Men Fined After Worker Left In Coma

15/07/2010

A worker who had been expected to balance on the steel frame of a building's roof was in a coma for several days after a fall, leading to a fine of £5,000 for three men.

Twenty-eight-year-old David Pass fell eight metres to the ground when he was standing on the roof of a former riding stable, removing corrugated panels. He was in a coma for several days, suffered serious injuries to his head and back and was made partially blind in one eye.

Following the incident on Fairy Lane in Sale on June 20, 2007, Adrian Evens, Andrew Oliver and John Long were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Trafford Magistrates' Court heard that John Long, 62, was the owner of the barn and had acted as a project manager, overseeing its conversion into an antiques warehouse. He had hired Andrew Oliver, 43, to carry out the work, who subcontracted it to Adrian Evens, 35.

Adrian Evens pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of his employees. Mr Evens, of York Road in Droylsden, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 towards the cost of the prosecution at Trafford Magistrates' Court on 13 July.

Andrew Oliver and John Long both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by allowing workers to be exposed to risks to their health and safety.

Mr Oliver, of Juniper Crescent in Droylsden, was also fined £2,00 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000. Mr Long, of Fairy Lane in Sale, was fined £1,000 with costs of £1,500.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “This was an appalling work accident. I am pleased that prosecutions were brought as clearly this accident at work could and should have been avoided. A work accident, like this tragic case demonstrates, can cause devastating injuries that are life changing. As such every effort should be made to provide workers with a safe place and a safe system.”