A COMPANY has been fined thousands of pounds after an employee fell four metres and broke her back.

The 34-year-old ecologist was in the loft looking for wildlife in one of the former Severalls Hospital’s derelict buildings, in Colchester, when she fell through the floor and landed on concrete, fracturing a bone at the base of her back.

The woman was in Colchester General Hospital for seven days and was ordered to wear a back brace for three months. She was off work for several weeks after the incident.

Thewoman was working for DF Clark Bionomique, which admitted breaching health and safety regulations at a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Edward Crick, Health and Safety Executive inspector, said: “The failure of DF Clark Bionomique to properly plan this wildlife survey has resulted in a significant injury to one of its employees.

“This is a company which undertakes surveys in locations ranging from a tree, to something considerably more complex, such as the one being undertaken at the old Severalls Hospital site.

“A one-size-fits-all approach is obviously not suitable and the company’s tick-box approach to risk assessment failed to protect this worker.

“Falling through fragile surfaces is a well-known risk, particularly in the construction industry, and any work at height needs to be properly assessed and managed, including sometimes seeing if the work can be done in a way that avoids any work at height.”

An investigation by the executive found the Althorne company, which had been employed to carry out a survey while part of the site was being sold for redevelopment, did not properly assess how the work should be carried out.

Magistrates also heard, although the company was aware the hospital buildings had not been maintained since the site closed in 1997, the assessment was too general and did not properly identify risks.

Magistrates heard the building was likely to be fragile and would have rotting timberwork in disused loft spaces.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations during the incident, which happened on May 12 last year, and was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £1,138 in costs.

The Gazette contacted DF Clark Bionomique, but bosses declined to comment.