Wirral Council fined £60,000 over worker fall

Wirral Council has been fined £60,000 after an employee sustained broken ribs and a broken collarbone during a fall. The incident occurred at the Dale Farm site in Heswall when a stepladder gave way while the worker was attempting to access a loft space.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) determined that the council failed to manage risks associated with working at height. The HSE found that unsafe ladders remained accessible to staff despite being identified as unfit for use, and employees had not received adequate training to assess ladder safety. The council pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.