A building contractor and a roofing contractor have been fined after an employee fell 5m from a first-floor extension, breaking several vertebrae in his lower back.
Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard that on 11 June, 2018, after fitting fascia board and soffits to allow roofers to commence work, an employee stepped back down onto a ladder which was not tied, and slipped sideways, resulting in a fall leaving injuries so severe he could not work for eight weeks.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now found that both Grayton Building Contractors and the roofing contractor Thomas Dean failed to properly plan the work, assess the risks and provide the appropriate supervision. Subsequently, the work at height equipment selected was not suitable and the work was not carried out safely.
Grayton Building Contractors pleaded guilty and was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,742 for the breach of Regulation 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
Thomas Dean also pleaded guilty to a breach of the regulations and was fined £400 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000.
Andy McGrory, an inspector at the HSE, said: “The risks from working at height are well known. Those in control of the work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working, which should include ensuring the use of suitable work equipment and adequate supervision.
“The incident could have easily been prevented with simple precautions including properly planning the work, undertaking a suitable risk assessment and by selecting, erecting and using suitable work at height equipment for the job.”
