\u2022 Bristol landlord fined under Health and Safety at Work act
\n\u2022 Member of the public fell from a staircase which was found to have fundamental flaws in design
\n\u2022 HSE investigation found lack the staircase was not fit for purpose<\/p>\n
A Bristol landlord has been fined after a member of the public sustained significant injuries when they fell from the first-floor landing of an external wooden staircase at a converted property in Bishopston.<\/p>\n
Roger Blessitt of Dyers Lane, Iron Acton, was fined \u00a320,000 following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).<\/p>\n
The incident happened in the early hours of 2 October 2023, when a group attended Unit 4 Merton Road for a social event hosted by one of Mr Blessitt\u2019s tenants. A 28-year-old man stepped outside and fell when a section of the wooden handrail failed as he leant against it. He fell from a height of around 11 feet, landing on the concrete-paved surface at ground level, and sustained significant injuries, including to the head.<\/p>\n
The HSE investigation found fundamental flaws in the design of the staircase, including that it was notably rotten, deteriorated and weakened. The investigation also found a distinct lack of inspection and maintenance, determining that the staircase was not fit for purpose.<\/p>\n
Image of staircase<\/p>\n
Image of staircase<\/p>\n
Roger Blessitt of Dyers Lane, Iron Acton, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined \u00a320,000 and ordered to pay costs of \u00a34,522at Bristol Magistrates Court on 13 January 2026.<\/p>\n
HSE Inspector Emma Preston said: \u201cWell-designed staircases, built to standard and properly maintained, play a crucial role in keeping people safe.
\n\u201cWhile seeming lower risk, poorly maintained staircases can turn everyday use into a serious hazard. Routine inspections and maintenance are essential to prevent avoidable injuries.
\n\u201cIn this incident, defects to the staircase would have been readily identified and repaired if an effective inspection and maintenance regime had been in place.
\n\u201cOn behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, I would like to wish the injured person well in his continued recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
Further information<\/strong><\/p>\n The Health and Safety Executive<\/a> (HSE) is Britain\u2019s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives. \u2022 Bristol landlord fined under Health and Safety at Work act \u2022 Member of the public fell from a staircase which was found to have fundamental flaws in design \u2022 HSE investigation found lack the staircase was not fit for purpose A Bristol landlord has been fined after a member of the public sustained significant…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2201\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.safetyphoto.co.uk\/safety_news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMore information about the legislation<\/a> referred to in this case is available.
\nFurther details on the latest HSE news releases<\/a> is available.
\nRelevant guidance can be found here **<\/strong>Managing for health and safety (HSG65) \u2013 HSE<\/a>**.
\nHSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so.\u00a0 The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"