Construction firm fined after ladder fall leaves worker seriously injured during London refurbishment

A construction firm has been fined after a worker sustained multiple serious injuries in a fall from height during a refurbishment project in London.

On 5 August 2021, the worker was involved in renovation works in Islington for Bow Tie Construction Limited. The scheme involved converting a domestic property and a former handbag factory into a single dwelling.

The project included the installation of a new concrete staircase linking the ground and first floors. Temporary timber formwork was required to construct the stair, and the injured worker, alongside two colleagues, had been instructed by company director and acting site manager Rafael Delimata to assemble the formwork.

While standing on the top of a stepladder and operating a gas-powered nail gun, the worker fell approximately 1.65 metres to the floor below. He sustained crush injuries to both elbows requiring multiple surgeries, a fractured forearm, dislocated wrists, and injuries to his right leg and left knee.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found there was no safe system of work in place for working at height during the staircase construction. The regulator also identified broader failings in the management of work at height across the site, including inadequate edge protection, incorrectly assembled tower scaffolds, unprotected stair edges and uncontrolled ladder use.

The shortcomings persisted despite a prior site visit by the regulator on 2 July 2021, when a Prohibition Notice had been issued in relation to unsafe work at height.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in construction.

Bow Tie Construction Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Southwark Crown Court. On 13 February 2026, the company was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay £4,101 in costs.

HSE Inspector Emma Bitz said the risks associated with working at height are well known and that the incident could have been prevented. She said the case demonstrated how failures in control measures and supervision can result in life-changing injuries.