Landlord fined £20k after man hurt in staircase fall
A commercial landlord in Bishopston has been fined £20,000 after a man suffered head injuries when part of a rotten first-floor staircase gave way.
It happened during a party at the Merton Road Trading Estate when the 28 year-old man fell from a height of around 11 feet after leaning on a wooden handrail.
Trading estate landlord Roger Blessitt admitted breaching health and safety laws when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on January 13. Mr Blessitt, from Iron Acton, was also ordered to pay costs totalling £4,522.
An investigation by the Health And Safety Executive found the staircase at Unit 4 was poorly designed, rotten, lacked maintenance and was not fit for purpose.
HSE Inspector Emma Preston said: “Well-designed staircases, built to standard and properly maintained, play a crucial role in keeping people safe.
“While seeming lower risk, poorly maintained staircases can turn everyday use into a serious hazard. Routine inspections and maintenance are essential to prevent avoidable injuries.
“In this incident, defects to the staircase would have been readily identified and repaired if an effective inspection and maintenance regime had been in place.
“On behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, I would like to wish the injured person well in his continued recovery.”
A metal staircase has now been installed to replace the wooden one following the incident in October 2023
