Darlington firm fined £15,000 after worker fall

Darlington-based building firm Bussey and Armstrong has been fined £15,000 following a serious injury to one of its workers.

On 29 March last year an unnamed employee suffered serious injuries, including crushed vertebrae and a fractured pelvis, after he lost his balance while carrying out joinery work and fell 5.4m through an unguarded stairwell on to a concrete floor below.

The firm, of Brinkburn Road, Darlington, pleaded guilty to a breach of section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,193.

The company was also ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to the injured worker and a £15 victim surcharge.

Health & Safety Executive inspector Jonathan Wills said:  "All companies must assess the risks from work that they are undertaking at height, ensuring that the work is planned properly and appropriate measures are taken so that workers are not exposed to risk of falling.

"This case illustrates why risks should always be properly assessed. This incident could have been avoided, and a man not seriously injured if a safe working plan was in place."