Cash and carry worker in plunge

A CASH and carry employee plunged more than 15ft to the ground through a fragile plasterboard ceiling at his work

Roman Khan, 24, fell from a mezzanine to the concrete floor and suffered a skull fracture and bleeding near the brain on November 5 2017.

His trainee GP wife had to give up her career plans to look after her husband, who ended up in a wheelchair.

Alfa Wholesale Limited, a cash and carry in Glasgow’s Anderston, claimed responsibility for failing to acknowledge the dangers posed by the plasterboard.

The company pleaded guilty yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court to failing to ensure the safety of its employees.

The court heard Mr Khan was alone in the mezzanine area collecting stock when he stepped on “fragile plasterboard.”

Prosecutor Lynne Jamieson said: “The injured party fell a distance of 5.6m onto the concrete floor on the ground of the corridor area.”

A colleague heard a bang and discovered Mr Khan on the ground unconscious.

Mr Khan was “unresponsive” and was diagnosed as having an skull fracture and bleeding.

He also sustained a bruised right lung and rib fractures.

Mr Khan was put into an induced coma before being transferred to intensive care and remained in hospital for seven weeks.

Miss Jamieson said: “The victim had difficulties swallowing, was unable to walk, problems tasting food, hearing loss and required a wheelchair. He had no memory of the incident.”

The company paid for Khan’s future therapy and reported the incident to the local authority who carried out an investigation

It was also revealed that earlier risk assessments failed to flag up the dangers.

Callum Jamieson, defending, apologised to Mr Khan and his family on behalf of the company. He stated it had “overlooked” the risk and Alfa have since changed firms for future risk assessments.

Sentence was deferred until later this month.