East Mids roofing firms fined after worker fall

Two Northants roofing companies have been fined after a worker fell nine metres through a skylight onto concrete flooring below.

The man suffered life changing injuries and required surgery to install metal rods into his back.

Coventry Magistrates Court heard how ACG Roofing had been subcontracted by JDB Industrial Roofing of Kettering to complete re-cladding work on the fragile roof. At the time of the fall, on 15 December 2015, no nets or guardrails were being used. The Mobile Elevating Working Platform which had been provided as an anchor point for the fall arrest equipment did not have enough capacity. When he fell the injured person did not have his harness attached to anything.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that JDB, the principal contractors of the work, failed to have effective management systems in place to control the risk associated with working at height and on fragile roofing.

JDB pleaded guilty of breaching Section 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, has been fined £112,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2216.68.

ACG Roofing of High Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire have pleaded guilty of breaching Section 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and have been fined £35,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1721.78.

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Edward Fryer said: “This incident could have been fatal; the worker has suffered life changing injuries due to the company failing to properly plan and supervise work at height.

“This case highlights the importance of proper planning, supervision and implementation of work at height especially on fragile roofing.”