Fall through false ceiling: site manager convicted

14/02/2024 · Federal Supreme Court · NE · Seriously injured · 7B_744/2023

What happened A restorer was to clean beams in an old building under renovation. He stepped round a plank nailed across the doorway and fell through what was only a false ceiling – about 5 m.

What the court decided Convicted at first instance (31.5.2021); appeal dismissed (21.12.2022); Federal Court dismissed the appeal – final.

Why A plank you can step round is not a barrier. The site manager knew about the visit and had to mark the danger clearly or block access.

Site manager (civil engineer): convicted of serious bodily harm by negligence, 40 day-fines of CHF 100 (total CHF 4,000), suspended. Blocked a room with a non-load-bearing floor only with a plank, no warning sign.

Firmly block and label floors that won't bear weight – especially when outside specialists come.

Source: entscheidsuche.ch (FR)

Fact summary in our own words based on the linked source, which prevails. No names of the people involved.