Risk, Health and Safety Information

Worker's fall leads to fine for paint firm

A Walsall paint manufacturer has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell nearly three metres while installing a mezzanine floor.

Brian Sparrow, 56, of Hednesford, was working for Intercoat Industrial Paints Ltd at its premises in Bridgman Street, Walsall, on 16 December 2011 when he fell from an unprotected edge.

He fractured two vertebrae and required a body brace to keep his back straight. He also cut the back of his head, badly bruised his left shoulder and suffered a broken tooth and cut lip. Mr Sparrow has been off work since the incident.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Intercoat Industrial Paints Ltd at Walsall Magistrates' Court after its investigation found the work to install the floor had not been properly planned, assessed or supervised. Other employees were also put at risk as they were allowed to continue working below during the construction of the floor.

The court was told that Mr Sparrow had completed the framework to support the floor and was using a forklift truck to raise four metal plates above it. He then walked up a flight of stairs to the top of the framework. As the last two plates were slid off the forklift on to the framework they became jammed. Mr Sparrow stepped on to the edge of an existing floor, crouched down to un-jam the plate, but fell to the ground floor below.

Intercoat Industrial Paints Ltd, of Bridgman Street, Walsall, yesterday (4 Feb) pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for failing to protect its employees. The company was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,929.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Gardabil Singh Tiwana said:

"This incident was entirely preventable. Falls from height are the biggest cause of death and injury in the workplace. It is imperative that work at height is carefully thought through, the risks assessed and adequate safety measures put in place to protect workers.

"Intercoat Industrial Paints Ltd failed to ensure that necessary safeguards were in place and, as a result, one man was left with painful injuries and others were put at unnecessary risk."