Guildford Crown Court heard how M&L Installers Ltd was contracted to install a mezzanine floor at a factory in Sunbury on Thames, Surrey. The design included a hole in the mezzanine floor where a lift was due to be installed.
On 13th January 2015 a man who was working on the floor fell more than three metres onto a concrete floor when he stepped back through the hole. His injuries were life threatening and he was in hospital for two months. He has not been able to work in the two years since.
An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive found that the company failed to guard the hole for the lift or board it up preventing anyone from falling through.
M&L Installers Ltd pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations, Regulation 6(3). It was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £9,165.56 costs.
HSE inspector Amanda Huff said after the hearing: “The contractor’s injuries were life changing and he could have easily have been killed. This serious incident and devastation could have been avoided if basic safeguards had been put in place.”
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