Stairwell Opening Safety. Worker Seriously Injured in Preventable Fall
A worker fell through an unprotected stairwell opening because the work was not properly planned, supervised, or controlled. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, openings must be guarded or covered, and suitable access equipment must be used. This incident was preventable.
Unknown source, image in various locations on the internet
What happened?
On 5 December 2023, a 26-year-old labourer was working on the construction of an apartment block in Staffordshire.
He had been appointed by BHG (Stone) Limited, the principal contractor, and was helping install wall insulation on the first floor.
To reach the top corner of the wall, a ladder was placed across a stairwell opening.
While working from the ladder, he fell through the opening to the ground below.
He suffered serious injuries, including fractures to his skull and back.
That’s the reality of a fall like this. It’s not just a slip. It’s life-changing.
An HSE investigation found that:
- the work had not been properly planned
- suitable measures were not in place to prevent a fall
- unsafe work was allowed to continue
BHG (Stone) Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 in costs.
Director Alistair Howells pleaded guilty under Section 37 and was fined £2,000 with £1,386 in costs.
This wasn’t complicated. It was a basic fall risk that wasn’t controlled.
Health and Safety Executive (image)
What is a stairwell opening risk under UK work at height law?
A stairwell opening is a clear work at height risk under the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
If a person could fall a distance likely to cause injury, the task must be treated as work at height.
This applies whether the work is:
- indoors or outdoors
- short duration or long duration
- routine or one-off
Openings such as:
- stairwells
- floor voids
- lift shafts
- incomplete staircases
all present a direct fall risk.
It does not matter that the work is inside a building. The consequence of a fall is the same.
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How should stairwell openings be controlled on site?
A stairwell opening is an obvious fall hazard. Everyone on site can see it.
Controls must simply be in place before work begins.
Suitable controls include:
- guardrails or edge protection
- securely fixed covers over openings
- suitable working platforms such as podium steps or tower scaffolds
- exclusion zones below the work area
- planned sequencing to avoid working over the opening
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the priority is to prevent the fall, not rely on reacting to it.
In this case, the work was not properly planned and suitable equipment was not provided. The incident was avoidable.
Can ladders be used near stairwell openings?
Ladders can be used for work at height, but only where they are suitable and the risk is low.
A ladder placed across a stairwell opening is just not a good idea. It usually means the job has not been planned properly.
Before anyone climbs a ladder here, stop and ask:
- Is the ladder suitable for this task?
- Is it stable and secured?
- Can the worker avoid overreaching?
- Is there a protected working area?
- Is there a safer method available?
If a ladder is being used to:
- bridge a gap
- reach over a void
- compensate for missing equipment
then it is likely the wrong choice.
Should this task have been stopped?
Yes. The work should have been stopped before it started.
Stop the job immediately if:
- access requires bridging over an opening
- there is no edge protection or cover
- the working position is unstable or awkward
- the method relies on improvisation
If any of these apply, the method is wrong. Not the worker.
Who is responsible for stopping unsafe work?
Responsibility sits with supervisors, managers and directors.
In this case, the director was working nearby and allowed unsafe work to continue.
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, individuals can be held personally accountable where offences occur with their consent, connivance or neglect.
Supervision means:
- recognising unsafe conditions
- challenging poor methods
- stopping the job when required
Standing nearby isn’t supervision. If it’s unsafe, stop it.
Key lessons and takeaways
- Stairwell openings must be guarded or covered before work starts
- Indoor tasks can still be work at height under UK law
- Ladders must be suitable, not used as a workaround
- Work planning and sequencing reduce exposure to fall risk
- Active supervision prevents unsafe work continuing
- Physical controls are required. Verbal instruction is not enough
Action steps you can take today
- Check your site for stairwell openings, floor voids and unprotected edges
- Make sure openings are securely covered or properly guarded
- Review ladder use and confirm it is suitable for the task
- Use better access equipment where required
- Make sure supervisors understand their authority to stop work
- Compare RAMS against what is actually happening on site
- Plan work so people are not forced to improvise
- Encourage workers to challenge unsafe access arrangements
FAQs
Yes. If a person could fall and be injured, it is work at height under UK law.
In most cases, no. This indicates poor planning and unsafe access.
Guardrails, secure covers or suitable working platforms.
Supervisors, managers and directors can be held accountable.
How Element Safety Can Help
Be Prepared
This incident was avoidable. The next one can be prevented.
Be Better
If your team works around stairwells, openings or internal voids, you already have this risk. The question is whether it is being controlled properly.
Element Safety provides practical, real-world training for teams who carry out, supervise or manage work at height.
That includes:
✅Work at Height Training
✅Work at Height for Managers
✅Rescue from Height Training
✅Practical fall prevention guidance
✅Real-world risk assessment awareness
If your team works around openings, ladders, platforms or incomplete structures, this is a risk worth taking seriously.
📩 training@elementsafety.co.uk 🌐 elementsafety.co.uk