Firms fined after worker falls 70ft

Two firms have been fined a total of £125,000 after an employee plunged nearly 70ft from a hospital building.

Steven McColgan, 37, was working on the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne when part of the working platform he was standing on broke away.

McColgan, from Edinburgh, suffered serious multiple injuries to his head and body after falling 69ft to the ground.

Kent-based Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd and Expanded Structures Ltd were prosecuted by The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident in 2006.

An investigation by the watchdog revealed that sections of the falsework, acting as a temporary structure supporting the working platform, had been mistakenly removed.

Both companies, which are based at Bridge Place, Anchor Boulevard, Admiral's Place, Crossways in Kent, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Newcastle Crown Court.

Laing O'Rourke Construction Ltd was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £13,756 and Expanded Structures Ltd was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,154.