Pamber heath company Profascias Ltd could go bust following injury accident at Park Lane Primary School in Tilehurst
A COMPANY could be facing extinction, a judge warned, after an employee suffered serious injuries at work.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecution followed an avoidable accident involving the Pamber Heath company worker at Park Lane Primary School in Tilehurst.
Andrew Smith was working for Profascias Ltd when he fractured his left femur, left elbow, left arm and pelvis after falling approximately 3m off a ladder on July 28, 2021.
The company had been hired to replace guttering and supply fascia boards and soffits at the school.
The ladder Mr Smith had been working from against the school wall slipped, causing the 53-year-old to fall to the ground.
He spent 16 days in hospital as a result of his injuries and later underwent surgery to add a bolt to his hip and metal plate to his arm.
An HSE investigation found there had been insufficient planning of the work at height by Profascias Ltd and its director, John Nolan.
According to the HSE, a safe platform from which to work, such as a properly erected scaffold, should have been provided as workers needed both hands to carry out the work and could not therefore work safely from a ladder.
The executive states that ladders should only be used for access or, where it is not reasonably practicable to provide safer working platforms, for short-term work of up to 30 minutes where workers can normally maintain three points of contact.
Profascias Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
The company was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs at Slough Magistrates’ Court on Monday, December 18.
Imposing the sentence, district judge Samuel Goozee said: “Because of the financial penalty, the company may end up being wound up completely.
“But that is a consequence of the conviction.”
Mr Nolan, meanwhile, admitted breaching Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 by virtue of Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
He was made subject to a 12-month community order where he must undertake 180 hours of unpaid community work.
In addition he was ordered to pay £1,000 costs.
HSE inspector Rachael Newman said afterwards: “This worker’s injuries were serious.
“This incident could have been avoided through the selection of suitable work equipment to prevent persons from falling.
“Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities and injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.”
