Electrician impaled on metal pipes after ladder fall

Grant Prior 2 years ago
Share

A Sheffield based network infrastructure contractor has been fined £550,000 after an employee fell from a stepladder and was impaled on metal piping.

The accident scene
The accident scene

Linbrooke Services Limited was found guilty of breaches of health and safety and working at height regulations at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

The court heard that electrician Matthew Mason was fatally injured while installing a public address system at Bearsden Train Station on Tuesday 5 June 2018.

The 20-year-old was trying to free speaker cabling that had become stuck when he fell backwards from a stepladder onto a section of metal piping that was being used as a handle on a cable drum. This piping pierced his side causing internal injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The prosecutor led evidence over the course of the 14-day trial showing that the company had failed to appropriately plan, and risk assess the work and have in place a safe system of work.

The company was found to have failed to adequately identify the risks involved with pulling cables through a conduit at height even though they had been informed of the problems met by a sub-contractor in an earlier attempt.

Stepladders were unsuitable for the work being carried out. There were insufficient measures in place to prevent a fall from height. They also failed to adequately identify the risks involved with the use of improvised cable dispensing methods or ensure that the surrounding area was free of material which could cause injury in the event of a fall.

Speaking after the sentencing, Debbie Carroll, who leads on health and safety investigations for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal, said: “Matthew Mason lost his life in circumstances which were foreseeable and avoidable.

“His death could have been prevented had Linbrooke Services Limited put in place appropriate planning, supervision, and protective measures to manage the risk of working at height.

“It is well known that falls from height are one of the single greatest causes of death and serious injury to workers within the construction industry.

“From the evidence heard here there needs to be an increased recognition and rigour within the industry in addressing the risks associated with the use of stepladders.

“This prosecution should remind duty holders that a failure to fulfil their obligations can have fatal consequences and they will be held accountable for this failure.”

Latest news

Staff stunned as engineering consultancy Clarkebond closes

Firm was only bought three months ago by rival Independent Design House Group
3 days ago

Vistry issues third profit warning in three months

Profit expected to fall £50m below forecast due to delayed completions
3 days ago

Miller Homes buys St Modwen Homes for £215m

Scottish house builder snaps up £368m turnover rival
6 days ago

Keltbray fine increased to £18m after failed bid rigging appeal

Contractor loses penalty discount for settling with competition authorities
6 days ago

Luxury house builder goes under with 70 job losses

Octagon Developments in administration after 40 years in business
6 days ago

Top Ten best read stories of 2024

The biggest headlines of an eventful year. Have a good one and here's to a successful 2025
7 days ago

BAM Nuttall fined £800,000 after concrete skip tragedy

Young labourer killed by falling bale arm
1 week ago

Keltbray infrastructure business reveals new name

AUREOS means "new dawn" after private equity acquisition
7 days ago

Stiffer fines for over-running street works from next Summer

Cash raised from lane rentals to be channeled into pothole repairs
7 days ago

£113m Basildon rental homes scheme seals build finance

Work expected to start early next year on Market Square project
7 days ago

Notting Hill Genesis seeks more tier 1 repairs contractors

London housing trust seeks eight firms for new £1.5bn repairs framework
7 days ago

Reclaimed steel oil rig columns worked into London office revamp

Curo will use reclaimed bricks and steel for Fitzrovia office overhaul
1 week ago

CITB delays levy approval consultation

Levy agreement talks pushed back by ongoing review into effectiveness of training body
1 week ago

Ofwat approves £104bn water industry spending plan

Household water bills to rise by 36% to fund quadrupling of investment
1 week ago

Costain/ Siemens JV clinches HS2 power supply job

£300m deal for HV power supply systems over the 225km route
1 week ago

Demolition team assembles on Multiplex London Wall site

Erith to start work next month at Deutsche Bank's former headquarters
1 week ago

Norwich Council acts to revive £300m Anglia Square scheme

Council uses Homes England funding to buy stalled site with planning for 1,100 homes
1 week ago

Go-ahead for 4,500-home Cambridgeshire new town

Waterbeach new town plan stalled three years ago after an Environment Agency objection
1 week ago

Henry Boot to take total control of Stonebridge Homes

Deal worth at least £30m
1 week ago

HS2 costs could hit £66bn

Government looking for next estimate to be lower
1 week ago

Mace to close construction logistics arm

Specialist business being wound down
1 week ago

National Grid to invest £35bn over next five years

Plan set out for record investment in electricity transmission infrastructure
1 week ago

Profits double at Barhale

Civils specialist sees order book top £1bn
1 week ago

Balfour wins 68km HV underground power cable deal

Main works to start next year on Eastern Green Link 2 job
1 week ago

Stunning site wrap unveiled on Sloane Street

Hoarding creates illusion of fully formed façade on £53m Galliford Try job
1 week ago

Heathrow Airport upgrade spend takes off again

Airport operator will spend £2.3bn over the next two years
1 week ago

Government buys back over 36,000 military homes

Public ownership deal to release wave of upgrade and new build work
1 week ago

Story Contracting staff braced for rail job losses

Work coming through slower than expected from Network Rail
1 week ago

Ballymore submits two plans for 3,700 East London homes

Construction could start in 2025 on Thames Road and Knights Road schemes
1 week ago

Blackpool council steps in on failed developer’s £300m scheme

Blackpool Central site clearance to start in the New Year as hunt starts for new developer
1 week ago

Contractor services