Steeplejack's accident injury sees firm fined

A Stoke-on-Trent building maintenance firm has been fined £3,334 after a steeplejack suffered a work accident when he fell from a church roof.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Alliance Technical Services Ltd, of Hampton Street, Hanley, at Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates' Court.

Those looking for accident advice will be interested to hear that the firm was fined and instructed to pay £4,000 in costs. The company admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

On October 21st 2009, one of the firm's employees, who does not want to be named, fell from the roof of the Holy Trinity Church in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. The work accident came after the anchor holding a ladder to masonry failed and the 49-year-old tumbled.

"In this case Alliance Technical Services failed to provide the necessary training and instruction to their workforce to allow them to install and test the anchors correctly. This resulted in a completely avoidable and very serious disabling injury to one of their workers," HSE inspector Keiron Jones said.

Despite this recent success and others like it, many are still hesitant to make an accident at work claim. Research from the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers showed that one in four people would feel embarrassed if they were to take action over an accident at work.

Published by Hannah Carr