Lithuania, fell. HSE's investigation into the fall found:

  • the incident could have been prevented if the firm had implemented better controls and put in place better communication between contractors
  • there was no lift supervisor present at the time of the incident

Read more: HSE Media Release  Construction firm fined as worker loses life and another injured

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