---
title: £850k Fine after Fall from Ladder
description: Window installer fell three metres from an unsecured ladder, breaking his knee cap, an investigation has found.
---

[Working at height blog ](https://www.hls.co/blog)

# [£850k Fine after Fall from Ladder](https://www.hls.co/blog/850k-fine-after-fall-from-ladder)

 Written by [Laura Hemsley](https://www.hls.co/blog/author/laura-hemsley) | May 8, 2018

 

**Window installer fell three metres from an unsecured ladder, breaking his knee cap, an investigation has found.**

A company has been prosecuted after one of its window installers fell from a ladder. The worker was attempting to install a first-floor rear bedroom window at a property when the ladder he was climbing slipped. The ladder was neither footed nor tied and the worker fell from a height of over three metres, sustaining a broken knee cap which required surgery. H.P.A.S. Limited, trading as Safestyle UK, was fined £850,000.

The HSE’s Investigation found that the company’s system for planning work at height activities was inadequate because it failed to ensure that work was carried out in a safe manner.

It was established that windows were not routinely installed from the inside and ladders were used in a way that constituted serious risk. It was also found that there was no system of monitoring or supervision in place and operatives were left to their own devices. 

**In order to minimise falls from ladders the HSE advises that:**

- People using ladders are competent and have gone through adequate training and/or are adequately supervised.
- Users of ladders are fully aware of the potential risks and any measures in place to help control them.
- The right type of ladder is used for each job.
- A risk assessment is carried out to determine where the hazards are in the work at height activity you have planned. 
- The equipment is used safely and according to a safe system of work.
- When using ladders make sure that they are either footed by another worker, or tied to the wall.
- Regularly inspect your ladders to verify that they are in a good condition. 

The above accident could easily have been prevented *if the right precautions were put in place*. Check today that your systems relating to ladder use meet the grade.

**Read our blog [When to Use Ladders and How to Work Safely From Them](https://hubs.ly/H08HM1T0) and to learn how to ensure your jobs involving ladders are carried out in a safe manner.**

**Download our Free Ladders Safety Toolkit**

** **

The toolkit includes a **ladder pre-use checklist** as well as **using ladders/stepladders checklists** and recently updated to include a **ladder register template.**

[View full post](https://www.hls.co/blog/850k-fine-after-fall-from-ladder)

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