An Edinburgh company has been fined £6,500 after an accident resulted in one of their employees being injured at work.
Forrest Hepburn and McDonald Signs Ltd received the fine after pleading guilty to a charge under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.
The court case followed an accident investigation by the Environmental Health Service of The City of Edinburgh Council.
The prosecution related to an accident on 6 October 2009 when an employee fell approximately seven metres through a skylight at Remnant Kings, 1E Seafield Way, Edinburgh.
Forrest Hepburn and McDonald were contracted to replace signs at the retail warehouse when the 23-year-old worker, who was on the roof, fell through a skylight before landing on the floor of the shop. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and hospitalised overnight and, although he suffered severe bruising, he had no broken bones.
Environment Leader, Councillor Robert Aldridge, said:- “This young man could have been very seriously injured or worse. Falls from a height are the main cause of deaths at work and also result in thousands of major injuries in the workplace each year.
“Employers must ensure working at height is suitably risk assessed and that safe working practices are established and followed. The company cooperated with our inspectors’ investigation and has significantly improved its management of health and safety since this accident.”
