Trevor Cook Construction has been fined after a roof worker fell six metres through a fragile roof sheet, whilst working on a barn at a farm in Amesbury, Wiltshire.
Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard that on 22 May, 2019, the employee’s foot slipped from one of the crawling boards he was using to traverse the roof he was replacing broken sheets on and fell through the material, resulting in neck fractures, a collapsed lung, and a bleed on the brain.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the construction company had failed to plan the works despite being aware of the risks, and previously often used netting when undertaking large re-roofing projects, but made a conscious decision not to install nets for smaller jobs.
Trevor Cook Construction pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £63,278 and ordered to pay costs of £6,721.
Stephan Axt-Simmonds, an HSE inspector, said: “Falls from height remains one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country, and the risks associated with working at height are well known.
“Falls through fragile roof materials are not inevitable. They can be prevented by careful planning, using trained and experienced workers with suitable equipment, and employing a high level of supervision.
“This incident could so easily have been avoided by using established control measures and safe working practices.”
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