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Jail for building contractor after unqualified worker dies in fall from height (15 February 2017)

Date: 15/02/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Jail for building contractor after unqualified worker dies in fall from height

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Manchester building contractor following the death of a casual labourer who fell nearly seven metres through a fragile roof.

The 45-year-old labourer from Manchester had been carrying out repair work at Witney Mill in Manchester when the incident occurred on 23 November 2013.

Building contractor Saleem Hussain had been hired by the warehouse owner – who believed him to be a competent contractor – to carry out repair and maintenance work on the warehouse roof.

Hussain then hired two other contractors to carry out the work, but the Health and Safety Executive investigation found that neither worker was qualified to carry out work at height.

They had accessed the roof via a ladder in order to repair and seal leaking guttering – but no safety precautions were in place to protect the two men from the danger of falling through the fragile roof.

Manchester Crown Court heard that Hussain had failed to assess the risks or put a safe working method in place – and no suitable training or equipment to work on the roof had been provided.

Saleem Hussain of Birchfields Road, Manchester pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was sentenced to eight months’ immediate imprisonment.

After the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Mike Sebastian said:

”The dangers of falls through fragile roofs and working at height are well known. Simple steps, such as removing the need to access the roof directly by using mobile working platforms – or boarding out the roof, or using safety harnesses – can and should be used to prevent accident and injury. Mr Hussain’s failure to take any such actions resulted in a tragic and needless loss of life”.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who suffer injury in a fall from height caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:

  • Accidents at work

  • Construction accidents

  • Criminal injuries

  • Fatal injury claims

  • Holiday accidents

  • Industrial injuries

  • Military accidents

  • Public liability accidents

  • School accidents

  • Sports injuries.

  • Falls from height claims usually have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury – children can make personal injury claims up to the age of 21.

    Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to families whose loved ones have lost their life as a result of a fall from height caused by negligence.

    We are also specialists in high-value personal injury claims involving catastrophic or life changing injuries.

    For expert legal advice on no win no fee Falls from Height Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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