黑洞社区

Laing O鈥橰ourke has been fined 拢125,000 after one of its workers suffered 鈥渓ife-changing鈥� injuries when he fell on a Tyneside site.

Steven McColgan, 37, from Edinburgh, was carrying out concrete post tensioning work at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle when he fell 21 metres. As a result of the fall he suffered serious multiple injuries to his head and body and his injuries continue to be life-changing.

Newcastle Crown Court heard yesterday that the accident was caused by the collapse of a temporary working platform he was standing on. An HSE investigation found that it collapsed because sections of its temporary support were removed prematurely.

Laing O鈥橰ourke Construction Ltd was fined 拢50,000 and ordered to pay costs of 拢13,756, and Expanded Structures Ltd, a Laing O鈥橰ourke subsidiary, was fined 拢75,000 and ordered to pay costs of 拢14,154.

After the trial, HSE Inspector Victoria Wise said: 鈥淟aing O鈥橰ourke Construction Ltd and Expanded Structures Ltd failed in their duty of care to Mr McColgan, who was lucky to survive the fall.

鈥淚t is tragic that Mr McColgan鈥檚 injuries could so easily have been avoided if those in a position of responsibility had effectively discharged their duties鈥�.

鈥淟aing O鈥橰ourke Construction Ltd had a duty as principal contractor to ensure that safe systems of work were in place and were being implemented on their site.

鈥淭he company had received previous advice from HSE on this specific matter, at another Newcastle site only two years earlier.

鈥淪pecialist contractor Expanded Structures Ltd had a duty to ensure that the risks associated with their work had been adequately assessed and that day to day controls and systems of work were effective鈥�.