Builder left paralysed after he fell through ceiling during house renovation

A Derbyshire father-of-three was left paralysed from the chest down after falling through a ceiling at a house renovation. Derby Magistrates’ Court heard how builder Andrew Clifford remained lying face down on the floor for around six hours before he was found by a delivery driver following the fall.

The 51-year-old had been working alone - on behalf of Mansfield firm Paul Freeman Ltd - installing first-floor joists during the construction of a house. Now the firm has been fined after admitting breaches of the Health and Safety Act.

Mr Clifford, of Chesterfield, said: “The first thing I recall after my fall was landing on my head. From that point it was a very strange feeling as from when I landed, I felt no pain and I couldn’t understand why or that I couldn’t get up.

“My radio was on and I judged the time by the news. After an hour, I tried to move again and this carried on for around three hours. Eventually, I realised this was serious and I thought I’d better stay still as I didn’t want to cause further injuries.

“This wasn’t the type of street where people were walking past and, as it started to get dark, I was getting really worried. When I was found by the delivery driver I heard him shout out, ‘hello, hello, hello’.

“I think I fell between 9am and 9.30 and wasn’t found until 3pm.”

The incident took place on the morning of October 31, 2022, in Main Road, Dronfield. The court heard how Mr Clifford spent nearly five months in hospital, with the injuries to his spinal cord so serious they left him paralysed from the chest down, with only limited movement in his hands and arms.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Paul Freeman Limited failed to ensure that work at height had been properly planned and, as such, no measures had been implemented to prevent falls during the construction of the first floor. Mr Clifford had not been provided with suitable instruction as to how the work should be carried out and was therefore left to work this out on his own.

The firm, of Acorn Business Park, Commercial Gate, Mansfield, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, were fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,263.

HSE inspector Sara Andrews said: “My thoughts remain with Andrew and his family, whose lives have changed dramatically as a result of this preventable incident.

“This case highlights the importance of undertaking a thorough assessment of the risks for all work at height activities and the need to ensure that, where work at height cannot be avoided, suitable control measures are implemented to minimise the risk of serious injury. This is even more significant when lone working.”