Demolition firm fined after employee falls from platform in Glasgow

HSEA demolition firm has been fined £5,000 after a worker fell from a scaffolding platform in Glasgow and suffered severe injuries.

DSR Demolition Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The incident happened at the Hillington Industrial Estate in Glasgow on the 30 December 2011.

The 50-year-old employee was carrying out work from a mobile scaffolding platform to allow a building to be demolished when a cable tray swung towards him as he was cutting it from the ceiling.



The tray hit the worker in the shin and knocked him off balance, causing him to fall five feet off the platform. The employee sustained a fractured right elbow and a fractured left arm, which required surgery. He also suffered bruising to his head and has been unable to return to work.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered the fall hall because the platform was not assembled correctly, with missing guard rails and toeboards.

In addition, no suitable risk assessment was available on the site for the use of the mobile scaffolding platform and it had not been inspected before use.

HSE inspector Graham Mitchell said: “The injured person was at risk of falling because the tower was not put together properly. Work at Height Regulations require those in control of work at height to take sufficient measures to prevent injuries and this fall could have been easily prevented.”


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