Walsall worker death: Company fined £200k over 30ft pylon fall
A company has been ordered to pay more than £250,000 after a Walsall worker plunged 30ft to his death from an electricity pylon at one of its sites.
Vincent John Richards, aged 49, died after falling from the pylon in Carlisle.
The Health and Safety Executive launched a prosecution against Billfinger Industrial Services for serious safety failings following the fall.
The German-based firm admitted guilt and was this month fined £200,000 and ordered to pay costs of £59,320.10.
Mr Richards was installing fall arrest lines for painters to use on the pylon at Great Orton, Cumbria, Carlisle, when he fell on July 5 two years ago.
Carlisle Crown Court heard that Mr Richards, who was employed by the company as a 'rigger', had been working with a colleague preparing the pylons in readiness for painters to carry out maintenance work.
On the morning of the incident, Mr Richards arrived at pylon FT37 and found that the painters had already commenced painting even though the pylon had not been rigged.
Mr Richards had climbed approximately 30ft up the pylon, when he fell backwards, narrowly missing one of the painters working directly below him.
As a result of the fall, Mr Richards sustained serious multiple injuries and died at the scene despite the emergency services's best attempt to resuscitate him.
The HSE investigation found a number of failings by Bilfinger in the management of risks arising from work at height.
Although the company had a system of work, they failed to implement, monitor and enforce this system. This failing exposed their employees to the risk of death.
Bilfinger Industrial Services (UK) Limited of Tudor Road, Manor Park, Runcorn, pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £200.000 and ordered to pay costs of £59,320.10
Inspector Susan Ritchie said: "The company were clearly aware of the hazards and had a system in place to manage the risks. Unfortunately they failed to implement, monitor and enforce this system. They failed to ensure the proper inspection and provision of safety critical personal protective equipment."
Bilfinger develops, builds, maintains and operates plants and buildings for industry, the energy sector and real estate.
