Construction firm and roofing director prosecuted following worker fallConstruction firm and roofing director prosecuted following worker fallConstruction firm and roofing director prosecuted following worker fallConstruction firm and roofing director prosecuted following worker fall
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
      • Recent Prosecutions
      • News Articles
      • Legislation
      • Corporate Manslaughter
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Contact us
✕

Construction firm and roofing director prosecuted following worker fall

Construction firm and roofing director prosecuted following worker fall

A London construction company and the director of a Hertfordshire roofing firm have been fined for safety failings after a worker was seriously injured when he plunged almost six metres through a void for a roof light.

The self-employed roofer, who does not want to be named, broke and fractured several bones in his back and bruised his diaphragm, lungs and thigh in the incident in Brent on 29 February 2012. He was unable to work for 14 months and still requires hospital treatment for back problems that have forced him to seek alternative employment.

The fall occurred while he was under the control of Rickmansworth-based John Donald, trading as John Donald Roofing. The director had in turn been sub-contracted to undertake some of the roof work by Golders Green-based Right Angle Ltd, the principal contractor for a project that involved refurbishing and extending three residential properties.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted both parties after identifying a number of safety failings across the site as well as those linked to the roof work.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard that the injured worker, then aged 28, fell as he cleared materials from a flat roof. He picked up a piece of ply board that he assumed was debris without realising it concealed a roof light void beneath.

He fell feet first through the void and landed on the first floor some 5.6 metres below, fracturing his spine on impact.

HSE established that the measures taken to mark and protect this and other similar voids were totally unacceptable, and that any number of workers could have suffered a similar fate.

Further failings included fall risks in other locations at the site, such as the edges of the flat roofs where there was no edge protection, fall risks on the scaffold, open joists, and open staircases where there were no handrails.

Other issues were also identified across the site, including fire risks and inadequate fire prevention measures; numerous slip and trip hazards caused by excess rubbish and debris; and glazed window frames stored upright and unsecured that were liable to fall and cause injury.

The court was told the fall was entirely preventable had the void been clearly marked and better protected, which was the responsibility of both defendants, and that moreover Right Angle had failed to properly plan, manage and monitor the construction phase.

Right Angle Ltd, of Finchley Road, London, NW11, was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £5,375 after pleading guilty to a single breach of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

John Donald, of New Road, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, was fined £4,000 with £3,965 costs after admitting a breach of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

 

 

Share

Related posts

20th June 2022

Former construction company directors sentenced for failing to prevent exposure to asbestos


Read more
20th June 2022

Construction company fined and director sentenced after workers exposed to asbestos


Read more
20th June 2022

Company fined after contractor injured in a fall from height


Read more

CONTACT US

For more information on how we can help please fill out the form  below and a member of our team will contact you shortly

    I am interested in: (please select)
    Call meEmail me

    NEWS ARTICLES

    • Former construction company directors sentenced for failing to prevent exposure to asbestos
      20th June 2022
    • Construction company fined and director sentenced after workers exposed to asbestos
      20th June 2022
    • Company fined after contractor injured in a fall from height
      20th June 2022
    • Company sentenced after worker fall from height
      20th June 2022
    • Scottish care provider found guilty of Health and Safety breaches following death of a vulnerable adult
      20th June 2022
    • Sea food processing company fined after fatality involving forklift
      20th June 2022

    Get in touch

    CQMS Limited
    The Annexe, The Maltings, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6BH
    Tel: 01476 566665
    Email: enquiries@cqms-ltd.com

    Connect with us on social media

    CQMS Safety-Scheme is a UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012 for the provision of health and safety assessment services’
    CQMS Safety-Scheme - UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012

    Search our site

    ✕

    External Links

    H&S Executive Website
    Incident Contact Centre
    The British Safety Council
    RoSPA

    © 2017 - 2022 CQMS Limited | All rights reserved | Site built & hosted by GIGER MEDIA | Content managed by CQMS