cqms-header-logocqms-header-logocqms-header-logocqms-header-logo
  • 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
  • Online Training
  • Get in Touch
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Online Training
  • Get in Touch
✕

Roofer and scaffolder sentenced following fatal fall from height

A roofer and a scaffolder have been sentenced following a fatal fall from height at a two-storey terraced house on Rosevine Road, Wimbledon.

Southwark Crown Court heard that on 26 November 2018, Philip Drinkwater and Anthony Bradley were working on the roof, which was accessed using a ladder and scaffolding that had been erected by Dean Glen. Later that day, Mr Drinkwater asked his co-worker, Mr Bradley, to help him move some slates up onto the roof using an electric hoist. While he was carrying out this operation, he fell approximately six metres through a gap, which was adjacent to the hoist and landed on the ground where he died almost immediately.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Mr Glen had erected the scaffold leaving a 1.17m gap in the edge protection at the ladder access point without fitting a scaffold gate. Mr Glen had erected the scaffold when not fully qualified to do so and it did not comply with industry standards or legal requirements. Mr Drinkwater was in charge of the roof work, which he allowed to proceed despite the gap and unsafe ladder access. He lacked the training to manage health and safety on the site and failed to appoint a suitably qualified scaffolder to erect the scaffold.

Philip Drinkwater (trading as Prestige Roofing) of Meldone Sheephouse Way, New Malden pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,318.

Dean Glen (trading as DDP scaffolding) of Woodroyd Avenue, Horley pleaded guilty to breaching section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,318.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Kevin Smith: “The tragedy of this incident was that it was totally avoidable.

“Preventative measures were inexpensive and required little time or effort. Reducing the size of the opening in the guard rails and installing a self-closing scaffold gate would have stopped this man from falling to his death. A scaffold gate costs around £40 and only takes a few minutes to install.

“Those involved in scaffolding and roof work on smaller sites need to be aware of the potentially devastating consequences of failing to put basic safeguards in place.”

Source HSE Website 27/07/2021

For more HSE news including prosecutions visit the HSE website

Share

Related posts

30th June 2023

School fined £35,000 after child severely burned at carol concert


Read more
27th June 2023

Runcorn business park operator fined £13,000 after worker injured in fall


Read more
26th June 2023

Serco fined £240,000 after man killed in crash with litter picking vans


Read more

Get in touch

CQMS Limited
The Clock, 12-13 Westgate, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LT
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 - 2023 CQMS Limited | All rights reserved | Site built and hosted by GIGER MEDIA | Content managed by CQMS