Andrew Clifford from Chesterfield was paralysed after falling through the ceiling of a Dronfield house during renovations.
A delivery driver discovered the 51-year old, who had been unable to move for six hours. Clifford, who had been working with Paul Freeman Limited in Mansfield for over two decades, was alone when the incident happened on 31 October 2022.
The Incident
Mr Clifford stated, “The first memory I have after my fall is landing on my face. It was strange to feel no pain after landing. I didn’t know why I couldn’t get up. My radio was playing and I judged time based on the news. I moved again after an hour and continued to do so for three hours. Eventually, I realized this was serious. I decided to stay still so as not to injure myself further.
“This was not the kind of street where people would walk by and I became very worried as it got dark. When the delivery driver found me, I heard him say, “hello, Hello, Hello”. “I fell sometime between 9am and 9.30am, but wasn’t discovered until 3pm.”
Clifford sustained severe spinal cord injuries when he fell. Clifford spent five months in the hospital and was paralysed, from his chest down. He had limited movement in both hands and arms.
Legal Proceedings
A Health and Safety Executive investigation found that Paul Freeman Ltd. had not adequately planned for work at height and there were no preventive measures in place to reduce the risk of falling during the construction of first floor. Clifford was not given enough instructions on how to do the work in a safe manner, so he had to figure out what to do on his own.
The HSE stresses that working at height is a leading cause of death in construction. There is comprehensive guidance available to minimise these risks.
Paul Freeman Ltd., located in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire pleaded guilty for violating Section 2(1) Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974. Derby Magistrates’ Court fined Derby Freeman Ltd PS40,000. It also ordered the company to pay PS6,263.
The Impact of the Event
Clifford stated, “I cannot do the simple things I used to enjoy doing.” Simple tasks like gardening, car washing and household chores. I can’t wash myself or get dressed.
“I haven’t been upstairs since the accident. My wife and three daughters sleep upstairs, and I sleep downstairs.” I am also upset by the idea of not being there to see my daughters walk down the aisle at their wedding.
Sara Andrews, an inspector with the HSE, said, “My thoughts are with Andrew and his loved ones, whose lives were changed drastically as a result this preventable accident. This case highlights how important it is to conduct a thorough risk assessment for any work at height activity and to implement appropriate control measures to reduce the risk of serious injuries.
This is especially important when working alone.
