03.08.2007

Fatal tower accident

A man has died after falling from the unguarded platform of an alloy access tower he was dismantling in Worthing, UK yesterday.

James Gordon, an employee of EDF Energy Contracting Ltd, was dismantling the mobile tower in the sports hall of Worthing High School in West Sussex.

He had already removed the top platform and was stood on the intermediate platform when he appears to have stumbled and fell almost five metres to the ground.

There were no guardrails on the platform to break his fall, Gordon, 63, suffered serious head injuries from his fall which resulted in his death.

Vertikal Comment

The HSE and PASMA both recomend that those erecting or dissmantling a tower, either fit an advanced guardrail or to work through the platform trap door.

While such cases are rare, this is a classic case, where following the guidance and training in place since 2005, may well have saved this mans life.