07/01/2011 - Firms fined £62,000 over fall death
Two firms have been fined a total of £62,000 over the death of a workman who fell through a rooflight.
Paul Morrissey, 57, of Penarth, Cardiff, had been cutting bolts while replacing old rooflights at Unit 37 Fairview Industrial Estate, Hayes, when he fell almost 7m on to the floor below. It is not known what caused the incident.
The Health and Safety Executive prosecuted Open Contracts Ltd, of Woking, Surrey, and sub-contractor Malcolm Dunn, of Cardiff, after an inquiry showed Mr Morrissey had little experience or knowledge of such procedures. It was also revealed there was a basic failure in adequate planning of the work.
Open Contracts Ltd was fined £60,000 and told to pay costs of £29,757 after admitting breaching regulations 4(1), 5 and 9(2)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at an earlier hearing.
Dunn, who was trading as 3D coatings, was fined £2,000 with no costs after pleading guilty to breaching regulations 5, 6(3) and 9(2)(a) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was told to pay the fine within two years or risk a custodial sentence in the event of defaulting on payment.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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