by David Carter
5 October 2010
A building firm has been ordered to pay compensation to one of its employees after being found guilty of causing him to suffer significant injuries in an accident last year.
Simon Jones Restoration and Re-Design Ltd, based in East Kennett, Wiltshire, admitted breaching health and safety regulations after the collapse of a wall at a house near Devizes inflicted a broken pelvis, chipped teeth and ligament damage upon a 17 year old employee.
Another employee suffered cuts and bruises in the incident.
The firm was fined £4000 after a successful prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, as well as being made to pay £3,000 costs and £1000 compensation to the teenager.
HSE inspector Mark Renouf told the BBC:
"This was a serious case which could easily have been fatal.
"The job was complex with a substantial element of temporary works. It needed to be carefully and meticulously planned with the involvement of a competent engineer.
"Unfortunately this was not done and as a result led to terrible consequences."