Contractor receives suspended prison sentence after worker seriously injured

Southwark Crown Court heard how, on 11 November 2016, James Gibson was undertaking a refurbishment project when a worker fell through an unprotected hole in the ground floor. The worker fell through the hole measuring approximately 1.5 x 3 metres, into a basement below and suffered serious head injuries.

The investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found failures in health and safety management had led to a number of fall from height issues on site, including a lack of sufficient edge protection to prevent workers from falling through the opening in the floor.

James Gibson pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6 (3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was given a six month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £8442.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Matt Raine said: “Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries. Had the employer in this case, James Gibson, implemented adequate control measures to protect the health and safety of his workers, this incident could have been prevented.”