Leamington company fined £2,500 after employee injury
August 26, 2004
Leamington building firm Clulee has been fined £2,500 after one of its workers fell from a roof.
Alan Wickson, 53, suffered three broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and damaged lungs in the accident, which happened at Lapworth Primary School on July 31 last year.
Brian Clulee, managing director of the Leicester Street firm, pleaded guilty before magistrates in Leamington yesterday to failing to ensure suitable and sufficient steps had been taken to prevent the 8ft fall.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Stephen Farthing told the court: "This is classed as a major injury - and could quite easily have been fatal.
"Falling from height is the biggest cause of work-related deaths. There have been 80 so far this year.
"There are fall protection devices available, including airbags and beanbags, that would have been easy and cheap to install."
The magistrates took into account the guilty plea and the company's previous good record before imposing the fine, which was half the maximum possible penalty. They ordered costs of £923 against Clulee.
The Lemington Spa Courier website has further information.
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