Company fined after worker falls from height

Reading Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 16 March 2017, an employee of Bailey Roofing was laying roof felt when he fell 8 metres from an unprotected edge. The worker suffered a fractured skull as a result.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the work on the roof was not appropriately planned, supervised or carried out in a safe manner. The work to replace the roof coverings to mid-terraced three-storey town-houses was undertaken with edge protection only in place at the front of the properties and nothing at all at the rear.

Bailey Roofing (MK) Ltd of Galley Lane, Great Brickhill, Milton Keynes pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) and Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and has been fined £1,200 and ordered to pay costs of £923.75.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Stephen Manley said: “A well planned job would have addressed the risks from working on a roof. In this case, the roofing contractor assumed the edge protection would be provided by others, and a lack of communication over what was needed and basic checks meant that work continued with no protection at all at one end of the roof.”

“Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”