A Barnet-based wholesaler has been fined after a man died of injuries sustained when he fell from a stepladder.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company and its manager for failing to provide a safe system of work which, led to the death of a handyman.
The City of London Magistrates' Court heard on the morning of 22 April 2009 the handyman was asked to build shelving in the storeroom by the site manager.
During the morning the handyman had been seen standing on a stepladder while working on the shelving.
At around midday he was found lying on the floor bleeding from a severe head wound, with the stepladder beside him. He died as a result of his injuries on 23 June.
Two HSE Inspectors visited the scene after the incident and issued a Prohibition Notice stopping any work at height because of the unsuitability of all access equipment. A stepladder deemed to be in very poor condition, was taken from the bakery by HSE inspectors.
After the hearing, HSE's Inspector said:
"The consequences of this tragic incident will be felt by the handyman’s family for ever but it was so easily preventable. As the risk of a fall was foreseeable, the company and its manager should have carried out a full site-specific risk assessment and planned and organised the work to be carried out in a safe manner.
"Where access to heights is required, even for relatively short term work, they are ultimately responsible for assessing and planning the work and ensuring that it is carried out in a safe manner using suitable access equipment."
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined total of £1.
The manager pleaded guilty to also breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined a total of £300 and ordered to pay costs of £200.