Brothers fined after worker’s skull is crushed in fall

TWO brothers have been fined a total of £13,000 after a worker was left with a crushed skull and permanent brain damage when he fell through an industrial roof in Carlisle.

Alan Hind, from Lockerbie, was helping to demolish an industrial building in Carlisle when he fell six metres to the concrete floor below. The 28-year-old’s sight, hearing and personality have been permanently affected.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Robert and Eric Murray following the incident at Watts Yard on London Road in Carlisle on February 27, 2008. Carlisle Crown Court heard that Robert Murray was in overall control of the project, and that his brother, Eric, was in charge of dismantling the building Mr Hind was working on.

In the fall Hind suffered 16 skull fractures, broke his jaw in three places, fractured his wrist, damaged a kidney and is now deaf in his right ear and blind in his left eye. Parts of his brain were so badly damaged that they had to be removed.

Mr Hind has been unable to return to work since the incident, and had to wait six months for a titanium plate to be inserted into his damaged skull.

He said: “It was a frightening time. There was nothing to protect my brain – just skin. I was worried to go out. I didn’t like to be around lots of people in case I bumped my head.”

Eric Murray, trading as EJ Murray (Steel Structures), was found guilty of failing to take measures to prevent workers falling and being injured following a trial last month. He was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,000.

Robert Murray, trading as Murray Structures, pleaded guilty to not hiring trained workers and failing to ensure the work was planned and carried out safely. He was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 towards costs.

David Charnock, HSE construction inspector in Cumbria, said: “Mr Hind is lucky to be alive following his fall, which could and should have been prevented. He sustained multiple injuries which will affect him for the rest of his life.

“Unfortunately neither Robert nor Eric Murray took the necessary safety precautions and Mr Hind suffered horrific injuries as a consequence. The workers they employed were casual labourers and did not have the skills or experience to work on industrial roofs.”