Company prosecuted after fall from height

A roofing company has been fined £7,000 with costs of just under £2,000 after a worker was seriously injured in a five metre fall.

The worker was replacing lead flashings on the roof of a property when he fell onto the pavement below.  The fall resulted in a fractured pelvis and back and a broken arm. 

During their investigation of the incident, the HSE found that there was nothing in place to prevent or mitigate a fall, such as edge protection or a safety harness.  Following the hearing the HSE Inspector said that, "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,"  He went on to comment that as a result of the fall the worker suffered serious injury and his colleague was also placed in danger as he too could have fallen at any time.

The roofing company pleaded guilty to a single breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.  Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: “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.”