Firm fined after scaffold fall
10/08/2010
A decision not to provide a guardrail on a scaffold has proved to be costly for a Staffordshire firm.
Klarius UK Ltd, of Cheadle, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £1,892 costs by Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
The Health and Safety Executive launched the investigation after Barry Derbyshire, 61, fell more than two metres, crushing one vertebra, fracturing another and being immobilised for more than six weeks.
Mr Derbyshire fell while carrying out routine maintenance on a machine used to make exhaust pipes.
It was discovered that there had never been a guardrail on one edge of the scaffold as it was felt it would interfere with access to the machines.
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