Health and Safety Failings – Roofing firm fined after worker falls from height

Roofing firm fined after worker falls from height

Key Facts

• A worker sustained serious injuries after falling five metres from the roof of a property he was working on.
• The subsequent HSE investigation found that more should have been done in order to prevent the fall.
• The roofing firm were fined £7,000 plus costs of £1,993.20.

The Case:

A roofing firm have been fined after an employee was seriously injured in a fall from height at one of their sites. The incident took place on 30 Jan 2013.

The 22-year-old worker was working with a colleague to replace lead flashings on the roof of a property in Bromley when he fell five metres from the roof to the pavement below. He was seriously injured in the incident, sustaining a fractured pelvis, back and arm.

The subsequent HSE investigation found serious safety failings at the site, where more should have been done to prevent the fall. Nothing was in place to prevent or lessen a fall, such as edge protection or safety harnesses.

The case was heard in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wed 28 Apr 2015, where the roofing firm pleaded guilty to a single breach of Work at Height Regulations 2005. They were fined £7,000 plus costs of £1,993.20.

What the HSE had to say:

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Tony Webb said

“This was an entirely preventable incident. The risks of falling during roof work are clear and there is readily available guidance from HSE and others on the action to be taken to prevent falls. As a result Mr Dennis suffered serious injury and his colleague was also placed in danger as he too could have fallen at any time.” 

What the law states: 

Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states that

“Where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury.”

Find details of our safety training courses here 

Follow us on twitter: @safety_matters

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help you find a solution to your safety matters.