Tragic fall leads to call for safer work practices in the construction industry

By Katrina Elsey

Published January 09, 2025In: Personal Injury

In October 2022, a tragic accident on a construction site in Derbyshire changed the life of 51-year-old Andrew Clifford forever. Andrew, a seasoned builder and father of three, fell through a ceiling while working alone on a house renovation project in Dronfield. What should have been a routine workday turned into a life-altering incident that left him paralysed from the chest down.

As Andrew's story demonstrates, the importance of stringent safety measures in the construction industry cannot be overstated, especially when working at height.

The accident that changed everything

Andrew had been working for Paul Freeman Limited, a Mansfield-based company he had collaborated with for over 20 years. While installing first-floor joists, he slipped and fell from the first floor to the ground below. He landed on his head and, to his shock, realised he couldn’t move. As he lay face down on the floor, hours ticked by, and he could only gauge time only by the hourly bulletins playing on his radio.

Andrew laid there for almost six hours, before he was finally found by a delivery driver who had entered the site. By that time, his injuries had left him unable to move, and he was rushed to the hospital with a serious spinal cord injury. He would go on to spend almost five months in the hospital, facing the reality that he was paralysed from the chest down with limited mobility in his arms and hands.

Life after the fall

Reflecting on the impact of the accident, Andrew describes a heartbreaking loss of independence. “I can’t do anything I used to love doing before,” he shared. Everyday tasks such as gardening, washing his car, or even dressing himself are no longer possible. He has been confined to the ground floor of his home, while his wife and three daughters sleep upstairs. The thought of missing significant life events, like walking his daughters down the aisle one day, is particularly painful for him.

Andrew's story is a deeply personal reminder of how an injury like this doesn’t just affect the injured person, it impacts their whole family.

Safety failures and the consequences

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Paul Freeman Limited had failed to adequately plan for work at height, leaving Andrew without proper guidance or safety measures. Without a secure structure or instructions, Andrew was left to navigate the risks on his own, a situation that led to his tragic fall. On 4 November 2024, Paul Freeman Ltd. was fined £40,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, with the court citing their failure to properly plan for safety and prevent this accident.

HSE inspector Sara Andrews expressed her thoughts for Andrew and his family, highlighting the preventable nature of this incident. “This case underscores the importance of thorough risk assessment for all work at height activities,” she stated. The responsibility of ensuring safe conditions on worksites—especially when employees work alone—cannot be taken lightly.

A call to action for workplace safety

Katrina Elsey, commented: “Andrew’s story speaks volumes about the risks construction workers face daily and the profound impact that one moment can have on an individual and their family. His tragedy reminds us all of the importance of rigorous safety standards and proper planning for high-risk activities like working at height.”

In the construction industry, falls are among the leading causes of workplace injuries and fatalities. The HSE has emphasised that when work at height cannot be avoided, implementing suitable safety measures is critical. Employers must commit to safeguarding their workers’ lives, not just to comply with regulations but out of respect for the people who rely on safe conditions to do their jobs.

Katrina continued: “Andrew’s story is a sobering reminder of why workplace safety regulations exist: to protect workers, prevent accidents, and spare families from preventable heartbreak. His story calls for a renewed focus on ensuring that no worker ever has to endure what he has. I hope that Andrew’s tragedy will inspire change, saving lives and making workplaces safer for all.”