Steeplejack firm fined £100k after fatal fall

A Midlands firm has been fined £100,000 after two of its workers fell on its sites in 18 months, seriously injuring one and killing the other.

The two workers were employed by Nottingham-based steeplejack firm Central (High Rise).

Brian Collins was on a job painting chimneys at Sutton Bridge Power Station in March 2008, when he fell through an open grating and plunged 34m to his death.

In a separate incident, nearly 18 months later, another employee fell 10m breaking his back after using the wrong abseiling equipment.

The man, who asked not to be named, was working maintaining rocks under Nottingham Castle when he fell 10m to the ground, breaking a bone in his back.

The court heard the company had failed to make sure the work at both locations was carried out safely, putting several employees at serious risk.

At the castle, the company failed to ensure the work was properly supervised and at the power station it also failed to make a proper assessment of the risks and to properly manage and monitor the work.

Central (High Rise) pleaded guilty to one charge in relation to the death of Mr Collins and one charge in relation to the incident at Nottingham Castle. As well as the fine, the company was ordered to pay £32,000 costs.

HSE inspector Martin Giles said: “The work at the power station required careful planning and assessment of the risks involved. Tragically, the company failed to make sure the rigging of the ropes was done safely and the result was the needless death of an employee.

“Falls from height are the biggest cause of workplace deaths and it’s crucial that employers make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and that sufficient measures are put in place to protect staff from the risks.”