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A Bricklayer is seeking more than £200,000 in damages from Lyndon Scaffolding Plc, after allegedly falling from a ladder at work.
Benjamin Katuszka, 33 is suing the well-known scaffolding firm after the incident on September 21 2015, at the Royal Navy Air Station in Yeovilton, south Somerset.
Katuszka, who was laying blocks on the site claimed that he was about to descend a ladder from the second lift of scaffolding when the ladder gate protecting the access point swung shut on his hand. Shocked by the impact and pain he instinctively lost his grip on the ladder and fell to the ground below, fracturing his wrist and right knee.
He alleges that the access to the scaffold in the area where he had been working was unusual, as a single ladder which he claims was very steep was used to access the second lift from the ground.
The incident has left him struggling with anxiety and depression. And due to his injuries, Katuszka is now unable to work as a bricklayer.
Local media report that a writ issued at London’s High Court states Katuszka’s claim that the company failed to carry out a suitable risk assessment, failed to provide a safe workplace, arranged the ladder and gate so that the gate closed against the ladder, and actively created a trap. The writ also states that following the incident the contractors modified the scaffolding so the gate did not hit the ladder once it had closed.
ScaffMag contacted Lyndon Scaffolding Plc about the incident, they have strongly denied the claims.
A Director at Lyndon Scaffolding commented “We are aware of the incident and are sad to hear that Benjamin Katuszka has not recovered from his injuries. We do however, deny the allegations made and note that the site was subject to the most stringent audit review process in the industry.”
