Risk news

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successfully brought a prosecution against two brothers who failed to safeguard an employee who fell six metres and crushed his skull.

Alan Hind was working to dismantle a building in Carlisle when he fell through the roof and suffered severe damage to his head, leading to permanent brain damage.

Carlisle Crown Court heard the two men responsible for the project failed to take the correct measures to prevent workers falling and being injured.

The first of the two men was prosecuted for breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, while the other pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 5 of the same act in addition to a breach of Regulation 29(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

A total fine of £13,000 was handed out to the pair but Mr Hind, who now has a titanium plate in his skull, has been unable to return to any form of work.

David Charnock, HSE construction inspector in Cumbria, said: "Mr Hind is lucky to be alive following his fall, which could and should have been prevented. He sustained multiple injuries which will affect him for the rest of his life."

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