House builder fined £15k over employee fall

A Darlington building firm has been fined £15,000 after a worker suffered serious injuries from a 5m fall onto a concrete floor at residential building site in West Park in March 2007.

House builder Bussey and Armstrong pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act at Darlington Magistrates' Court today.

An employee suffered sever injuries including crushed vertebrae and a fractured pelvis after he fell through an unguarded stairwell as he carried out joinery work on the second floor of the house.

The company was also ordered the company to pay costs of £3,193.

It was also instructed to pay £5,000 compensation to the injured worker and a £15 victim surcharge.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Jonathan Wills said: "This case illustrates why risks should always be properly assessed. This incident could have been avoided, and a man not seriously injured if a safe working plan was in place."