Minuscule fine for worker death

North West London based construction company Circleworth Ltd. were fined just £7,500 for causing a worker's death.

Self employed carpenter Edward Smith, 63, was involved on a job to refurbish a semi-detached house in Ainsdale Road, London, W5

when he fell approximately 2.4 metres from the exterior access scaffold on 18 November 2002. No appropriate ladder had been provided to access the scaffold. The ladder that was used on the day of the accident was too short for the purpose. It is believed that Mr Smith fell whilst trying to access the scaffold. He suffered severe head injuries and died next day.

Circleworth were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at London Magistrates Court in March where they pleaded guilty to failing to take care for the health and safety of someone who was not their employee.

HSE investigating inspector Kevin Shorten, said: 'The tragic death of Edward Smith and the grief suffered by his family and friends at the firm, could have been avoided if the company had ensured that the ladder used to access the scaffold was long enough to extend 1m past the landing point and was secured in place. Any contractor or site foreman who reads about this case should make sure they check the ladders in use on their sites."

In 2003/04 there were 38 fatalities to workers in the construction industry due to falling from a height, an increase of 5 from 2002/03.