Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how Jair Morales was installing plywood boards covering holes on the third floor of the building when he fell four metres to the floor below.
The court heard that no steps had been taken to prevent him falling through the opening as he installed the plywood boards. Mr Morales fractures his pelvis and his arm and has been unable to work since the accident.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that Kier had failed to ensure the work was properly planned and carried out in a safe manner.
Kier Construction Limited of Tempsford Hall, Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching section 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,534.
HSE inspector Owen Rowley said after the case: “This incident could have been a lot worse. The system that Kier Construction Ltd has in place to control the risk from installing the protection for openings was not implemented on site, ultimately resulting in the accident.”
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