Roger Smith Installations Ltd of Bulkington, Warwickshire has been prosecuted after a worker fell four metres, causing bleeding on the brain and damage to his lungs and ribs.
The incident happened in Cubbington on 3rd April 2014. An employee of the company was working on a soffit and fascia installation when his platform fell from the ladder brackets which were supporting it.
Nuneaton magistrates this week heard that an investigation by the Health & Safety Executive found that the equipment provided by the company was inadequate. There were no guardrails, no toe boards and it was not installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Roger Smith Installations was found guilty of breaching regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined a total of £10,000 and ordered to pay full costs of £1,229 and a victim surcharge of £120.
HSE inspector Ed Fryer said: “Falls from height remain the most common form of workplace fatality. There is no excuse for not planning work at height properly or ensuring the appropriate safety equipment is used. Access equipment used for working at height should always be installed in line with manufacturer’s instructions.
“This equipment had no guard rails to prevent a person from falling and it could have easily cost this man his life.
“It is vital to ensure that equipment is in good order as structural failures can have terrible consequences. The roofing industry is well aware of the risks involved whilst working at height and the controls which should be put in place to manage those risks.”
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