Prosecutions
Three men have been fined at total of £5,000 after a worker suffered multiple injuries when he fell eight metres through a barn roof in Greater Manchester.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the men following the incident on 20 June 2007.
The victim was standing on the roof of a former riding stable, removing corrugated panels, when he fell eight metres to the ground below. He suffered serious injuries to his head and back, was in a coma for several days and was made partially blind in one eye.
The HSE investigation found that no scaffolding or protection had been provided for the worker, who was expected to balance on the steel frame of the building while removing roof panels.
Trafford Magistrates' Court heard that Mr A was the owner of the barn and had acted as a project manager, overseeing its conversion into an antiques warehouse. He had hired Mr B, to carry out the work, who subcontracted it to Mr C.
A Construction Inspector for HSE commented:
"The victim could easily have been killed when he fell through a fragile roof panel. Workers at the site were expected to balance dangerously on the steel structure, while they knocked through bolts on fragile sheets. Clearly this was very dangerous.
"This case should act as a warning to construction companies about the dangers their employees and contractors face when they carry out work at height. Otherwise workers will continue to be injured or even killed."
Mr A pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by failing to ensure the safety of his employees. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 towards the cost of the prosecution at Trafford Magistrates' Court on 13 July.
Mr B and Mr C both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by allowing workers to be exposed to risks to their health and safety.
Mr B was also fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,000. Mr C, was fined £1,000 with costs of £1,500.
A spokesperson from the HSE added:
"All three men failed to plan the work safely in advance. Scaffolding, or a mobile work platform such as a scissor lift, should have been used to remove the corrugated sheets from underneath. There was no need to climb onto the roof."