Injured Worker Left With Bleeding To His Brain

A company in Bedfordshire has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a construction worker was injured in an industrial accident.

Stewart Alazia, 51, from London, fractured his skull and left cheekbone - as well as suffering a brain injury - when he fell from a temporary scaffolding platform in the Kensington area of the capital.

The man, who was working to dismantle boards and other materials from the scaffolding, now has to regularly attend a specialist brain injury clinic and, according to doctors, may need indefinite treatment for blackouts, headaches and depression.

Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that Mr Alazia, who worked for D M Specialist Limited, lost his balance on the platform and fell to the ground below, hitting his head in the process.

Upon being informed of the incident, the HSE launched an investigation and found there was nothing in place to stop the fall and that if the correct provisions had been put in place, the incident could have been avoided.

For its part in the 51-year-old's injuries, D M Specialist was fined £12,000 and told to pay £7,377 in costs after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

HSE inspector Jack Wilby said: "His continued suffering some two years on is another powerful reminder of why work at height has to be properly planned, managed and supervised, with sufficient measures in place to prevent falls.

"Guidance is readily available on what provisions should be in place and it was clear from our investigation that D M Specialist could and should have done more to protect their worker."

Headway, a charity aiming to improve awareness of brain injuries, has repeatedly called on the construction industry to do more to prevent these types of accidents.

The foundation argues the effects of seemingly minor bumps to the head are often underestimated in the sector and is offering help to those affected by these illnesses.

Expert Opinion

A case of this nature highlights the devastating effects that falls from height can have on victims, often leaving them with significant injuries from which they may never fully recover. <br/> <br/>"The work we do allows victims left with such injuries as a result of work accidents to access vital rehabilitation and care services which both aid their recovery and help them get the best from their lives. <br/> <br/>"Falls from height are among the most common causes of workplace injury and we would urge employers to recognise the significant dangers that work at height can pose to their staff. Lessons must be learned from this and businesses must always ensure that health and safety is a top priority in the workplace."