Roofing boss found guilty of manslaughter

A company director has been found guilty of manslaughter after a worker fell to his death - 23rd January 2009

 

The boss of a roofing company has been found guilty of manslaughter following an accident in which a man he was employing died from workplace injuries after he had a fall from height.

The accident occurred on 29th November 2005 when a relatively inexperienced 20 year old worker was repairing a roof in Uckfield.

He fell from a height of 20ft through a skylight to the factory floor with the injuries suffered in the workplace accident leading to his death the following day in hospital.

The man had not had sufficient safety training, and was not wearing the correct personal protective equipment in the form of a helmet or a safety harness, nor was there any safety equipment being used that could of caught him.

The company boss was aware of the risks associated with working at height, and had received previous warnings about ensuring the health and safety of his employees, but still failed to take the necessary health and safety measures which could have prevented this death.

Sussex Police and the Health and safety Executive brought charges against the company director of IC Roofing Ltd, where at an earlier hearing he had pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety laws.

Yesterday he was also found guilty of manslaughter and will be sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday.