Construction Company Fined After Man Left Paralysed
A father-of-three was left paralysed from the chest down after falling through a ceiling at a house renovation in Derbyshire. Chesterfield builder Mr Clifford had been working alone installing first-floor joists during the construction of a house. The 51-year-old was carrying out the work on behalf of Paul Freeman Limited a Mansfield based company he had worked with for around 20 years. On the morning of 31 October 2022, he slipped and fell from the first floor to the ground below and was left unable to move. He remained lying face down on the floor for around six hours before he was found by a delivery driver. He had judged the time by hearing hourly news bulletins from his radio. He spent nearly five months in hospital, with the injuries to his spinal cord so serious they left him paralysed from the chest down, with only limited movement in his hands and arms.
“I can’t do anything I used to love doing before” Speaking about the day that changed his and his family’s lives forever, Mr Clifford said: “The first thing I recall after my fall was landing on my head. From that point it was a very strange feeling as from when I landed, I felt no pain and I couldn’t understand why or that I couldn’t get up. I think I fell between 9am and 9.30 and wasn’t found until 3pm.” He went on to say how being a builder was a job he loved and described the impact the incident has had on his everyday life. “I can’t do anything I used to love doing before,” he said. “I can’t even wash or dress myself now. I haven’t been upstairs in my house since the accident – my wife and three daughters all sleep upstairs and I sleep alone downstairs. Another thing that really upsets me is the thought of not being able to walk my daughters down the aisle when they get married.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Paul Freeman Limited failed to ensure that work at height had been properly planned and, as such, no measures had been implemented to prevent falls during the construction of the first floor. Mr Clifford had not been provided with suitable instruction as to how the work should be carried out and was therefore left to work this out on his own.
Paul Freeman Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Derby Magistrates’ Court on 4 November 2024. They were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,263.
This case highlights the importance of undertaking a thorough assessment of the risks for all work at height activities and the need to ensure that, where work at height cannot be avoided, suitable control measures are implemented to minimise the risk of serious injury.
HSE Inspector Sara Andrews said: “My thoughts remain with Andrew and his family, whose lives have changed dramatically as a result of this preventable incident. “This is even more significant when lone working.”
Training Dates 2025 – OUT NOW!
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- First Aid
- Scaffold Inspections
- Mental Health Awareness
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From £420 + VAT. Please contact us on 02380669305 for further details.
Life Changing Injuries
A contractor from Dorset has been fined after a tree fell onto a forestry worker and left him with life-changing injuries. The 61-year-old man, who was 58 at the time, is now paralysed from the stomach down after the 21-metre ash tree landed on top of him at The Fonthill Estate in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 12 January 2022. Gerald Hayward, who had been contracted as part of an ash dieback clearance programme, had been cutting the tree before it fell. Mr Hayward, trading as G H Hayward Forestry Contractors, had been making a back cut to the tree when it fell in the wrong direction.
It then landed on the injured worker, who was standing in a nearby bridle path. The worker, from Frome in Somerset, sustained eight broken ribs, a broken pelvis, two broken ankles, a collapsed lung and internal bleeding.
He was placed in an induced coma for two weeks and later spent four months in hospital.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Mr Hayward, who was in charge of the tree felling, failed to implement a safe working zone around the tree as it was being felled. A safe working zone is usually twice the size of the tree, with only the felling operator permitted inside the zone. The tree fell in the unintended direction as the cut made by Mr Hayward did not leave a functioning hinge. Failed on “standard working practice” Gerald Hayward, of Blandford Forum, Dorset pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on 15 October 2024.
HSE Inspector James Hole said: “This was a serious incident that has led to an individual sustaining life-changing injuries meaning he is now unable to work and requires lifelong care.
“Mr Hayward failed to create a safe working zone around the tree while it was being cut down – this is a standard working practice for tree felling in woodland.
“He failed to implement the correct control measures and a safe system of work. Had Mr Hayward done this then this incident would have been prevented and the individual would not be paralysed and facing the rest of his life without the use of his legs.”
Training Funding
Employer Networks are a new initiative set up to simplify the way you get the funding you need to access the training you want.
It is sometimes difficult to navigate the funding options available to you, along with the onerous paperwork. This is where we come in as we’re here to help you access your funding!
The training can be in anything that supports construction employers. These could be the trade skills you need right now or something you’ll need in the future – such as net zero, digital skills or mentoring.
Do you have training coming up for you or your team?
If you are a CITB Levy Member, this applies to you!
Call us, and we will book your courses and make sure you get the funding, without all the paperwork!
70% of training fees covered
Collecting Again
We are collecting again this year and your help would be greatly appreciated. Over the past few years we have been overwhelmed by our client’s and local companies’ generosity!
Thousands of children are living in poverty. So many are at risk of waking up without presents to open because Christmas is a luxury their families can’t afford. It’ll be just like any other day. But Mission Christmas is coming back to make a difference. We’re busy getting everything ready so we can help Santa reach them this year.
Gifts should be new and unwrapped. No food items please. Toys, Books, Socks, Gloves, Toiletries, Arts & Crafts, Warm Hats, Puzzles, Board Games, Soft Cuddlies.
Sadly teenagers receive the least, so if you could spare a gift for them, that would be amazing! Please drop your donated gift to MSA Safety, Medino House, SO40 9LU.
All donations will need to reach us by the 18th December 2024
For further information, please call Alison, 02380 669305, ack@msasafety.co.uk
Global Safety
Workplace health and safety is crucial for ensuring that employees can work in a secure environment, free from harm and avoidable accidents.
United Kingdom comparatively speaking, is one of the safest countries in the world. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that the standardised incident rate per 100,000 workers in the UK was 0.61, which indicates there was a lower number of accidents than predicted across the previous year. Additionally, only 1 per cent of workers had a workplace accident that resulted in time off work. The UK has made significant progress in reducing workplace accidents through stringent health and safety laws, effective enforcement, and awareness campaigns.
Various countries have made significant strides in implementing workplace health and safety regulations, with robust laws, effective enforcement, and proactive corporate culture. Known for their excellent workplace safety standards:
The Netherlands boasts one of the safest work environments in the world, driven by a solid regulatory framework, strong enforcement of health and safety laws, and an emphasis on workplace well-being. The Netherlands’ Health and Safety Inspectorate ensures compliance with workplace standards, and its work culture emphasizes cooperation and openness between employers and employees.
Denmark consistently ranks at the top for workplace health and safety. The country has stringent labour laws, backed by a culture of collaboration between employers, employees, and the government. Denmark’s Work Environment Authority oversees workplace conditions, ensuring that employers adhere to safety protocols and provide a work environment that minimises risks.
Ireland stands at the peak of low workplace accident rates, with an incident rate of just 0.45. Similarly to all the other countries on this list, Ireland has in-depth workplace health and safety laws enforced by their own regulatory agency, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Ireland also has a tradition of strong social dialogue involving employers, trade unions and government agencies. Collaboration on safety issues is one of the key factors in building a good culture of health and safety.
Germany is known for its high safety standards in the workplace, which are enforced through a combination of labour laws, workplace inspections, and worker councils. The German social insurance system also provides extensive coverage for employees in case of workplace injury or illness. The country’s rigorous focus on training and education ensures that workers know their rights and how to operate safely.
Finland is a model for workplace health and safety, characterised by well-established labour laws, regular workplace inspections, and comprehensive worker protection schemes. Finnish legislation requires employers to provide a safe working environment and to actively work on preventing both physical and mental health issues in the workplace.
While many countries have made significant progress in improving workplace health and safety, others still have a long way to go to meet global standards. In nations where labour laws are weak, enforcement is inconsistent, or workers face widespread exploitation, safety remains a serious concern. Countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan struggle with inadequate regulations, poorly maintained working conditions, and limited access to safety training and equipment. In these regions, high-risk industries such as construction, mining, and manufacturing often operate with minimal oversight, leading to frequent accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
CHRISTMAS SHUTDOWN DATES
Our Christmas and New Year opening hours are as follows:
- Friday 20th December: 8am-4pm
- Monday 23rd December – Thursday 2nd January: CLOSED
- Friday 3rd January: 8am-4pm
WHAT’S ON
Cinema Nights at Bombay Sapphire Distillery
Whitchurch
1st to 22nd December 2024
Before running water, modern medicine, and indoor toilets, how did people keep clean, stay well and dispose of waste in Southampton? This new exhibition explores dirt, grime and disease from Saxon times, through to the medieval and Victorian eras. Some grim history for everyone!
White’s Eco Light Festival
Gilbert White’s House & Gardens, Alton, Hampshire
Thursday, Friday & Saturday up to 21st December
A Light Festival with a difference & fun for all the family, this is a chance to make new memories and discover how you can make changes to help wildlife and the environment around you.
Pliosaur – The Terrifying Sea-Rex
Museum of Jurassic Marine Life, Dorset
January 2, 2024 – January 2, 2026
This really is the most complete Pliosaur skull that has been discovered to date and it is one of, if not the most important specimen ever to come out from the Kimmeridge clay, and globally, this is one of the best specimens you’ll see! See this amazing creature and learn more about how it lived, hunted, and died in the Jurassic seas of Kimmeridge 150 million years ago.
Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul House Party
Portsmouth Guildhall
1st February 2025
Get ready to be transported to a world of rhythm and soul with the one and only Craig Charles. With his smooth grooves and funky beats.
www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk
These events are not recommendations, they are for information only. MSA cannot be held responsible for lack of enjoyment, financial loss or issues arising from these activities. Activities are undertaken at the readers choice and risk.
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