Window Cleaning Employee Suffers Bone Fractures in Seven Metre fall

Company fined £6000 for serious breach of Health and Safety 

A window cleaning company has been fined £6000 by Leeds Majestics court for a breach of Health and Safety regulations. The employee was working with 3 other operatives cleaning a 400-panel solar array on a pig shed roof, Dishforth when the incident occurred. As the employees where cleaning the roof one of the men walked up the and was unaware of how fragile a particular section was and walked onto it. The roof light broke and as a result the employee fell seven metres into the floor of the barn.

A subsequent investigation by the HSE found that the window cleaning company had failed to complete a thorough risk assessment in relation tot the risks of working at height.

Premier Window Cleaners Ltd, York pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. On review of the incident and findings ISE Inspector Rachel Brittan commented that the incident could have been “easily avoided” by having the correct processes and safe working practices in place.

But what does this mean for your business?

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSW Act) requires employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and to ensure that those affected by their activities are not exposed to risk.

If you would like to discuss how we can help you with your Health and Safety contact us on 0844 327 2293 selecting option 1.

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