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Fine After Ladder Death
6th Sep, 2006 to 6th Dec, 2006
Henderson General Services Ltd, a construction company based in Putney, was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,296 at the Old Bailey in March. The prosecution followed the death of James Grimes, who died when he fell from a ladder while he attempted to access a scaffold.
Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector Simon Hester said: “This death could easily have been avoided if the company had ensured safe ladder access to the scaffold. A simple and cheap action, such as installing a gantry, for example, would have prevented the death of Mr Grimes and the grief suffered by his family and friends. Any contractor or site foreman reading about this case should be sure to check that proper ladder access is in place for the scaffold on their site.”
Mr Grimes was employed to paint the exterior of a building in Queens Gate Terrace, London, when he fell over 4m. He had been trying to climb over a balcony railing from his ladder.
Henderson General Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act etc 1974.