Firm director fined after son falls from scaffolding in North Karelia

A construction company director in North Karelia has been fined for safety violations after his 16-year-old son, working under an apprenticeship, fell 3.6 metres from scaffolding in autumn 2024, reports Yle.

The boy, who was assembling scaffolding with another worker, lost consciousness for 3–4 days after stepping on the edge of the work platform, which tilted. He was not wearing a helmet. The scaffolding lacked guardrails, locking pins, and had not undergone a pre-use inspection.

The North Karelia District Court ruled the director, the boy’s father, guilty of workplace safety violations, including failing to provide adequate training and ensuring safe working conditions. The two workers had no common language and communicated via a translation app.

The director received 40 day-fines, totalling €520, reduced from 50 due to cooperation. The company was fined €15,000. The ruling is not yet final and may be appealed.