Construction firm fined over fall

The judge said it was an "uncharacteristic lapse"

A construction firm has been ordered to pay an £80,000 fine plus £10,000 costs after an employee fell while working on the Liverpool 1 development.

William Taylor, 62, was working in one of the new apartment blocks at the city centre complex when he fell more than 3m onto a concrete slab in August 2007.

He suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs and a spinal injury.

Laing O'Rourke Construction pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of employees at Liverpool Crown Court.

'Serious consequences'

Judge Nigel Gilmour, QC, said it had been a "significant but uncharacteristic lapse" by the company.

"The risk of falling from an unguarded landing slab was not substantial but it was a real risk," he said.

The court heard Mr Taylor has recovered from his injuries and still works for the company.

The Health and Safety Executive Principal Inspector Nic Rigby said: "This prosecution should act as a warning to all those involved in the management of construction work.

"It was down to chance alone that this incident did not result in a fatality. That risk would have been avoided had the planning and management of the work being carried out not been so deficient."

He added: "The accident occurred because the company failed to make adequate risk assessments and plan a safe system of work. This accident happened on the third floor of the building.

"Had the accident not occurred this same system of work would have been repeated on every one of the 12 floors of the building. A fall from that height would clearly have had much more serious consequences."