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Company Fined after serious injury from scissor lift fall

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An electrical company based in Hertfordshire has been fined £120,000 after a man was knocked from a scissor lift and left paralyzed.

The attending HSE’s (Health and Safety Executive) Inspector said “The fine reflects the seriousness of the omissions by this company. Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd employed people to do highly hazardous work and yet failed to take the appropriate steps to ensure their safety.” The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) prosecuted Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd after the incident which happened on the 25 January 2007 at the Manor Royal Industrial Park in Crawley. Companies in the Bronx and Brooklyn are watching this case.

Lewes Crown Court was told that the company had been subcontracted to design and build the mechanical and electrical systems in a number of new buildings. A cable installer from Hartlepool was working in a scissor lift with two colleagues tying cables into overhead trays when they collapsed, knocking the man out of the lift and causing him to fall 8m to the floor below. According to a New York Spinal Injury Lawyer, the contractor suffered severe spinal injuries and is now paralyzed from the waist down.

The HSE told the court that Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd had failed to ensure the safety of its employees while carrying out the installation of the cable tray systems.

Skanska Rashleigh Weatherfoil Ltd admitted breaching section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined a total of £120,000 with court costs of £81,927.

After the hearing, a New York Spinal Injury Attorney quoted the HSE representative as saying, “This tragic incident would have been avoided if the company had ensured all parts of the cable tray system had been properly designed and installed, including how it was attached to the building. During installation, when components were failing or showing signs of failure, Skanska took no action. When construction work is subcontracted, whether it’s design or installation work, it is essential companies have adequate systems in place to manage this effectively. It is essential that employers consider all aspects of difficult and dangerous work; health and safety is not just a phrase, it is a considered approach to protecting people in the workplace.”

If you have any questions, contact a NY Spinal Injury Attorney to have them answered by a diligent professional. Set up a consultation to find if you have a case that can be successfully pursued. If new avenues of information gathering need to be opened, a NY Spinal Injury Attorney will advise you about them.The Office of Stephen Bilkis and Associates can offer you support and guidance as well as a free consultation when you contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. We have offices in N York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx and in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County. A spinal injury caused by a trauma should not be dwelt with alone that is why you should contact a New York Spinal Injury Attorney today. Make sure you have a New York Spine Injury Attorney on your side.

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