Health and Safety Failings – Fatal fragile roof incident results in fine

Fatal fragile roof incident results in fine

Key Facts:

• A worker fell to his death whilst undertaking work on a fragile roof.
• The HSE described it as being a tragic and preventable accident. Many safety controls were missing from the site, and the project had not been adequately planned.
• The roofing firm was fined £10,000 and costs of £4,987.

The Case:

The serious safety failings of a Northamptonshire roofing firm have cost one worker his life in an incident on 11 June 2011. Not enough had been done to combat the risks of work being undertaken on a fragile roof.

The employee was replacing a roof-light when he fell through a fragile surface onto a concrete floor six metres below. The roofer’s fall resulted in a fractured skull, and he died three days later from his injuries.

The fragile roof incident led to an HSE investigation, which found that many control measures were missing. There was no edge protection, coverings or fall protection over the fragile roof-lights, and there was no safe access/egress from the roof. The roofing firm failed to properly plan the roofing work and had not coordinated adequately with the customer.

The case was heard at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 9 March 2015. The roofing firm pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. As a result they were fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,987.

What the HSE inspector had to say: 

Speaking after the hearing the HSE Inspector Samuel Russell stated that:

“Tragically, a worker died in what was a preventable incident. This case shows how important it is to have the correct safe systems of work in place for the entire duration of the project.

It is not acceptable to use lesser standards in work methods or safety equipment in any situation, but especially when the work requires more permanent solutions for the longevity of the work.

The company was experienced in the roofing industry and had undertaken more complex and difficult projects before. Its actions placed roofing workers at great risk.

Working at height is still the biggest killer in the construction industry. HSE expects all stakeholders in the roofing industry to work to required standards to prevent further tragedies from happening.”

What the law states:

Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states:

“Every employer shall ensure that work at height is (a) properly planned; (b) appropriately supervised; and (c) carried out in a manner which is so far as is reasonably practicable safe, and that its planning includes the selection of work equipment in accordance with regulation 7.”

Further information on safe roof work can be found here.

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