Construction firms fined following work accident on Newcastle site

12:13:00 Wednesday 25th August 2010

Two construction firms have been fined following a serious work accident involving a worker falling more than 60 foot from a hospital building site.

The Scottish man, 37, had been working on the building site of a new hospital block at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, (RVI) in Newcastle when part of an unsupported platform broke away when he stepped on it in October 2006.

He was seriously hurt as a result of the fall and suffered multiple injuries to his head and body, which continue to be 'life-changing.'

Laing O'Rourke Construction and Expanded Structures, both based in Kent, admitted health and safety breaches at Newcastle Crown Court this week.

The court heard that a subsequent HSE investigation had revealed that supports for the platform Mr McColgan had been using had been mistakenly removed.

Both companies pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Laing O'Rourke Construction was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,756 while Expanded Structures Ltd was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,154.

Victoria Wise, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, which brought the case, said, "Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd and Expanded Structures Ltd failed in their duty of care to the worker, who was lucky to survive the fall.

"Falls from height are the single biggest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain. It is imperative that such a high risk activity is subject to a high degree of overall management and control,” she added.

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