04/06/2010 - Owner of sign firm fined after fall
The owner of a sign company has been fined £1,000 after he injured himself and another person when they fell more than eight metres as they were repairing a sign.
Sohail Hussain, 40, trading as Haris Signs based at Seaham, was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident on 19 November 2009 at the Metro Inn, Stockton.
The manager of the Metro Inn asked the company to mend a sign above the entrance to the hotel which had been damaged by wind.
A 4.5 metre tall scaffolding platform was built and an extension ladder was placed on top of it so that Mr Hussain and a man from Sunderland could reach the sign, which was 8.62 metres (28 feet) off the ground.
The other man stood on the platform with no barrier or harness to prevent him from falling off the edge as Mr Hussain carried out the repair work from the ladder.
Both men fell to the hotel car park below when high winds caused the unstable platform to give way.
A fractured right wrist and a dislocated right elbow was sustained by the other man and Mr Hussain suffered injuries to his knee.
At Teesside Magistrates' Court Mr Hussain, of Dalton Heights, Seaham, admitted contravening Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations. As well as the £1,000 fine, he was ordered to pay costs of £1,000.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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