14.03.2006

Company hit for £22,000

Henderson General Services Ltd, a Putney based construction company was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,296, at the Old Bailey yesterday.

The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive, following an investigation into the death of Mr James Grimes (63) who died after falling from a ladder while he attempted to access a scaffold.

Grimes, of Southfields near Wimbledon, was contracted to paint the exterior of a building in Queens Gate Terrace, London, SW15, when he fell 4.25 metres. He had been attempting to climb over a balcony railing from his ladder.

HSE investigating inspector Simon Hester, said:

"This death could easily have been avoided if the company had ensured safe ladder access to the scaffold. A simple and cheap action, such as installing a gantry for example, would have prevented the death of Mr Grimes and the grief suffered by his family and friends. Any contractor or site foreman reading about this case should be sure to check that proper ladder access is in place for the scaffold on their site."

Henderson General Services Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety."