Worker injured falling through a roof
A company were prosecuted for not ensuring the correct safety measures were in place following a workers fall - 26th July 2008
A company has been prosecuted following an employee
falling from height on 2nd July 2007 in Uttoxeter.
The incident happened when two men were working on
the roof of a large industrial unit in Stubby Lane.
One of the employees who was working in a valley
gutter, fell onto a nearby roof pitch which gave
way, resulting in the man sustaining
serious injures
falling from a height of 4.5m onto a concrete floor.
This accident at work could have been prevented had
sufficient measures been taken to protect or support
people from falling through or off the roof.
Foster Refurbishment and Property Services Ltd
pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the
Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which states
that “it shall be the duty of every employer to
conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure,
so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons in
his employment who may be affected thereby are not
thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety”.
They were fined a total of £7,000 and ordered to pay
£3,138 in costs.
The Health and
Safety Executive (HSE) warned company owners and
directors that they must implement safe working
systems for working at height. A HSE Inspector said:
“Many incidents could be avoided if companies
ensured that they had thought through a safe way of
tackling a job, provided all necessary
protective equipment
and ensured workers were
fully trained and properly supervised.
Precautions that need to be taken to prevent falls
are often simple and there is ample free guidance
readily available to help companies take the right
action.”
The employee has been able to return to work since
the accident.
