Small Business Fined £6,000 After Worker’s Serious Injuries from Fall

A man’s fall from a ladder has led to a small business being fined £6,000 and its owner ordered to do 180 hours of community service. Andrew Smith was working for Profascias Ltd at a primary school near Reading when the incident occurred. He fell approximately three meters off a ladder, fracturing his left femur, elbow, arm, and pelvis. The company had been hired to replace guttering and supply fascia boards and soffits at Park Lane Primary School in Tilehurst. An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the work at height had not been properly planned, and a safe platform should have been provided instead of a ladder. Profascias Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching work at height regulations and was fined, while its director, John Nolan, also pleaded guilty and was given a community order. HSE inspector Rachael Newman emphasized the serious nature of the worker’s injuries and highlighted the importance of proper safety measures when working at height. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with falls from height in the workplace.