Two construction companies have been fined a total of £46,000 after a labourer fractured his skull when he fell through a stairwell.
On 3 March 2021 the man was working for Total Brickwork (UK) Ltd at a construction site run by Challenger Building Services Ltd on Okell Street, Runcorn. The two companies had been working on the construction of four new semi-detached and five terraced houses at the site.
The 46-year-old, who was 43 at the time, was on the first floor of one of the new terraced properties after being instructed by the director of Total Brickwork to clear up debris and mortar that had been left behind by bricklayers.
He had climbed up the first floor using a ladder at the stairwell opening, which had been covered with temporary boards. The boards were slid apart to allow access to the first floor.
The man lifted up one of the temporary boards and stepped forward as he was going to lean it against a wall to sweep the debris down the stairwell opening.
However, he fell through the stairwell opening onto the ground floor below as there were no floorboards underneath the temporary boards.
He fractured his skull, sustained multiple broken ribs and needed a plate to be inserted into his collarbone.
HSE investigation
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the principal contractor Challenger Building Services Limited and Total Brickwork (UK) Ltd, the contractor in control of the work activity, had failed to plan, manage and monitor work at the site to ensure it could be carried out safely.
Any worker accessing the first floor was at risk of injury due to a lack of appropriate measures for preventing falls from height.
Challenger Building Services Ltd, of Lee Lane, Horwich, Bolton, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulation 2015. The company was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £1,991.32 in costs at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 23 October 2023.
Total Brickwork UK Ltd, of Weston Road, Runcorn, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 15(2) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulation 2015. The company was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £1,991.32 in costs at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 23 October 2023.
HSE inspector David Brassington said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided had the risks associated with working on the upper floors been adequately assessed and measures been taken to protect the stairwell openings."
